Re: [Paddlewise] Request for foldable design

  Peter wrote:

  Can anyone direct me to a web site or book that describes a design for
  building a light weight foldable. I have two friends who would love to
build
  a pair of boats to a simple low cost design for paddling down quiet rivers
  and estuaries. They use public transport or walk so light weight and simple
  is the key.


  Peter,

  First off, there is very little information available regarding folding
kayak construction.

  Some of the "Klepper like" designs of Percy Blandford can be built as
folders.  I believe
  Clark Craft sells plans for these boats. These classic wooden designs date
back several decades,
  but may be of interest to your friends.  I don't have the email address of
the site.  In addition,
  a new book by Cunningham, gives some info on converting a "traditionally
constructed"
  Greenland kayak to a folder.

  No matter how simple a folding design , it will never be as simple or
inexpensive
  to build as a non-folder.   The fact that they fold requires complexity in
the frame
  and skin not associated with their rigid skin on frame cousins. This fact
greatly limits
  homebuilders.

  Having said that, The homemade folders that I've made use aluminum
stringers, HDPE plastic
  cross sections, and a PVC skin and are about as simple as it gets for this
type of boat.
  Building costs are in the $400.00US range.  That's fairly expensive in
homebuilt terms,
  but compare that to the $3500.00+US for a comparable commercially built
folder.

  To save some money, the cross sections could be made from plywood, with only
small pieces of
  HDPE at the "snap-on" point between stringer and cross section.

  The first LINK below is to several older design with offset tables.  FAP-16
has the most
  construction info, with TDY-16 and FAP-15 displaying additional detail.  The
second LINK
  is to a double with detail on PVC skins.  The third LINK is to a newer
Greenland design, one
  of several, that have even more simplified building methods than the earlier
designs plus
  higher performance.

  http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka/slideshow/node-i22.html  -  Various
folders
  http://home.arcor.de/hmaroske/node-i53.html  -   Combi Single/Double
  http://yostwerks.com/SeaRiderCollage.jpg  -  Sea Rider Greenland

  These boats all weigh under 35 pounds ( Singles) and assemble in under 30
minutes.
  The newer Greenland designs are all high performance kayaks with beams under
20" ( 50cm)
  All take under 100 hours to build.

  I've got considerably more building info and construction pics than in the
LINKS above.
  All of which is free to the builder.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be posting on
this forum.

  If interested, have your friends contact me directly. Sorry, I didn't intend
to get
  so long winded.

  Best Regards,

  Tom
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