Wood is easy to repair in case of accident. aluminum frames look modern, wood frames look traditional. They find that an aluminum frame is slightly lighter than wood for the same strength (saving about 7 pounds for a one-person sea kayak) and that can be cheaper than a wood frame, but wood frames can be assembled faster. Wood or aluminum? One company that offers its customers a choice of wood or aluminum is Nautiraid in France. They're usually made from half-inch plywood, but they can be cut from solid plastic such as HDPE, or moulded in plastic composite. The pieces that go across the boat are called ribs or frames. They're usually made from solid wood or aluminum tube, but composite rod is also possible. The pieces that go from one end of the kayak to the other end are called longitudinals or stringers (or more specifically, the keel, chines and gunwales). In this section, I summarize the main points about folding kayaks.įor links to manufacturer websites see Kayarchy Shopping.įor lots more information see Michael Edelman's site at The frame Only a few manufacturers sell a light folding kayak that fits in a bag less than 40 inches long. At each of those lengths, one or more folding kayak manufacturers fallsby the wayside. It's safer to buy a kayak that fits into bags less than 57 inches, or 53 inches, or even 40 inches long. So far, most airlines have been happy to carry bags less than 62 inches long, but this can change at any time. If you want a folding kayak for air travel, it's a good idea to re-check the maximum size and weight that your favourite airlines are willing to carry without extra charges. Or at least, it reduces the amount of mud and wet sand that collects in the joints and next to the skin. A good "sea sock" is a very good investment, because it keeps the inside of the kayak clean and dry. The frames often include aluminum components which should really be washed in fresh water every time they are exposed to salty water, or even salty air. If light weight is the most important factor on your shopping list, have a look at Inflatable Kayaks.Īll folding kayaks take time to assemble, anything from 15 minutes to an hour or more. A lightweight folding kayak is likely to be weaker and less durable than a similar rigid kayak. So, they are harder work than a rigid kayak.įolding kayaks made to military specifications are very, very heavy to carry. The hull of a folding kayak may look nice and smooth out of the water but when it is afloat, water pressure makes the skin bulge in between the rigid parts of the frame so the underwater shape becomes lumpy. Apart from the cost, there's performance. If you buy a traditional design which has been in production in the same factory since the 1920s, you can probably buy a replacement skin and give your kayak another couple of decades of life.įolding kayaks are not the perfect solution for everybody's kayaking needs. The frame will probably last 40 or 50 years with ordinary care (just look on eBay) and a good skin will last for 20 or 30 years. They're expensive, but then they have a lot of components. Most are no more affected by sliding over sharp rocks than the typical composite kayak. They're wonderful if you want to travel by air with your kayak or if you want to take kayaks on your yacht or if you live in a city apartment and you find that a 17-foot long rigid kayak won't go up the stairs or into the elevator.Ī "folder" is easily tough enough to survive falling off a roof rack onto cement. Folding kayaks have a heavy waterproof fabric skin over a collapsible frame or skeleton.
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