Subject: baidarka (via direct mail off list) Re: folding info?
From: RCH3149@aol.com
Date: Mon Jul 17 2000 - 14:41:11 EDT
In a message dated Mon, 17 Jul 2000 10:08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Ewa532@cs.com writes:
<< I'd be most interested and gratefull for any leads / info / plans / advice / donations :), on self building a folding baidarka along the lines of the larger feathercraft single. Thank you :) Eddie >>
Hi, Eddie!
Ralph Hoehn here. The baidarka list people already know about my little project, so I'm writing directly in response to your posting above: I'm about to finish off the manuscript version of an updated edition and translation of a German folding boat builder's manual / primer. As well as an excellent narrative (at least until I butchered it in translation :), it contains lines drawings and tables of offsets for a number of Greenland type kayaks, some of them adapted for white water use. It also has a good section on how to take off and adapt the lines of existing boats.
The old Bavarian who wrote the original (and with whose blessing I have been pursuing this project for the last 9 months or so), started to build in the 50s and learnt from some of the (non-commercial) folding kayak pioneers of much earlier in the last century. in those days folding kayaks were the only way to get to the white water upper reaches of rivers -- and then to run them!
Are you looking to build any time soon?
I would like to include a number of recent project reports from actual builders in the final version of the book. I already have an interesting one from a German correspondent, who built his first folder by adapting Klepper bits and pieces and then decided to scrap the whole thing and build himself a "real boat".
I also need someone to read the manuscript and point out errors and any areas, which require clarification in English. Of course someone who is using the book as a shop manual would be ideal. You get 130 or so pages of useful information, drawings of technical details and boat plans, I get some "expert" (you will be by the time you finish!) input and feedback. Does this sound like an interesting barter deal? :-)
For the record: I import Pouch folding kayaks to North America. We are currently introducing their new 16'4" Long Touring Single E68. No, this is not an unsolicited solicitation for you to buy one, but the lines and construction methods might also be of interest to you -- should that be the case, please do not make public the fact that you got it from me! :-)
You mentioned wanting to work "along the lines of the larger feathercraft single". Were you thinking about adapting
a) the lines / design of one of their boats or
b) their execution in terms of materials and fittings?
The original author of the above book abhors aluminium frames (for a number of good reasons, I believe) and I couldn't say that I'm desparately fond of them myself, preferring wood as the material of choice for the boat's frame -- if possible ash for the longitudinals and birch plywood for the frames.
I also prefer PVC skins over the much hyped hypalon (the power of marketing at its excessive worst, in my oppinion -- note that Feathercraft has dropped hypalon and now uses a type of PVC its weldability!). So much for my personal prejudices, just enough so that you might have fair warning!
Due to my work with Pouch, I do have intimate knowledge of their production and execution methods in addition to regular basement workshop type experience. What do you say? Are you game for a long distance joint project here? (I'm currently located in Stamford CT -- just how long is the distance?)
Best regards,
Ralph Hoehn
Ralph@PouchBoats.com
http://www.PouchBoats.com
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