G'Day, Can anyone give an opinion on how necessary or useful the optional hatches for the Kahuna are for packing for weekend camping trips? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Can anyone give an opinion on how necessary or useful the optional hatches > for the Kahuna are for packing for weekend camping trips? They are very useful for reaching cargo in bow and stern ends. They also ease assembling (TAD questionable in dissembling, since aft upper stringer tend either to go out through the hatch, or to catch a backle the hatch when you pull frame halves out). *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
PeterO wrote: > G'Day, > Can anyone give an opinion on how necessary or useful the optional hatches > for the Kahuna are for packing for weekend camping trips? I've done week long trips without having them. They probably make it easier to fill the ends. If you look, there are holes in the bow/stern plates that allow you to put strings through for ferrying bags into the ends. The hatches might make for a wetter ride due to spray. In the bow, I have a sleeping pad in the end and a single large bag (usually my wife's sleeping bag and clothing) that fills the space. In the stern, I place a stove and misc stuff past the stern crossrib and a single large drybag containing a down sleeping bag, tent, and clothing. In front of that I can put in a small cooler, small food bag, pots and pans. I can place a water bag under my seat and water bottles behind the seat. My wife usually doesn't have to carry much more than a sleeping pad and extra food or goodies in her boat. Often, all she has are float bags in her kayak. It helps to pack with just a few large bags that fill the space. It's easier to cram everything into bags, rather than trying to cram the bags themselves inside the boat. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hatches add to the cost and to assembly time. They are really unnecessary as you can load gear via the cockpit as has been done for over 90 years with other folding kayaks. If you do decide to get hatches, just get the rear one not one toward the bow. You can easily load the bow area from the cockpit and the bow hatch sticks up and gets spray in your face. ralph diaz ----- Original Message ----- From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> Subject: [Paddlewise] Kahuna hatches > G'Day, > Can anyone give an opinion on how necessary or useful the optional hatches > for the Kahuna are for packing for weekend camping trips? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, I'm going with the balance of recommendation to not bother with hatches, which was also my preference because of the cleaner lines of the unhatched boat, slightly faster assembly speed and less risk of leakage. Leakage correlates with drying time for me so thats a major consideration. I learn't today that there is an organisation, which for a small price will plant the exact number of trees to compensate for the CO2 from my car, it is infinitely cheaper than the Kahuna and public transport but I've grown to really enjoy public transport:~). So I ordered the boat anyway (it is very comfortable) and expect to be on the water in a Kahuna in a few weeks. Thanks everyone for all the advice, which has been coming to me for more than a year when I first started to think about this. This leaves the last, most critical and difficult question. How do I apply the boats name to the fabric? (I never did this for the Klepper - but it still has a name.) All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I'm going with the balance of recommendation to not bother with hatches, > which was also my preference because of the cleaner lines of the unhatched > boat, slightly faster assembly speed and less risk of leakage. Leakage > correlates with drying time for me so thats a major consideration. You'll do fine without hatches when loading - though loading may take longer time and more yoga-like positions, and you'll also have to grow your fingers longer to grab bags tips when unloading (or tie up some ropes to pull bags out). When I put sail mast through the rear hatch, I can't load or unload anything through it, so cargo goes through the cockpit anyway. Still I can put my hand through this hatch and re-arrange the cargo or grab those bags in the stern end. Bow hatch is small and I can only put hand through to re-arrange the cargo better or to pull it towards the cockpit. Convenience with hatches is susbtantial, and decrease in seaworthiness/performance is much less, if any. They don't leak, though my waters are less windy than Australia shoreline. You may find diagrams of hatches in Assembling Manual at F-craft website. It has 2 barriers of protection - lid and rolled-up closure like those in drybags, so it's pretty much watertight. Once I had my bow hatch lid ripped of by the waves (was not lost, hanging on its cord), but due to roll-up closure it didn't leak. > I learn't today that there is an organisation, which for a small price will > plant the exact number of trees to compensate for the CO2 from my car, it is > infinitely cheaper than the Kahuna and public transport but I've grown to > really enjoy public transport:~). I love public transport, especially flights heading south from were I live. Taxi and bus drivers also enjoy Kahuna more than heavier and bulkier boats. Alex. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Hatches add to the cost and to assembly time. They are really unnecessary > as you can load gear via the cockpit as has been done for over 90 years with > other folding kayaks. If you do decide to get hatches, just get the rear > one not one toward the bow. You can easily load the bow area from the > cockpit and the bow hatch sticks up and gets spray in your face. > > ralph diaz They add no more than 3-4 minutes of very easy procedure even at my slow pace (it seems to be slow so far). This loss is compensated by easier assembling due to better access to frame halves in case if you need to re-align them. It is also more convenient to wip inside with a sponge, when you have hatches. They do add to the cost, however. I didn't notice a spray from the bow hatch, but it is possible. What I did notice was that this bow hatch (located at the side, not at the deck axis) always has its lid in the water when I load the boat (stern ashore). Lid is secured with a short bungy cord, but it is long enough to let it dive. Annoying, but not dangerous. Sometimes I wrap the lid around perimeter line when loading, if I care to keep it dry. I agree that rear hatch is more useful, if I were to install only one of them. Factory doesn't install hatches post-factum, btw (I asked them before buying it with hatches). I don't think it is fair to compare F-crafts with other folding kayaks that can be loaded through the cockpit. Other folding kayaks have way larger cockpit (some also have removable deck). Alex. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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