''Folding Aluminum Baidarka Nevermore: Frame''
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After the experience with the Last Chance of course I had to try again. This time I went for a real folding design with assembly of all parts within a tight fitting skin. This is my last version of a foldable all-aluminum baidarka. This model is structurally as rigid as the original, without the handling limitations of many folding designs.

The frame features only two separation points per gunwale, which means that it can be competely disassembled and then the gunwales split into three pieces each. This results in a very strong frame; the drawback is an increased weight compared to the original. The advantage is an unprecedented mobility for a baidarka.

The empty ''Nevermore'' baidarka is 5.16m long (with rudder 5.30m), has a beam of 55cm and weighs 26.5kg (without sail). The whole expedition equipment are two bags of 32kg and 20kg. About $200 were spent for the skin; $70 for aluminum tubes and scrap plates. Expect to spend a lot more on tools and rivets... The new structure is quite as stable as a rigid boat; but do not expect wonders, because after reaching the point of maximum stress, aluminum will easily give and bend. Compared to a wooden boat, there is always a smaller safety margin, because the fibers of high grade wood seem to be a lot stronger.


Contributors to this page: Thomas Yost (TDY), Patrick Poirier (PPR), Gerald Maroske (GUM) and Hendrik Maroske (HHM)