Folding canoes

[DavidW]

Chance,

You might find something of interest in the reviews of various types of boats, rigid, inflatable , folding- canoes and kayaks , found at this link
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/

I have a pakboats 150 with both the two seat frames and the sole seat frame. I've not used it much as I more often paddle one of my folding kayaks . But I have gone out on a lake with my son in it and it worked fine. Another child could fit with no problem. I have a klepper AE2 which easily has the load capacity to take three but the seating arrangement would make it not the best choice. I also have a Feathercraft Java airline inflatable with the two seat option which works well with two people but not three. My other folders are all solo kayaks.

For those interested in inflatables. An acquaintance has an Innova Safari , which he likes quit well and has used it on extended trips to Mexico. But he is a mimimalist type . I think his review may be on the above web site. The Safari is a solo boat but the point I am trying to get to is that in general I have read good reports on the Innova boats and they make doubles. The Innova line maybe know by a different name in Europe , unfortunately the name excapes me at the moment. Here is a direct link to the Innova reviews on the above web site.

http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showKayaks.html?manf=66

Here is a link to a commercial site in Calif. - not trying to get business for them - I am posting it only because the site has a lot of good information.
http://www.theboatpeople.com/iks_tandem.html
http://www.theboatpeople.com/faqs.html

hope this is of interest or help.

Best regards,

David

Is anyone able to point me to a thread comparing folding to inflatable kayaks ? Or, more helpfully, to offer suggestions for a two-seater boat with which to introduce my children to the river(s) ?

 

[Chance]

Thank you.
Since first posting, I am now the contented paddler of an inflatable (Gumotex Helios). It's already proved the advantages of its packability: in a spare hour while the children were sledging near the feet of Cairngorm, I was able to lug it out of the cramped boot of the car for a trip around a mirror-like Loch Morlich.
And I've even had a chance to test the patch kit, after misjudging the shallows under a bridge on an earlier excursion.

(sledges with caterpillar tracks, lest you question the weather)

 

[DavidW]

Chance ,

Glad to hear you found a boat which suits your needs, and to learn I was not far off the mark in suggesting the Innova line of inflatable boats. Gumotex is the name I was trying to recall in my previous post which is the same as the Innova line sold in the USA. . Gumotex is the Czeck Republic company which makes the Innova boats. If I had looked alitte further on the boatpeople web page , under touring IKs , I would have found the reference to Gumotex under the story about the Solar 2 boats which they recieved at Innova due to a misunderstanding in a placed order.

http://www.theboatpeople.com/iks_touring.html

Which of the two Helios models did you buy , the 380 or the 340 ? I still think about these boats myself , especially the Safari , as they pack away in such a small package.

Pics of the Helios - if anyone would like to see them of Chance's choice of inflatable
http://www.innovakayak.com/helios.htm
http://www.innovakayak.com/helios2.htm

I have a copy of Kira Salak's book about her trip down the Niger River in an Innova/Gumotex Safari . Her journey was covered in a National Geographic story a few years ago but sadly her book is only text and has none of the NG photos in it. http://www.innovakayak.com/news.htm
I've not read the book yet but I have read her first book about her travels through Africa and in Papua New Guinea, a gutsy gal who has gotten into some situations which could have cost her life. Her first book was not about travel by boat though.

Best regards,

David

Thank you.
Since first posting, I am now the contented paddler of an inflatable (Gumotex Helios). .....QUOTE]

 

[Chance]

Sorry, it was a bit rude of me to refer to Gumotex without adding the US translation [Innova].
There was an intimidatingly large choice of inflatables, and I chose the 380 as an "award winner" and apparent choice of Canadian professionals. It has stably held me and two six-year-olds; but the draught increases with added weight, especially locally to the backside if you've skimped on pumping (hence the patch).
Should anyone else be tempted by the car-boot-ability [trunk-ability] of a two-man [person] inflatable, I would recommend the use of the optional rudder.

 

[Ryan Woods]

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/jimh.jpg

wow... lookin at the pic I would not have thought it was a collapseable canoe.. beautiful!

I bought this last summer, second hand. After some haggling got it for 85 quiddies!! Love it, light, fast yet I can keep in a straight line effortlessly



So when the lastest issue came through the door I was well happy seeing a article about paddling. I thought it was spot on!

 

[Chance]

Can't compete with that for looks: there's no question that mine is an ambitious lilo.
I don't expect to be winning any races (or concours d'elegance).

 

[Ryan Woods]

thanks... Id like to re paint it in colours with blending properties. Add some closed eye screws for cross bungees to add gear and Im good to go!

 

[gregorach]

Oy! That's not a canoe, it's a kayak!

 

[Ryan Woods]

Yeah but I'd race any of you canoeists out there, any day!


Actually, I'd prefer to have a canoe, but the price differnce was too steep...!!

 

[Chance]

Am I the only one with the Hawaii-5-0 music in my head, or is that a generational thing ?

 

[Wayland]

OK, quick update.

I got the parcels on Saturday, one of the paddles was damaged in transit but not too bad.

The frame has seen some action but the skin looks very good.

There are three holes. Two very minor wear marks on starboard and the main one on the bow. The bow hole will be the tricky fix because it is where the skin is stretched by the bow rib. I think it will fix OK though.

There is a piece of spare matching hyperlon included which will be very useful.

The interesting issue is the plastic guides that the seller has removed. This means there is currently nothing to space the longitudinal ribs correctly. I have some ideas how to go about this but clever suggestions would be very welcome.

The previous owner has added some plywood deck boards which space out the lateral frame with cable ties. It's an interesting way of doing things but not the way I would have done it.

There are no seats present apart from an inflatable affair. Since most of the books I have read suggest kneeling I guess that's what I shall be doing for the time being. I think I shall have to come up with some other option in the long term though.

I'm certainly glad I made the purchase though, even with the bits that need fixing it seems like a good deal for me....

 

[gregorach]

Given the new price of an Ally canoe, and the fact that they almost never come up secodn hand, I think you got an amazing deal.

Concerning the seat, you might want to look at a sling seat. I kneel, but I like to have something to perch on, and the sling seat seems like a good compromise.

 

[Grooveski]

Yeah, nice buy Wayland. Great price.

Another option for seating could be a foam WW saddle glued to one of those flooring panels, just to take some weight off your knees.

Happy paddling.

 

[DavidW]

A four page article which may be of interest. It is written by Alv Elvestad of Pakboats , his thoughts or tips on skin and frame repair when damage occours on the water. Specific to Pakboats of course but as he states tips which would in general apply to any al tube frame/pvc skin boat.

http://www.kanadier.gps-info.de/b-reparatur_tipps.pdf

Yes, it is a german language web page, but the pdf file is 99.5% in english.

best regards,

David

OK, quick update.
.........
The frame has seen some action but the skin looks very good.

There are three holes. .............

I'm certainly glad I made the purchase though, even with the bits that need fixing it seems like a good deal for me....

 

[molerat]

Hi

So impressed by what people were saying that I've just bought myself a Puffin second hand. One minor problem though: No assembly instructions! Could you let me know how to put it together to avoid me straining my brain?

 

[Wayland]

Many thanks to Fisherben for these photos but here is mine after the repairs , first time on the water.

I mastered the art of traveling in circles very quickly and I'm starting to get the hang of travelling in straightish lines too....

 

[MagiKelly]

I was wondering when you would have her on the water. looking for ward to seeing her at the next meet.

 

[Wayland]

When is the next Achray meet?....

 

[MagiKelly]

Don't ask me, best ask the person who organising it

 

[Wayland]

If I was any nearer I would gladly organize one. Preferably before the mozzies get to hear about it...