Rcgibbert_at_aol.com wrote: >> In my opinion, it would be more fair to compare the Feathercraft Kahuna at 2200 dollars US vs the Kodiak, which similarly equipped sells for just under 1800. I won't comment on the Kahuna's performance characteristics because I've only put one together but not paddled it. It took 20 minutes the first time, but once you know how to put a Feathercraft together it's quite similar for all of them. The Kahuna is still manufactured with impressive materials and construction, doesn't leak, etc, yet weighs 35 pounds versus 55 for the Kodiak. Is it worth 400 dollars? To me, yes. >> I agree with Rob that the Kahuna and the Kodiak are the boats to use when comparing Folbot and Feathercraft. I have paddled both, and own a Kodiak. The Kahuna is a little faster, but holds less. The 300 lb payload rating for the Kahuna is pretty accurate, while I bet the Kodiak would handle 400 easily, contrary to Folbot's conservative 300 lb figure. Yet, I think they are different boats. The Kahuna is much more watertight, with a traditional cockpit that accepts a "normal" sprayskirt. My Kodiak is an "open cockpit" boat which comes with a (cheesy, in my opinion) coated nylon spraydeck that pools water and leaks into my lap. In addition, the Kodiak leaks like crazy at the back of the cockpit. Not a good choice for heavy seas. I don't think Folbot markets the Kodiak as a full-on ocean cruiser -- because it is not suited for that use. I would be nervous as hell taking it outside a surf zone, mainly because I would expect to get pasted coming through surf. I believe the sturdier construction of the Kahuna is a better choice if you need a boat than can __better__ handle surf landings and launches. Rather, Folbot pitches the Kodiak as a good one for tamer waters -- the kind of thing inland kayakers and those in protected waters might use. Think summer days on the lake, laid-back fishing trips in the warm summer sun, paddling in the Everglades, and the like, with some wind waves as spice -- no surf! I have not taken my Kodiak on the salt, but I have taken my Greenland II (Folbot's double) on the salt, and it has handled some pretty big water in the Charlottes and on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is not as strong as Feathercraft's welded aluminum construction, and with the stock spraydeck, not well-suited for heavy seas. I have launched and landed it on surge beaches, and it works well there. It would be a disaster in a true surf break. I think dumping surf would kill it. (A couple of us made modified spraydecks. See Mike Edelman's site for details: http://foldingkayaks.org/kayakmods.html#folbot_spraydeck The spraydecks we made would __not__ solve the problem of weaker construction, but do solve any leakage problems, and make for quick entry/exit -- such as is needed on surge beaches.) I do not have the price figures for the Feathercraft double, but I bet it is at least twice the cost of the Greenland II. And, it would be worth it for folks who want a full-on ocean cruiser. The extra dollars would not be worth it for someone intending tamer uses for his/her double. Different boats, different uses. No affiliation with either manufacturer. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Feb 28 2003 - 07:49:47 PST
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