[Paddlewise] F-craft Big Kahuna skin Q.

Has anybody ever noticed more difficult assemlbing of new F-crafts (urethane
skin and hull) after bagged storage? Common knowledge is that its skin is
dimesionally stabile, then I wonder what might cause these changes? Salt on
the skin? Poor sliding of extention  bars due to some dirt or etching layer on
aluminum? When I dissemble it again (without paddling), second assembling is
easier.  Extended keelsen becomes visually bent  due to compression, and after
closing bottom Velcro-straps in 3 points  this bend shifts to the area of
either bow or stern small rib (far from Velcro buckles and close to
bungey-cord joint, which is natural).  Keelsen deviation from longituidinal
axis in the point of maximum arc is about the diameter of keelsen tube.
Reduced extention of keelsen (shortened to the next hole) will eliminate this,
but I wonder how tight should it be, and is it normal when it somewhat changes
after paddling or storage. The boat is Big Kahuna, 2003.


Alex.


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