The Folding Kayak Pages

"Every issue of the periodical, in a lively personal way, explores subjects of importance to folding kayakers such as modifications, techniques, boat and equipment reviews, news from the industry, etc. When it comesto folding kayaks, you are likely to hear it first in the newsletter ratherthan anywhere else in the print media. The paddling magazines are justtoo broad based to do much on this very special breed of seaworthy vesselwith a long pedigree of proven performance from Pole to Pole and everywherein-between."

Ralph Diaz
Folding Kayaker Newsletter
PO Box 0754
New York, NY 10024

Someone asked me not long ago "with all the web info out there, is itstill worthwhile to subscribe to the Folding Kayak Newsletter?"  Theanswer is an unequivical yes. Ralph is still the best connected person in the industry, and the best source of information on folding boats. He's paddled them all, and knows more than anyone else about how they comparein performance, construction and ruggedness. And the Folding Kayak Newsletter classified page is still the best source for used boats to be found anywhere.

The foldingkayaks.orglogo design contest!

Russian Kayaks is running a special sale through the end of the yearNew Pakboatslink

Almost all folding boats have, in addition, a set of inflatable sponsonssewn into the hull that add flotation and help snug up the loose fittinghull. A few boats don't have sponsons- the older Pouchs, some of the Russianboats, and the earlier models of the Feathercraft Khatsalano, a radical folder that is designed along the lines of modern high-performance narrow sea kayaks. (There are now two versions of the Khat with different sizedsponsons.) The Nautirads have sponsons, but theirs are external, and thusdon't contribute as much to the snugging up of the hull. This doesn't seemto make them any more difficult to assemble than similar boats with internalsponsons, though; I managed to assemble a Nautiraid Raid II on my firstattempt in about the same time it took me to assemble a Folbot GreenlandII the first time. The Klepper Quattro has two sets of sponsons; the second,when inflated, change the shape of the hull to make the boat even moreseaworthy in difficult conditions or when hauling heavy loads. (Here'sa good description of howKleppers assemble from the Klepper web page.)

All folding boats have two-part skins, with different materials usedfor the deck and the hull. Decks can be made of a breathable cotton/hemp blend, as Klepper has done since their early days, or of coated synthetics, as Feathercraft, Folbot, Nautiraid and Pouch do. Each approach has itsown particular benefits and drawbacks; all work well in practice. Hullsare generally made of a heavily coated synthetic fiber. In the early days,rubber coated cotton canvas was used, while the modern boats use a syntheticrubber-  Hypalon, polyurethane or PVC - over a synthetic cloth. Here,the synthetics have a great advantage; the synthetic fibers don't rot orwick moisture into the skin, and the synthetic coats last much longer thanthe old rubber coatings. 

Klepper claim their hulls are good for as long as 50 years with propercare, or roughly double what might be expected of a rubber coated hull. Some boats, like the Klepper Expedition models, have additional stripsof material glued to the hull to reinforce areas where abrasion would behighest. The Folbot models have external aluminum strips at the bow andstern that provide protection against impact and rough landings.

One major difference in boats is the type of cockpit. The Folbots, theNautiraid doubles, the Pouchs and all the Kleppers (like the one shown at the top of this page) have open cockpits. Most Feathercrafts (that'sa Feathercraft frame above) and all the Sigmas have smaller, more traditional cockpits. You might think that the open cockpit boats are easier to getin and out of, and generally that's true, but most paddlers use a spraydeck on open-cockpit boats, and once you put a spray deck cover on an opencockpit boat there isn't much difference. Open-cockpit boats do have theadvantage of being somewhat more flexible in use. Sailing is easier inopen boats, and drop-in rowing units can be used in most open doubles.

Take a look at what "professional hobo" Timo Yoko in Finland has donewith an old Pouch. Fiberglass ribs, waterproof hatches, new double layer reinforced skin...  you can see it by clicking on http://www.kolumbus.fi/timo.noko/omatekema98/.Thanks again to George Privett for the pointer. Timo's home page at http://www.kolumbus.fi/timo.noko/has a lot of great photos, too.

The best source for used boats is probably the FoldingKayak Newsletter; each issue contains a full page of ads for boats. (These ads are free for subscribers- another good reason to subscribe.)Another good place to look is the Classified pages on KlepperService Center's web pages.

Most of the dealers listed on the dealerspage sell used boats as well, and of course will guarentee the conditionof boats they sell- something to consider. One of my Aleuts purchased usedarrived having been put away wet and left in the bag for a year; there was a lot of corrosion, a broken coaming piece, mildew and a number ofbroken rivets. The seller (not a folding boat specialist, and not one listedon the dealer page) made good on the costs of repair, but had never inspectedthe boat before selling it.

The best source of advice and help is Ralph Diaz' FoldingKayak Newsletter, and  Ralph himself . A number of the folding boat specialists on the dealers page are also goodsources of advice. You can also find good information on the various listscited above, and  Folbot information on the Folbot bulletin board.