Folding Kayaks Forum

I recently ran across this folding kayak designed by Anton Willis and constructed from a single sheet of 12' x 5' corrugated plastic (aka coroplast or corflute).

I thought it looked really interesting considering he is using only folds to strengthen the kayak longitudinally. The guy who created it has a patent pending on the concept and I ran across his patent application which included a layout.

Looks like an interesting project. Almost certainly not as seaworthy as the inflatable folder designs Tom has provided, but might be a fun flatwater boat for small waterbodies.

Very interesting. But I wouldn't get in in unless I filled it with float bags

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Michael Edelman
FoldingKayaks.org Webmaster

Agreed, it would need supplemental floatation. I'm certain it isn't as strong as Tom's folders, but again I think this is just for near-shore paddling in flatwater rivers and small water bodies. Anton has posted photos and videos on facebook (under Civil Twilight) with him paddling in calm conditions. He has the annoying habit of not wearing a lifejacket when doing so. I saw a series of pictures where some San Francisco Bay Area Sea Kayakers climbed in with spray decks, life jackets and helmets and did some eskimo rolls with it. Another set of pictures has him paddling around Treasure Island in the SF Bay. I'd really want to see what this thing can withstand before I'd want to trust it to such a large body of water. Seems like it would be fine for the tidal influenced rivers of the Sacramento delta.

I'm a bit concerned about the material strength, too. The Foldlite boats were made of Coroplast, and they were frightening to paddle. Of course, that was a different construction.

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Michael Edelman
FoldingKayaks.org Webmaster

https://picasaweb.google.com/billv999/OutTheGate15ft16secAndAGaleWarningAndFoldUpBoat#

I found the pictures of folks rolling the fold-up kayak. I made an 8' model out of a scrap of campaign sign to see how it works. It is interesting. It might even be big enough for my 10-year-old to paddle around in. I haven't put it into the water yet, but just from moving it around it seems a lot sturdier than I expected.

It's an impressive design- much more so than the Foldlite. What would concern me is the possibility of a failure of one point leading to a complete collapse. Still, unlike the Foldlite, you wouldn't find yourself trapped inside.

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Michael Edelman
FoldingKayaks.org Webmaster