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Folding Kayak Micro-Reviews

A few brief impressions of some of the folding kayaks on the market. Necessarily idiosyncratic, and not to be taken as authoritative. Do you have experience with a boat you'd like to share with others? Send me an email and I'll include it.

Folbot Citibot	The first new boat following Folbot's sale and infusion of new cash, the Citibot is the smallest and lightest Folbot yet. Using the newer Folbot assembly method, in which the frame is fully assembled before being inserted in the frame, the Citibot goes together quickly and without the need for strength of more than two hands. On water, it's quick for its size, very manuverable, isuper stable, and great fun for paddlers under 210lbs. Folbot has positioned the Citibot as the ideal boat to carry in your car just in case a paddling opportunity presents itself, and I'd said they've succeeded. Recommended for rivers and lakes and anywhere you won't run into heavy surf or big waves. Summary: A great light, compact boat for exploring smaller waters.
Folbot Aleut	I've mentioned before that this little boat may be my favorite of all folding kayaks. It's slow- probably the slowest folding kayak on the market- but it's relatively inexpensive, it's light, it's simple (only three ribs), it assembles faster than any boat on the market and it's as stable as a rock. ; To top it off, Folbot probably has the best customer service on the planet of any company in any industry. I'd recommend the Aleut to someone looking for a compact, inexpensive boat who isn't interested in high performance or learning traditional kayaking skills, like rolling and bracing. You just don't need them with this boat. It's ideal for fishing, nature watching, sailing (with Folbot's new rig) and just lazing about. That's not to say you can't use it for touring- many have- only that it wouldn't be my first choice. Plenty of Aleuts have been used for long trips. See, for instance, ; Bill Longyard's web pages for descriptions of his European trips with an Aleut. My pal Rob regularly takes his on Alaskan trips. One complaint on pre-2000 Aleuts was that you couldn't really brace against the front rib, as that resulted in bending and weakening the molded tab that holds it in place, at which point the rib pops loose. ; One popular solution is to stick a couple of truck tire valves into the frame to lock the rib in place, but that involves keeping track of a couple of loose pieces. Some owners tie the center rib in with velcro straps. But in n the fall of 2000, Folbot developed yet another improvement that addressed this very point. There's now a tab that takes the load and prevents the rib from popping out. The ribs are significantly more flexible than those in other boats, but this is not a boat you need to brace for rolling. ; Summary: The most fun and convenience for the buck.
Folbot Yukon	A few preliminary observations after one trip in my new 2005 Yukon. This is essentially a stretched Aleut, so everything that's been said about the Aleut applies to the Yukon as well. Think of it as an Aleut for those over 5'10" or 180 lbs. I bought mine to use for nature study and fishing, as it's very stable platform that can be assembled quickly. It takes just a few minutes longer than the Aleut, owing to the two-piece coamings, but it can still be done inside of ten minutes with practice. It's definitely faster than the Aleut, a lot roomier, of course, and, I think, a real bargain of a boat that can handle just about any trip short of a serious expedition. Highly recommended for anyone for whom the Aleut is just a little too small, and anyone needing a really roomy, stable boat. (I'll have a longer review, with photos, in the near future) Summary: A stable, roomy boat that goes together fast.
Folbot Kodiak	In many ways this is Folbot's interpretation of the classic Klepper Aerius I. Length and width are very close. The big difference, performance wise, is the very different rocker of the two boats. The Aerius has a fair amount of rocker and turns fairly quickly. ; The Kodiak, like all Folbots, has a small amount of negative rocker owing to the aluminum end pieces. As a consequence the boat tends to track very well, but turns slowly unless leaned, or the rudder is used. It's extremely easy to assemble thanks to the zippered deck. It seems a little slower than the Aerius, perhaps owing to the somewhat blunter bow. At about $1545 (2002 price), it's 30% cheaper than its nearest competition, the Feathercraft Kahuna and Nautiraid Raid I. The plastic parts and aluminum longerons are not quite as strong as those used in Feathercrafts, but Folbot stands behind every product and will cheerfully replace any parts that fail. They've replaced parts for me at no cost on an 8 year old ; boat that I was the second or third owner of. ; Summary: A good competitively priced single for the kayaker on a budget.
Folbot Greenland II	I owned a Greenland II for a couple of years; I purchased it thinking I'd usually be carrying a passenger, and in two years I never paddled it with anyone else in it, so I sold it. As a double it's a good, rugged boat at a reasonable price, great for family outings and long trips. As a single it's a good choice for the very large (say, 270 pounds and up) paddler, or perhaps for the traveler needing to carry 300-400 pounds of gear for a major expedition. Otherwise when paddling lightly loaded it's too much at the mercy of wind and waves, being blown about and weathercocking unless the rudder is used. With Folbot's new sail rig it makes a great, cheap ; mini cruiser. ; Summary: A bargain priced big boat.
Folbot Cooper	The Folbot Cooper is the most radical boat to come from Folbot since Phil Cotton took over the company, and given Phil's reputation for innovation that's saying a lot. It's probably the lightest high performance folder out there. At 16'6" long with a beam of 24" my natural inclination was to compare it with the Feathercraft K-1, which I have a lot of experience paddling. The Cooper is much lighter and more flexible boat, and probably not as rugged, but performance wise it's an impressively good competitor. It accelerates fast, tracks well and is generally a pleasure to paddle. It's a bit more snug than the K-1, with a lower deck, and the seat doesn't compare with Feathercraft's expedition seat, but then, neither does any other folder's seat. At the asking price, the Cooper is a great choice for someone looking for a high performance recreational folding kayak. (See the Long Reviews section for a more detailed discussion of the Cooper- should be available by 7/5/05). Summary: A fun, fast boat at a bargain price with a few rough edges.
Feathercraft K-1 (1997 model)	Of all the boats I've tried, the K-1 is probably the closest to a traditional hardshell in performance. ng REe I was actually looking for a used Aerius I when Randy Henriksen steered me to this boat, saying "It's really time for you to upgrade your skills", and I have to admit he was absolutely right. You can't really practice bracing in a big double or a wide single; what you need is a boat that can be put over on its side, like the 25" wide K-1. I learned as much in my first two times out in the K-1 as I did in my previous 4 years of kayaking. My second time in the boat I spent an hour practicing braces and rescues with a friend paddling a hardshell boat, and by the time we finished I felt more stable and secure in the K-1 than I'd ever felt in a kayak. ; Another really nice thing about this boat is that like all Feathercraft singles, ; the entire package stows in one well-designed backpack, with a full load harness that stows away under a zipped panel, just like a travel pack. Feathercraft has a neat cart that can be used for wheeling the pack through airports or for carting the assembled boat to the water's edge. ; The K-1 comes with an excellent rudder (and the best combination rudder pedals/foot braces of any folder), but it's unnecessary except in very high winds- higher than I've ever encountered. The boat just tracks wonderfully if you have any sort of paddling skills. ; Feathercrafts are unique among folder- and among kayaks, for that matter- in that they come with everything you need as standard equipment: Rudder, spray skirt, even custom fitted flotation bags. ; In fact, I have only one major complaint about the boat- it's a royal pain to assemble, rarely taking ; less than 40 minutes. At times, when I've forgotten some important bit and had to partially disassemble it again, it's taken me nearly an hour. Every time I put it together I decide to sell it, but every time I get in it on the water I'm convinced I should keep it. I finally decided to trade it in towards a newer boat... and then decided to keep it. This year (2001) I started paddling it using a Feathercraft Klatwa Inuit-style paddle ; Perfect synergy. ; Between 1998 and 2000 Feathercraft made some fairly radical changes to the K-1 that made it a bit faster in the water and much easier and quicker to assemble. The longerons are now permanently attached to the bow and stern plates, so instead of having a dozen assemblies to sort out and connect you only had to shake the frames and watch the shock cords align everything. The cordura hull, which stretched when wet and shrank when dry, was replaced by a dimensionally stable polyurethane hull that eliminates most of the cursing during assembly and knocked about 15 pounds off the weight of the boat. Any downsides? Well, the frame isn't quite as redundant as that of a Klepper, Long Haul or Nautiraid. There are a few critical parts that, if lost, would make it difficult if not impossible to assemble the boat. And it is expensive, costing nearly twice what a new Long Haul Mark-I costs. But for sheer paddling pleasure, the K-1 and its narrow cousin, the Katslano, are hard to beat. Summary: A great choice for someone looking for high quality, hardshell performance and the convenience of a folder.
Foldlite XK 1220	Foldlite boats are of a very novel design, using a lightweight, silicone coated hull stretched over a series of folded modules made of corrugated plastic. While light, they are not significantly lighter than similar sized lightweight models from other makers, and are much less rugged than similarly priced models from other makers. Summary: An interesting idea that needs further development.
Klepper Aerius II	The Aerius II is the oldest design on the market, although the materials and hardware have been periodically updated. This is a large boat, 17' long and 36" wide, and as such it's not particularly fast or quick handling. What it does have going for it is that it's one of the most seaworthy boats of any sort you can buy; this is the kind of boat you take it you're going on a two-month trip away from civilization. ; Mine hasn't been used for anything like that, however. I started out using it as a big single, but now it's mainly the boat I use when paddling larger water or ; camping with a partner who may not have the skills needed to handle a single comfortably in difficult conditions. I also intend to use it as a sailboat with a new ; Balogh sails this spring. ; Although it does handle very easily as a single, I wouldn't recommend it for that use unless you're a very big paddler or have the need to carry a tremendous amount of gear. Like most doubles, when lightly loaded it sits high in the water and sort of wallows around. Being wide, you can't really brace ; in it too easily. ; A few other ; negatives: The seats aren't terribly comfortable- see the comments in the Aerius I review below. The Klepper rudder is not the best one around. It's large and draggy, and using it is to be avoided whenever possible. ; I find I don't need it unless I'm paddling with a particularly uncoordinated or willful partner. The pedals are clumsy and don't accommodate the legs of a tall person. There's no way anyone much over 6' tall can use the rudder pedals from the rear seat without major contortions. Set up as a single, it's easier to mount the pedals in a usable position, but then when paddling it as a single you don't really need the rudder unless you're sailing. One of my long-term projects is to come up with a better rudder pedal system. I'm contemplating something similar to the new Folbot rudder system, and may buy a few Folbot pieces. ; Summary: A great boat for major trips in the heavy-duty "Expedition" version, a good double for fun paddling with a partner or sailing in the "Basic" version. Super high quality, of course, and it'll last as long as you do.
Klepper Aerius I	The first folder I ever saw, and still a classic. The Aerius I doesn't have the performance of the Feathercraft, and it doesn't assemble as quickly as an Aleut, but in many ways it's still one of the best all-round folders Until recently it was my first choice for camping travel.. ; Quality-wise it's as well put together as anything. The hulls are as tough as anything made of hypalon can be, the canvas deck may allow a little water to seep in at the seams, but it keeps the boat cool in warm weather, and the frame is tough and resilient. The frames pieces are solid and seem to take a lot of abuse. If there is a weak point it's a aluminum fittings. They're a bit soft, and can be bent or damaged, although this doesn't often happen once the boat is assembled. It's more likely to happen when the boat is in the bag. I can put together an Aerius I in around 10-15 minutes without rushing, starting with everything in the bag, and it only takes another 5 minutes or so to attach the spray deck and inflate a couple of flotation bags. ; On the water, the boat is reasonably fast and extremely maneuverable. It takes a bit more care than the Feathercraft K-1 to keep it going straight, but it feels light and turns easily. In a strong wind it wants to weathercock, and figthing this can be tiring. The rudder is strongly recommended for windy conditions. Compared to the wider doubles it feels a little tippy- particularly if you don't brace yourself against the frame, and especially if you're tall. Loaded down with 40-60 pounds of camping gear it's much more stable. On my last trip in this boat I had a total payload of about 260 pounds of paddler and payload and found this a comfortable load to paddle. Bracing yourself in the boat is difficult in the Aerius unless you're the right height, but then, that's a problem for every boat except the Feathercrafts, with their adjustable pedals/footrests and inflatable hip pads. If you're the right height, though, you can rest your feet on rib #3 and brace your knees under the deck. Otherwise you need to make or purchase some sort of accessry rest. Some have made bracing boards, as detailed by Ralph Diaz in the Folding Kayaker newsletter. I was working on making Feathercraft-style pedals for my boat, but instead I acquired a protoype Long Haul adjustible footrest that's now a regular product. One perpetual annoyance is the Klepper seat. In its current version it consists of a molded foam seat and a molded foam backrest that clamps between the coaming sides. The seat is far too firm and needs a lot of breaking in to make it comfortable. The seat is uncomfortable when wearing a PFD and pushes the paddler too far forward. I've tried a number of alternatives, most recently adapting the Folbot seat which works fairly well but is still lacking in padding for my tastes. My preferred seat now is the Long Haul seat from Mark Ekhart at Klepper Service Center/Long Haul. It's the ideal seat for the double, and works fairly well in the single, too, although it does sit me a little high in the single. The one drawback of this boat is that it was designed some time ago for European-sized paddlers. What that means is if you're over 6' tall, or over 180 lbs, you should probably consider the Long Haul Mk-I, if you want a good wooden framed touring boat. Summary: An excellent all-round boat for everything from messing about in ponds ; to major expeditions, if you're not too big for it.
Long Haul Folding Kayaks Ute	In the late summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to borrow the first production Long Haul Ute for a test outing. My impression? This is a superb combination of light weight, good performance, and expedition quality in a package for the smaller (say, under 180lb) paddler. My 110lb, 5'2" girlfriend calls it her favorite boat, ever. See the full review in the "Longer Reviews" section.
Long Haul Folding Kayaks Mark II	I recently (summer 2003) received a Long Haul Mk-II for test and I have to say this is a very impressive boat. ; First, the hull. I've seen a lot of Mark Ekhart's custom hull work before, as I own a rebuilt Klepper single that Mark did and I used to own a Klepper Master with a Long Haul replacement hull. As was the case with those boats, the hull on the Mk-II is of exceptional quality, as good as anything Klepper ever made. In some ways it's a bit better; Klepper discontinued the complex bow and stern fitting some time ago in a cost cutting measure, but Mark has resurrected the design for his boats. The bow is also fitted with a triple-laminated rub strip- a nice feature. ; The frame is as impressive as the hull, if not more so. At first glance the frame pieces appear identical to Klepper parts, but there are some important differences. ; The longerons/gunwhales are braced with a continuous sheet of marine ply with oval shaped lightening holes, rather than the sperate rectangular braces used by Klepper. This design was more common on many of the older folding boats. It's a little more expensive to build a frame this way as it takes more wood and more labor, but it better distributes stress through the structure. ;Another significant difference is the mounting of the rudder pedals. Rather than being a seperate assembly, they're integrated into the rib positioned behind the forward seat. This feature alone probably knocks ten minutes off the rudder installation. (I have a tape of Mark doing a complete assembly, including spray deck, in 17 minutes, and he doesn't look like he's rushing). The most noticeable diffference in the frame is the use of stainless steel hardware throughout. Again, a feature that adds a few ounces but results in a tremendous improvment in ruggedness and reliability. The connectors are simple, rugged and foolproof. You won't see a problem with corroding, bending and breaking fasteners in this boat. Ribs just slide into place and are held in with a captive stainless cotter. The clamps that hold the coaming in place are a marvelously elegant design; simpler than the Klepper, yet more secure. ;The coaming clamps are a two-piece stainless assembly that's a huge improvment over the three-piece aluminum Klepper design. Another nice feature that greatly speeds assembly is that way in which the floorboards attach to the bow and stem pieces. Unlike the Klepper frames, which require bending the frame to slip a pair of pins into their sockets, the floorboards just slip into the end pieces, as in a Folbot. ;And like the Folbot and most other newer designs, the Long Haul uses twist-lock inflation valves on the sponsons rather than Klepper's plugs. (I always carry spare plugs when I take my Klepper on a multi-day trip!) The Long Haul seats are another huge improvement over the stock Klepper models. I've been using these seats for a few years in my Kleppers so I was already familiar with them. (See them on the Accessories page). The seats are made from marine plywood with Hypalon hinges, and ; use Therma-Rest inflatable cushions for both seat and back padding. ; Fellow folding kayaker Rob Thompson and I took the Mark II out for a 12 mile paddle on a sunny May day and we were very impressed with the boat. It handles just like a Klepper- no surprises, as the hull dimensions are identical- but the the various improvements Mark has added make this the superior boat. The built-in rudder pedals are really great- much easier to set up than the Klepper's, and the stainless steel carabiners insure the cables won't detach when you're under way. The Mark Balogh designed rudder is also a huge improvement over the Klepper design and a must for sailing. (I purchased one for my Kleppers last year). ;The rudder lift line lock has one small difference from the Klepper- the holes are drilled at right angles. A tiny detail, but this one works, and the Klepper one doesn't- at least, not without a knot tied in it. For more details and photos, click here. Summary: A great all-around boat for everything from casual paddling to major expeditions, and the absolute best built of all the wood framed boats.
Feathercraft Kahuna	Here's a strong, fast, lightweight boat at a competitive price. ; I haven't paddled one but I did have the opportunity to assemble and check one out. ; First of all, this boat has all the build quality of the much more expensive K-1. The aluminum tubing seems a bit ; lighter, and the ribs are injection molded from polycarbonate rather than being sawn from HDPE, but this is still one heck of a boat. The tubing appears to be a stronger alloy ; than that used in the Folbots or the Aluminum Kleppers and Nautiraids. The ribs are very strong, and well designed, with no stress risers or other weak points. Reports from test paddlers say it's probably the fastest boat in the 15' and under class. And like all the new Feathercrafts, all the seams are absolutely waterproof. ; The new polyurethane skin is impressive. It's much thinner and lighter than the hypalon used by almost all the quality boat makers and said to be stronger, too. Given the low price I suspect this is going to be an extremely popular boat. Summary: A super all-around boat at an attractive price.
Nautiraid Raid I Mk II	Often compared to the Klepper Aerius I, the Nautiraid Raid I is lighter, a little beamier, ; and sits a bit lower in the water. The hull is comparable in quality to a Klepper, with a waterproof deck instead of the breathable canvas of the Kleppers. The frame consists of a large number of smaller pieces, and on first glance it looks like a bundle of sticks. Once together, though, the hull is as rigid as a Klepper, if not more so. And it goes together very quickly with practice, as the frame pieces are attached together in two groups with only one loose rib. Assembly is a bit tricky unless you do everything in the right order; once you decide to follow the directions it's easy. (Randy Henricksen's video tape is a must-have.) ; ; I've only paddled the Raid I Mk II once, and my impression was that it handled similarly to an Aerius I, with a bit more initial stability and a little better tracking. I did find note it was not as easy to enter; I tended to scrape my legs on the rib just ahead of the cockpit. If you're under 6'2" and 220lbs, don't have bicyclist's thighs or are just more coordinated than I am you'll probably find it very easy to slip into. The rudder pedals- really stirrups- are somewhat difficult to use, but this boat doesn't need a rudder. ; Summary: A good cheaper and lighter alternative to the Klepper if you're looking for a very stable single that can carry 330 lbs, but again, the Kahuna is stiff competition in this price range.
Nautiraid Raid I ; (original)	The original Raid I is very similar to its successor, the Raid I ; Mk II, but has a fish-form hull that gives it a somewhat ; different feel in the water. I didn't have any difficulty keeping it tracking straight, but lightly loaded in a high wind the rudder might be a useful adjunct. Tracking is a little poorer than the Aerius; you could also say this is a significantly more maneuverable boat. The one I tested belongs to a friend who bought it as his first folder after having used my Aleut quite a bit. At first he had a good deal of difficuty going in a straight line, but by his second time out he had no problem. ; In this boat, the paddlers sits forward of the center, and the hull's width is greatest at a point forward of center, too. It's a very maneuverable boat- so much so that beginners can have some difficulty keep it going in a straight line. ; The cockpit is significantly larger than that of the Mark II as well, being more like a Klepper in size. That has the added benefit of opening up the rib just ahead of the Paddler, making it easier for tall paddlers like myself to get their legs in. ; One significant benefit of the original Raid I's maneuverability is its suitability for sailing. Mark Balogh of Balogh Sail Designs tells me that this boat is an excellent little sail boat, perhaps the best of all the folding kayaks out there for this purpose. ; Summary: Wide, stable and not too heavy (around 50 lbs). Often a good buy on the used market if you can find one. A super mini sailboat.
Pouch E68 Single	Coming....
Russian "Svir" Double Kayak	Here's an unusual boat that shares some characteristics with other boats on the market, but which does a number of things very differently. ; The frame is made of high-quality aluminum tubing that looks a lot like the 6061 Feathercraft uses. The keel tubing is of a very large diameter and contributes to the overall stiffness of the assembled boat. The hull is a quality PVC laminate not unlike the Nautiraid PVC hulls. The stitching is a little uneven, but solid, and there were no loose threads or badly sewn seams, and every seam appeared to be glued as well as sewn. Once nice feature of the hull is the very solid and abrasion resistant keel strips that appear to be either glued or heat welded to the hull. ; The frame consists of six ribs made of tubing and plastic fittings, a large number of individual tubes and four preassembled subassemblies. Altogether I think I counted around 30 or so pieces. All tubes lock together securely via spring loaded brass pins. The assembly method is quite unlike any of the other boats on the market, although it does have the general "assemble two halves and scissors them apart" construction. One big dig difference from the Klepper is how the bow and stern plates attach- they just slide in, like the bow and stern on the Folbots. Much easier. The supplied English language ; instructions are a bit on the sparse side, consisting of three pages off an ink-jet printer, and. I ended up figuring it out largely on my own. Igor did tell me he's always available by phone to help first timers, but I wanted to do this on my own in order to see what it would be like for a beginner without help. The tubes are all color coded with various colors of vinyl tape, and after a while I was able to decode that as well- there's no specific guide in the instructions. ; Once the frame halves were assembled, the next step was figuring out which half went in which end of the boat. I accomplished this by getting a measuring tape out of the car and measuring both the frame halves and the hull; there's no other indication of what goes where. Scissoring the frame halves together it appeared that the hull stretched a significant amount during assembly, and indeed I did a good deal of yanking and stretching to get all the longerons aligned and linked. I had a few problems in getting everything fastened- on a couple of longerons, the color-coding tape prevented the sleeves that secure the longerons together from sliding down the tube. ; In the water, the boat performed well. Even though I was paddling from the stern with no ballast or rudder (there's no provision for a rudder) I had no problem getting it pointed where I wanted to go. The boat turned very easily- more like a Klepper or Nautiraid single than like a double- though I suspect it will perform a little differently when fully loaded. ; The supplied paddles consist of a take-down uncoated aluminum shaft and what appear to be composite blades. They aren't bad- they're better than the Folbot paddles- but I chose to use my 260cm Little Dipper for most of my paddling. The seats are comfortable, being suspended from the frame much in the manner of the Feathercraft seats although constructed more lightly. I'd keep an eye on the seams and perhaps apply a little seam sealer to prevent wear. The frame is extremely rigid when assembled and feels very secure. Cockpit spacing is generous, meaning that this is a boat that two can paddle without worrying about clanking paddles together. There's a ton of room under the decks and access to that room is very easy. ; Disassembly was quicker than assembly, but still took some time, as the frame didn't want to slide out. I ended up mostly disassembling the frame inside the hull. I suspect a spray of water inside the hull might ease assembly and disassembly. Ralph Hoehn suggested talcum powder for this purpose, although this would only work until a little water got inside. ; I've seen pictures of these boats handling class II and class III whitewater, and the wide, shallow hull shape seems to suggest that they'd have no problem navigating that sort of water, although I'd be worried about bending ; tubes unless I placed a foam pad between the frame and hull. ; In summary: An extremely solid boat, although one that takes a good deal of time to assemble- even with practice I'd guess it's a 30-40 minute boat for one person. (Igor says a team of two can do it in 20-30). At $1895 it's the cheapest of the full sized doubles on the market. It tracks well and turns easily, though the lack of a rudder might make tracking problematic for novice paddlers. ; Summary: Buyers looking for a relatively inexpensive double would probably compare this boat to the hypalon hulled ; Folbot Greenland II at $2195 (plus another $125 for the spraydeck) and the shorter, vinyl hulled Nautiraid Raid II Touring at $1975. ;
Long Haul Folding Kayaks Mark I	Like the Mark-II, the Long Haul Mark-I is very similar to a Klepper kayak- in this case, the Aerius I. Not surprising, given Mark Ekhart's years of experience repairing, modifying, restoring and modifying Klepper kayaks. Whereas the Mark-II is identical in size to the Klepper Aerius-II, the Mark-I is just under a foot longer than the Klepper single. You'd think that a small change like this wouldn't have much effect- but it does. Beyond the obvious- a little more cargo room- the added volume adds a surprising amount of stability to the boat. Compared to the Aerius-I, the Mark-I feels significantly stiffer when you lean to one side. After an initial solo outing in the Mark-I, I spent a day paddling both this boat and the Klepper Aerius-I, trading back and forth with my friend John Charlton, and we were struck how very different the two boats feel. The Long Haul has much more primary and secondary stability while giving up little if any maneuverabiliity- the Long Haul seemed to both John and me ; to turn just as easily as the Klepper. And thanks to the extra length and stability, lot of tall or larger (over 200 lbs) paddlers who have purchased Klepper Aerius IIs or Nautiraid Raid IIs will find the Mark-I to be a better choice. Handling in high winds is also a bit more neutral in the Mark-I. The Klepper likes to point downwind; the Mark-I seems to want to lie perpendicular to the wind. It's a bit easier to paddle in a stiff wind without a rudder. It also rides a bit higher in the water than the Klepper, owing to the greater internal volume, and that has a number of secondary effects. For instance, ; the bow seems to push less water up owing to the smoother entry. I've often noticed a little spray of water that seems to rise vertically from the bow of my Klepper single when others are paddling it. Like the Mark-II, the connectors on the Mark-I are all made of stainless steel, and just about every fitting on the boat could be made with hand tool using pieces of scrap if one found oneself in a remote area with broken parts and no spares. That's a plus for expeditioners- although it's hard to imagine breaking any of these parts. And like the Mark-II, ; the Mark-I is significantly cheaper than the comparable Klepper. Any downsides? It's one of the heavier folding singles. The added length and steel fittings add a significant amount of weight. Long Hauls lists the weight at 65 lbs versus 60 lbs for a Klepper expedition single. If you're looking for a backpackable boat, this isn't it; it's designed for paddling, not carrying. Small paddlers might prefer a lighter boat. But that added weight is justified by the ruggedness of the boat and the increased load carrying capability. See photos and more discussion at http://foldingkayaks.org/MK1details.shtml Summary: A superb all-around single for everything from recreational paddling to major expeditions, and one of the best choices for the bigger paddler.
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