>> 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. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>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. In those days many folding "skin and frame" kayaks also were heavier and less portable than now, not to mention heavy canvas tents and other things; it just was that we were younger and everything was fun. Rental kayaks are available now, yes. Not always in the same village where you want to begin the trip, and you'll have to return back to the same place at the end of the trip, and you can't customize anything in a rental kayak. Many prefer transporting their own kayaks even when they have to fly; this is easier now with relatively lightweight modern folders, if the price is not a problem of course. I wouldn't like to comment on folders' prices, it makes me grumpy; manufacturers and dealers probaly have their own arguments too. *************************************************************************** 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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