[Paddlewise] Old Folding Boat Pics

PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.netOn Sat, 2003-06-07 at 06:17, prathman_at_attbi.com wrote:
> Yes, it's a Folbot "Super" - 17.5' long, 37" wide.  A picture of mine on the 
> beach at Angel Island is at:
> http://206.40.48.186/uploads/AYALACOVE.JPG
> Mine is relatively young though - only 35 years old. Folbot was founded in 1933 
> and their boats from that time look pretty similar to the Super which was 
> produced through the late '80s with only fairly minor changes in the basic 
> design.

Similar to the Super?? The Super WAS a Folbot product. And it was a
modified Percy Blandford design at that.Percy,s had a 32 beam for the
Super
The super was still produced into the early 90,s as a kit and rigid.
I bought a sporty and a super in 1992 direct from factory.
Folbot was at that time phasing out all RIGIDS in SOF.And taking a
agressive step into the folding market.
Later a hurricane all but destroyed the jig,s for making the SOF boats.
I was in the running, with a couple others at the time to buy the Jigs
and rights to build the SOF boats... But as i said most jigs were
destroyed.The deal fell through as there was really "nothing" to invest
in.. except their name.
A guy in Canada for a time was building the SOF boats and selling
"Folbot" skins.I talked to him once. He was selling replacement frames
for the SOF boats
I do not know what happened to him or the business.But was later told
they are no longer in business.
For the life of me I cant remember the name
There are numberous early Folbots our there.. Some better than others..
Most if not all have had extensive repairs.
I have a original Folbot  17ft "Explorer" in rigid. It was a modified
"Super" that was made for single place and was advertized as a
"Expedition" boat.
It served me well on my Mississippi River Trip. And on the Missouri trip
I used a Super {highly modified}
There seems to be a "cult" following of the early Folbots and outragous
prices are in demand for the craft.
But in all in all, one can build a new one... just as good IF not better
than the originals.
The Kits left room for better methods of cutting and assembly. The
Rigids were fast assembled and thus lacked detail and had taken on a
assembly line craft.
Folbot was the affordable boat of the 50,s and 60,s for the masses.
And I can remember in the mid to late 50,s seeing them everywhere.
They were a family boat. {See early catalogs}
But the folder won out  for production..from 90,s on.
High cost of Hull material all but doomed the Sporty/Super/Cayat and
others of the line.

W


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