Re: [Paddlewise] Three piece

>> I'm somewhat curious about the "bolt together" kayaks. I think they come in
>> three sections and some come with/in a carrying case. Are they an option
>> between the typical kayak and a folder? Anyone have any experience here?


I built one in the late 70's. It worked well. I just used rubber washers and
about 7 bolts and they worked just fine.

They were bone dry. We started out sealing the cracks with duct tape but
that could not tolerate the beach landings so we just did without once that
wore off and had no problems. I built these boats very strong.

I designed a short kayak (400 cm) for this project which launched me into my
interests in the benefits of small kayaks. It was a very nice boat.

Mine did not collapse into one another in any fashion so you were, in
essence, traveling with three huge suitcases which was not easy. Once we
were on the water things were good.

Three of us went to Portugal and in those far gone days managed not to pay
for extra luggage except one limb of the trip for one of us (went to the
wrong ticket agent I guess)

At one point, we took a train and were successful only by ignoring the
screams of train officials in a foreign language.

We had more luck with taxis and waving $20.00 bills around which is how we
got to the coast from the airport.

I am not sure that I could handle all the stress of the uncertainty of the
land part of the trip now. We were just winging the whole trip.

The water part was great although we were winging that too. The west coast
of Portugal was fairly wild and very beautiful in those days.

The need for this sort of effort has faded a bit because it is now easier to
find rental boats. I went on one more trip in that boat up in Sitka Alaska
but now it collects dust in my garage.
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