Interesting Kayak ... Thoughts ?

[svrodeorm]

'electronically welded'

hmmm, apart from that, seems like a good companion on a boat

[avb3]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

I have a two person AF kayak that I use as my dinghy. Has a 500 lb carrying capacity and works good with one or two paddling. It very stable entering and exiting from the boat and light enough (43#) that I can girlhandle it in and out of the water. For me it works well.

What kind of seas have been able to use it in?

[sailorchic34]

I've used mine mostly in 1-2 feet waves, With 2 people, maybe 3 foot sea. my problem with only one is windage, where 20+ knots tends to push the bow off track when going upwind. doable, but a pain. ON the plus side with one there is plunty of space for supplies

[NomadRip]

Originally Posted by svrodeorm

'electronically welded'

It just means the seams are melted together. I have a similar inflatable I've had about 15 years now. Works well in a pinch, but it isn't the easiest thing to paddle.

[SaucySailoress]

And here's one for less than a hundred dollars new: 108" x 302" x 15" CHALLENGER K1 KAYAK WITH PUMP & ALUMINUM PADDLE: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Leisure

The two man one seems like a good idea. But are they more prone to capsizing when loaded up with groceries?

[anjou]

And remember folks

Should you ever feel cold whilst in your kayak, dont be tempted to light a fire in the bottom of it or it will burn a hole and you will sink thus confirming the age old addage that you cant have your kayak and heat it.

[sailorchic34]

Well the inflatable AF kayak is pretty stable, about like a regular inflatable dinghy. Very easy to get in and out of from the boat. The side air tubes make it not at all tipsy, unlike my hard kayak. There are two air bladders in the side tubes, each going completely around the kayak, so a hole in one will still allow you to float.

The down side is it does not row quite as fast as a hard kayak, at least with one person it a bit of a dog, though faster then a hard dinghy. But with two it scoots along nicely.

It still sits fairly high with 300-400 pounds in it, oh probably 80 percent of tubes out of the water. Not tipsy at all, rated capacity is 500 pounds.

I use the basic two person AF kayak without the extra skirts. There is a front skirt that keeps water out of the bow, plus tie downs fore and aft for drybags or whatever. The AF kayaks have metal bow/stern parts that make the bow and stern sharper / finer so it rows fairly well for an inflatable.

[svrodeorm]

Originally Posted by NomadRip

It just means the seams are melted together. I have a similar inflatable I've had about 15 years now. Works well in a pinch, but it isn't the easiest thing to paddle.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Melted as in electrically heatseams.

Nothing much electronic about i except if a thermostat would be considered 'high-tech electronic'. LOL

marketing baloney

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by anjou

And remember folks

Should you ever feel cold whilst in your kayak, dont be tempted to light a fire in the bottom of it or it will burn a hole and you will sink thus confirming the age old addage that you cant have your kayak and heat it.

Great way to start the day with a laugh !!
Thanks!

[Lexam]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Well the inflatable AF kayak is pretty stable, about like a regular inflatable dinghy. Very easy to get in and out of from the boat. The side air tubes make it not at all tipsy, unlike my hard kayak. There are two air bladders in the side tubes, each going completely around the kayak, so a hole in one will still allow you to float.

The down side is it does not row quite as fast as a hard kayak, at least with one person it a bit of a dog, though faster then a hard dinghy. But with two it scoots along nicely.

It still sits fairly high with 300-400 pounds in it, oh probably 80 percent of tubes out of the water. Not tipsy at all, rated capacity is 500 pounds.

I use the basic two person AF kayak without the extra skirts. There is a front skirt that keeps water out of the bow, plus tie downs fore and aft for drybags or whatever. The AF kayaks have metal bow/stern parts that make the bow and stern sharper / finer so it rows fairly well for an inflatable.

Sailor Chick could you post a pic of your kayak for us?

[sailorchic34]

Well I don't have a photo of the whole think, but here is a photo of it and my friend Diane taken during one of my california delta trips last year. Shows the front skirt and the two seat layout.

[Lexam]

I can definitely see how you could get a good amount of groceries back there. I really like the idea of something that portable.

[svrodeorm]

Yes, looks very good!

[SabreKai]

I grew up with a German Folbot. Wooden frame with rubberized canvas cover, foot rudder, leeboards and a gaff rigged main and jib on an 8foot mast. That's what I learned to sail on. Stupidly I sold the thing many years ago because I had no storage space for it. However, the company still exists, and has modernized the design to metal frames.

Here's the URL for the modernizes Greenland which is what we had.


Folding Kayaks & Folding Boats from Folbot - Kayaks - Greenland II

Sabre

[sailorgal]

We got a Klepper with sailing rig a few months ago and absolutely love it. We found it on eBay. It folds down into three easily handled bags, so it will fit on our boat.

Here's an example
Klepper Folding Kayak


Great fun!!