Re: [Paddlewise] Folbot "Cooper" kayak

After I read their blurb on the 'net I went out and googled the Cooper for
reviews and found a few that talked about "good initial stability for such a
narrow kayak"... it's a 24" wide kayak, for cryin' out loud. So ya, I got
the feeling that it's only going to frustrate me after paddling my boats.
Too bad though. I'm pretty sure my wife is not gonna go for letting me buy a
K1. Maybe Pam will give me one for Christmas. LOL. (That's gonna get me a
nasty note!)

I took an ancient Folbot around the Bowron Lakes in 1972 and it was a real
experience on the portages I can tell you. But it was a good boat in an era
where there weren't many kayaks anywhere. At that point we had Rangers tell
us they'd never seen a kayak on the lakes.  I'd like a folder, I think,
provided it fit the bill. But I'm sure that the Cooper, at $1300, would make
a good ride for lots of people. They cut some corners and an owner probably
needs to customize one and add a few details (like deck rigging) but that's
a lot of bang for the buck in a folder. There are some satisfied users on
paddling.net.

Didn't you buy two of the little Citibots? Or am I confusing you with
someone else?

Craig

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 4:37 PM, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:

> Craig Jungers wrote:
>
>  I know Dave Kruger has a couple Folbots but they aren't the "Cooper".
>>
>
> Wrong.  I have one of the earliest ones, before the added tensioning
> system, and with the old, lightweight, not-so-very-abrasion-resistant skin.
>
> They are enormously improved from then, with much tougher (but heavier)
> hypalon skin, good tensioning to reduce flex (a common folder attribute),
> better coaming, and an incredibly better seat.
>
> You will get a lot of analysis, some of it from the "homer" crowd who think
> Folbot can do no wrong, but the bulk of it from more hard-headed folks who
> give honest ratings to their Coopers, on the Folbot Forum:
> http://www.folbotforum.com/
>
> Frankly, though, you would not like the width, the enormous cockpit, or the
> low-performance hull.  The Cooper is a good folder, but to get a high
> performance folder, you need to pay Feathercraft prices.  A Paddlewiser
> named Alex who lives in BC should respond with a focused critique of
> folders.  Alex just sprung for a brand new Feathercraft K-1, the folder that
> probably comes closest to what you might like, Craig.
>
> --
> Dave Kruger
> Astoria, OR
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