> the difference between a reasonably equipped > folder and their advertised weight is big: Our Klepper XXL, > with sprayskirt, painter, anchor, anchor line, decklines, > bilge-pump (with a big battery), sea anchor, reserve paddle, > GPS, paddles, seats, emergency pack, and sundries, weigh close > to twice as much as advertized. But I am happy with that. > > And the packing bags are fairly heavy as well, and not easy > to handle. ...............> > Assembly time sometimes is close to that advertised (just 5 minutes longer), > but often twice, or thrice, that! You forgot to mention boat cart - 6-7 lbs and up. I wish it were just accesories, some of which could be neglected for a short day paddling in protected waters like mentioned previously as possible uses of that new Folbot - anchor, GPS, battery for a bilge pump, cart or even sprayskirt. What pisses me off is that manufacturers don't usually include even seats in the boat weight. Not to mention the bags - and, yes, bags are heavy. FC backpack weighs 6 lbs. 3 bags of Longhaul single MK1 weigh 8 lbs in total (3lbs and 4 lbs skin and frame bags, and 1 lb small ribs bag). You can toss it all in some 1.5 lb thin nylon bag or a backpack with el-cheapo shoulder straps, but I wouldn't trust such a bag even in a subway or bus, not to mention airline luggage. Not to mention a single-strap bag - this is just ridiculous when the bag weighs over 30 lbs and has a size of a decent suitcase. True, most folder owners don't care about their boats weight and bags weight and size as they never take their boats to bus, train or subway, and seldom take them to airplanes (and then to self-supported trip where they would have to carry all the packing bags on board). Some folders like Klepper or Folbot GII simply don't have analogs in hardshell version, so I can understand why people with plenty of storage room are buying them. Twice or thrice the specified time - hah, I hear your, brother! When I referred to FC Kahuna 2 hours assembling in Exumas, it was not for boasting about expensive brand - people that can't afford it, don't have to buy, this isn't any necessity, though I'm positive that most on this mail-list can. It was merely to illustrate that fatique, too hot or too cold weather, and less than ideal ground do contribute, and significantly. On an average day I can't usually manage this under 25-30 minutes (and many people - under 40), even though the demostration FC video shows this done in under 20 minutes. Post-2005 FC models are few minutes faster to assemble, though - due to built-in cockpit, but just a few minutes. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu May 08 2008 - 22:09:39 PDT
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