Following up to both posts.

"Tinkerntom" wrote in news:1110685668.227862.222450
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:


No Spam wrote:
Big snip---

Hey Tom, have you seen the Yost boats in person? I found his web site
very intriguing. I have been wanting to do a stitch and glue from One
Ocean but have not started yet and the idea of a boat that I could
easily take on a family vacation has me thinking about trying that one
first. I just would like to have an opinion from someone that has
eyeballed or better yet paddled one of these boats. If I remember
correctly you have a folding boat from one of the manufacturers right?

Someone local built one (I think it was the Sea Rover) and I even got the
chance to paddle it a bit (while he paddled my cedar strip Outer Island). I
liked how it paddled but he wasn't quite finished with it. He hadn't built
the wood floor yet so the hull flexed much more than it should have. As a
result, the hull would flex when making a tight low brace or bow rudder turn
and make the boat spin on a dime. However, when trying to roll it, the boat
would flex when I hip-snapped the middle of the boat would lift. I had to
really slow down the roll or perform a layback, and without the wood floor
it was a bit uncomfortable laying back against the cockpit combing. It also
had a couple of leaks that the builder hadn't fixed yet so it got real
slugish after a few deep edged turns.

Do you find that it is capable of taking the abuse of hitting bottom
now and again? Do you use float bags or a sea sock?

I would probably go with float bags although finding some that would fit
such a low volume boat (or a sea sock for that matter) might be difficult.
They could probably be made though.


Ken

I'm in favor of that darkside metamorphosis, Yost being a neighbor
of mine here in Denver, and him making some dandy boats. Though I
don't know whether riverman is inclined to the hobby craftsmen
aspect of building your own, besides having the time between now and
going to, is it HK. TnT


I have corresponded with him, about getting together, but have yet to
do so. He is real approachable and glad to talk boats.

I also corresponded wth Tom a bit and he assured me that the problems I had
with the boat I paddled were due to the construction, not the design. I may
have to build one to find out how it's *supposed* to paddle.



Most of the Bagboaters put sacrificial strips on the hull along the
longerons to take the abuse. I recently found some special PVC tape
that I am going to try using. It comes with some very sticky waterproof
adhesive, is UV resistant, and is solid 10 mil thick. Most packing tape
is 1 or 2 mil, so gives you an idea, and there is not cloth backing
like duct tape.

You got a source for that tape? If I build one I might want to use some as
well.

Some of the guys have used the duct tape which is good
for about a season, and then you replace it.

Most of the newer boats use a Hypalon hull which is probably tougher,
but is also a little more involved to work on. Most of the guys seem to
be really happy with it, and say it should last 30-40 years.

I've seen a few original Folbots that were 30 years old.

Some of the newer Folbots, are comparable to Hard shell, and the
Feathercraft I've heard, actually will out perform some of the high end
sea kayaks.

I paddled a Feathercraft Khastlano about 5 years ago and liked it quite a
bit though I don't know about it out performing a hardshell. Some claim
that the flex in the hull makes it more seaworthy in rough seas than a
hardshell. The Khastlano is also something like $4,000.


There is a Yahoo group for Bagboaters where they talk about all this
stuff. They tend to be orientated to trying all kinds of modifications
since the platform is very flexible and frindly to us Tinkers! TnT

Ralph Diaz frequently posts to the Paddlewise mailing list as well as
another Ralph from somewhere in Europe that promotes the Pouch Boats.