Re: [Paddlewise] Kahuna

----- Original Message -----
From: "sluf" <KMKenney_at_prodigy.net>

> Hi All,
>    Just returned from a six month cruise aboard an Aircraft Carrier
> doing the Iraqi thing, and finally had a chance to put together and
> paddle my new Feathercraft Kahuna. May have already been done to death,
> but I thought I'd share my initial thoughts about the boat now that I
> finally have had a chance to use it.
>    First, many thanks to Ralph Diaz for taking some of his valuable time
> to e-mail me with his thoughts about upgrading from a K-light to the
> newer Kahuna. I know he's way busy, but he still managed to answer my
> questions and send encouragement. He's a true Gentleman in every sense
> of the word.

Thanks for your very kind words.  When I received your earlier email with
questions while you were in theatre aboard ship, you could be sure I would
drop everything to respond as quickly as I could for someone serving in
harm's way.  Thank you for your service, CDR Kenney.


> The K-light was pretty easy to put together, and even taking my time
> would usually take no more than 30 minutes to assemble. Ralph had said
> that the Kahuna would take a bit longer, but I didn't notice any extra
> time. The longer frame halves are a bit more finicky to get aligned
> inside the skin correctly, but not a whole bunch harder. I really like
> the extension method used in the Kahuna. In the K-light I had to put two
> tube ends together, align them, then slide a sleeve over the join to
> stabilize it. I always found this step to be hard to complete, and
> usually it got me swearing pretty good.

I never had a problem with that particular step in the K-Light because I
developed the knack with working with so many different ones I saw over the
years either sent by the company to look at or in helping many individuals I
ran into who were vexed with that assembly task.  When I reviewed the Kahuna
in my newsletter a few years back, I made a point of saying that those who
had that knack with the K-Light would see slightly increased assembly times
in the Kahuna while those who had problems with that step in the K-Light
would find the Kahuna assembly easier because it is straightforward.  So,
the Kahuna is an "equalizer" of sorts in terms of assembly times.

Good luck with your Kahuna

ralph diaz--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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