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Site last updated July 15, 2008
Like the Cooper, the Citibot, on first glance, appears to have more parts than it actually does- the use of
shockcorded sub-assemblies measn that there are actually very few parts to deal with. One surprise- the sponsons
are separate pieces, instead of being sewn into the hull. I thought this might have been done as a cost-saving
move, but it also means that replacement and maintenance is much easier than on the older Folbot models.
The original Cooper method of coaming construction has also been replaced by a one-piece coaming that attaches
to the frame with a pair of classic Folbot plastic wing nuts, which greatly simplifies assembly.
The biggest surprise was the new seat- with foam-filled, inflatable pads (inspired, perhaps, by the
Long Haul Thermarest-based seats) this is hands-down the most comfortable seat Folbot has ever produced.
My first assembly took about 30 minutes, without any reference to the manual. I'd assembled the Cooper before, a
nd the boats are similar, although the Citibot has a number of improvments over the early model Cooper.
For my first outing with the boat, I brought along one of my testers, and asked her to assemble the boat.
She'd borrowed the review Cooper twice, for extended use, so she wasn't entirely unfamiliar with the new
Folbot assembly method, but it's been about eight months since she last assembled the Cooper. She refused
help, saying she wanted to see if she could do it herself, without any reference to the manual, and indeed
she did it as fast as I did my first time out- maybe even a little bit faster.
The assembled boat is a good deal stiffer than the Cooper, owing to the shorter length and greater beam. At 2' shorter than the Aleut- not the fastest boat out there- I wondered how well it would paddle?
I'm a bit large for the Citibot, and though it could carry my weight, I thought it would be a lot more useful if I brought along a tester who was better suited to the boat. My bicycling and paddling pal Adventure Girl (as she prefers to be known for this review!) is a fit 5'9", and a skilled paddler who paddles a 16' rigid boat. For our outing, we picked a location made for the Citibot: A branch of Southeast Michigan's Rouge River, a 42 mile long river that runs through neighborhoods, parks, and even golf courses, through a dozen cities. It's pretty shallow, ranging from about 4 feet to less than a foot, and varies in width from 80 feet to perhaps a dozen feet wide. Our entry point was Riverside Park in Beverly Hills, a regular stop in our bike rides. AG launched quickly, and I followed in my Folbot Yukon.
Her first response was "this is great!" The boat seemed very responsive, and responded very quickly to turns. It wasn't at all the dog I'd worried its short length and wide beam might suggest; with an appropriately-sized paddler, actual wetted area is small, and it has a good glide. Some prospective owneres viewing the video on Folbot's site have wondered if this boat "didn't track as well" as other Folbots, but AG says the boat has good tracking- just not that running-on-rails feeling you get in older Folbots, like my Yukon. And indeed, as the river became narrower, and we had to manuver around fallen trees and shallows, the manuverability of the Citibot showed its worth.
The seat was a big hit with AG, both for the comfort and the ease of installation- it snaps on to the frame, so there are no straps to thread, no back stiffeners to fall out and get lost, none of the minor annoyances with earlier seats. Phil deserves major accolades for this piece. Incidentally, the water is about 8" deep where this photo was taken- hence the lack of PFDs on this leg of the journey!
What we thought would be a short paddle tuned into a three-hour tour as we explored different routes, made our way around obstacles, and from time to time got out of the boats to drag them through shallows. The open design of the boats made this very easy, and the Citibot's light weight was a plus for AG, who found it easy to carry the boat with one hand and her paddle with the other.
Her final opinion? This is a great boat for sheletered water. The lightness makes portages easy, and the compact size and great manuverability is ideal for rivers and creeks. She'd like to borrrow it again.
This time out my paddling partner was my girlfriend, a paddler with some experience, but not a lot of advanced skills. She usually paddles my Folbot Aleut, or from the front seat of my Klepper Aerius II. She's also paddled the Long Haul Ute, her favorite boat to date. Our paddling destination was the Huron River, a favorite spot for local canoists and kayakers. Water conditions are mainly Class 1, although there are a few Class 2 rapids, as well as some long fetches where you occasionally encounter 2' waves. We didn't expect anything like that today, although we did encounter some stiff winds.
Carrying the Citibot to our put-in was a pleasant surprise for the GF, who is used to the two of us carrying the 40-lb Aleut. She's 5'2" and about 110lbs, and could easily pick up the boat and carry it unaided. Her first reaction on setting off: "This is really responsive!" She liked the way it easily moved with a few paddle strokes, and how quickly it turned. Despite having most of her paddling experience in straight-tracking boats like the Aleut, she had no trouble keeping it on a straight track. It did wobble a bit back and forth with each stroke, but after an hour in the boat she was tracking it as straight as she did the Aleut. As for the seat: "Best kayak seat ever."
We paddled two miles upstream into a mild current and occasional custing winds, and then two miles back downstream, taking our time, exploring the shore and watching fish and birds. Halfway back, she asked me how much it cost. A little further, she asked how long I could keep it. I may have to hide it from her.
I'll be paddling the Citibot in other waters, and with other paddlers over the coming weeks (and maybe months), but my overall impression is that Phil has done an excellent job in producing a compact, carry-it-everywhere boat. It's fun, light, easy to assemble and easy to paddle, with plenty of stability for beginnners. Yet it's still very responsive, at least with a lighter paddler. (Rated load is 210 lbs, but I suspect it would be better for 160lb and down paddlers.)
Like all Folbots, it's a good value, and an excellent first choice for the mall to medium sized paddler planning on paddling in sheltered waters- though a really skilled lightweight paddler could probably get away with taking it out in more difficult conditions. It's the best Folbot yet for exploring small rivers, ponds and creeks. If you're considering the Aleut, and sailing isn't in your plans, I think you should give serious consideration to the Citibot.
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