Dark Side Seduction: A folding delema

[aslan]

Following my problems on Ullswater yesterday with my inflatable has made my mind up to go for a folder [space gives no option] - anyway I like the convenience of being able to sling the boat in the boot.

Question is which one? I've read the reviews - I fainted at the price - thought the options were straight forward then at lunch time yesterday in the sunshine on Ullswater Satan approached paddling this beautiful Folbot Yukon


After a great crack with its owner and a good old nose around I realised that it would easily take the lightweight camping load that's my preference and is designed for the sort of solo paddling I like.

I'm tempted, really tempted.

Knoydart in Penrith sell it along with Pac folding canoes and as luck would have it they have a folding boat show on 6th October just outside Penrith - guess where I'm going.

I know many forum members paddle Kayaks as well as opens - anyone any thoughts on the options.

[bothyman]

I was thinking about one of those good place for info is the Folbot Forum.

Just incase you have not found it >> http://www.folbot.com/

Seems to be 20% off this month Knoydart sometimes give the same deal, but I can't see it on their website.

MickT

[kimakazie]

Hi Aslan, i have been watching your thread and can clearly see that you enjoy the inflatable i some how think that although the folbot is a nice article i just dont think it would be as convienent as the inflatable i can have my stearns inflatable ready for action in less than 5 mins ,i also had the ranger and it took roughly 10 mins to inflate ,the folbot with all its bits could be 20 mins before you even get changed! also for the price of the folbot you could have two different Quality inflatables for different purposes , check out the stearns inflatables ,just roll out inflate 5 mins deflate and bag even less ,
i have the cordova kayak and love it,

[monkey_pork]

Ah, now I think I saw a couple of these, or certainly something very similar yesterday. The boats I saw appeared to have some inflatable elements to them tho', but it may have been me not knowing what I was looking at.

They were out of the water being put to bed, and there seemed to be some deflation going on...

Not that is the slightest help to you of course, but good luck in your quest anyway eh!

[kev4]

Thought i would confuse things a bit more Gumotex have a new inflatable canoe the Baraka,

http://www.hgsport.com/catalogue/items/460.html

Kevin

[Charlie KMQ]

Hi Aslan, sorry to hear about your inflatable, been thinking of buying one myself for a while (to carry on the back of my motorcycle) - have you not been tempted by the slightly less dark-side s.o.t. - they dont need a huge roofrack, and probably even more unsinkable than the inflatable, and cost around £400 - anyway, good luck with whatever you choose, and hopefully see you at the Lakes
Charlie

[Lakeland Pete]

I got an email from Knoydart advertising the boat thing at Rheged. Looks like it could be quite good, and they have a demo on Ullswater as well on the Sunday 7th although sounds like you may have to book a space on the Saturday.

Knoydart Folding Boat Show pdf

I have though about these due to the folding but to be honest I have looked at the 140 Solo Pakboat instead of the Folbot as the price is the same (and what a price).

140 solo:


Folbot Yukon:


The only thing I cannot work out form pics is how easy it is to use a single blade given that the sides of the top come over to meet the edge of the cockpit (if that makes any sense), so distance between sitting position and edge of the kayak.

The downside has been said above which is construction time and I am led to believe the advertise 25mins is for experienced people, beginners seem to take about 40mins!

Still as I have no garden for storage 40mins at the side of a lake is better than no paddling at all, and I prefer the rigid hull to inflatable.

Let us know how the boat day at Rheged goes.

Pete

[aslan]

Have chatted with Toby at Knoydart Kayaking and he tells me that they are now stocking Nautiraid folders - not on the web site yet. So yet another range to consider. The Rhegid show on 6th Oct. will be a good opportunity to look at the different makes.

Choices choices

[Seadog]

Paddled my inflatable kayak for 12 miles on saturday in the broads:



- quite hard work and you tend to have to keep going to keep it on track - much like a short ww boat with a lot of rocker. However while this was the right boat to take on account of wind, only one paddle in the week and a long ish drive with I quick exit from home that precluded going into Leeds to pick my canoe up from the club boathouse. I too have been thinking about alternatives - for me there are a number of pros and cons


1) inflatables quicker to set up and put away
2) inflatables while often having good primary stability because you are sitting higher off the water are more effected by wind.
3) inflatables generally have poorer tracking compared with more rigid boats.

There are some new inflatables on the market which seem to have a harder, sharper bow e.g.

Stearns Yakutat Kayak

"This touring kayak is easy to paddle and strong. Its ideal for the advanced paddler. It has a rigid metal frame and plastic stays in the bow and stern to cut through the water more efficiently making it performance close to a rigid kayak."




other options are an Airframe Java - but a call to knoydart was stearing me towards a rigid frame folding boat.

I guess I will come up to Rheged!

SD

[aslan]

The Rheged show is most fortunate timing. I'll make a firm decision I think once i've had a good look and try. I'd given some thought to the inflatable kayaks around but they didn't really suite what I wanted.

[Darkwoodecho]

Hi Aslan,I have both a Yukon and a double by Klepper, the Yukon is a nice boat, wide and stable, will handle a good sea, take loads of gear, tracks straight and can be lifted on your own and car topped if you dont want to take it apart every time, it's pretty rugged and takes a down wind rig easy. Lots of fun. down side is assembly, if I'm honest from out of boot to in the water is around 40-45 mins for me, build,stow gear,bouyancy bags,faff, chat with the inevitable on looker(folders draw a crowd)put sarnies in etc.and drying out at the end of the day, they dont take kindly to being packed wet. I went through Knoydart for both my boats and they are excellent. The Yukon was not on their site last I checked. If you do go for one get the EXP(deck lines and rudder.)Folbot themselves are very helpfull and their forum an excellent source of advice/opinions, does that sound like a sell?well maybe because I am toying with the idea that the Yukon may have to go(the minister for home affairs reckons the fleet is getting too big)if you are interested and want to make an offer pm me. its a green EXP.CheersE

[aslan]

Hi Aslan,I have both a Yukon and a double by Klepper, the Yukon is a nice boat, wide and stable, will handle a good sea, take loads of gear, tracks straight and can be lifted on your own and car topped if you dont want to take it apart every time, it's pretty rugged and takes a down wind rig easy. Lots of fun. down side is assembly, if I'm honest from out of boot to in the water is around 40-45 mins for me, build,stow gear,bouyancy bags,faff, chat with the inevitable on looker(folders draw a crowd)put sarnies in etc.and drying out at the end of the day, they dont take kindly to being packed wet. I went through Knoydart for both my boats and they are excellent. The Yukon was not on their site last I checked. If you do go for one get the EXP(deck lines and rudder.)Folbot themselves are very helpfull and their forum an excellent source of advice/opinions, does that sound like a sell?well maybe because I am toying with the idea that the Yukon may have to go(the minister for home affairs reckons the fleet is getting too big)if you are interested and want to make an offer pm me. its a green EXP.CheersE

Oh the temptation: Have PM'd you on this.

[johnr]

theres a folding canoe on ebay at themo, and the seller doesnt seem to realise what he ahs, as he found it in his garage, its up at the moment with just one bid of 99 pence!! its listed as old canoe, as opposed to folding canoe, so people might not have seen it, i know nothing about these things but i saw it yesterday after reading your post. so thought i would put the link up to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=012

[aslan]

thanks for that johnr - you're right he doesn't know what he has but it looks old - must be a bargin at 99p! bet it goes up a bit.

[Huon]

Hi,

It looks like a pouche: http://www.poucher-boote.de/index.php?id=8&L=1

Nice enough folders but I'd be very careful buying this one. I think there should be more frame components than you are seeing in the photo and it is very hard to tell the state of the skin.

Replacing bits of frame is no big deal but if the skin is damaged it will probably cost more than the price of a secondhand boat to get a replacement.

If you do go for this make sure you get far more information from the seller.

Cheers,

Huon

theres a folding canoe on ebay at themo, and the seller doesnt seem to realise what he ahs, as he found it in his garage, its up at the moment with just one bid of 99 pence!! its listed as old canoe, as opposed to folding canoe, so people might not have seen it, i know nothing about these things but i saw it yesterday after reading your post. so thought i would put the link up to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=012

[aslan]

Not even going to consider this one but I can see why a local buyer has made the only bid.

Hi,

It looks like a pouche: http://www.poucher-boote.de/index.php?id=8&L=1

Nice enough folders but I'd be very careful buying this one. I think there should be more frame components than you are seeing in the photo and it is very hard to tell the state of the skin.

Replacing bits of frame is no big deal but if the skin is damaged it will probably cost more than the price of a secondhand boat to get a replacement.

If you do go for this make sure you get far more information from the seller.

Cheers,

Huon