Folbot Kayak Instructions

canoe,kayak,boat image by Greg Pickens from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Folbot kayaks fold up into two bags for easy storage and transport. When at the launch site, according to Folbot, kayakers "should be able to put the boat together in under 20 minutes." Assembling the boat quickly means more paddling time and less time on the shore. A paddler who follows the instructions and practices assembling the kayak beforehand will find himself ready to go paddling in under 20 minutes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Put together all the long pieces of the frame. To make assembly easier all these pieces are joined with shock cord. The frame consists of five long pieces--a keel, two gunwales and two chines. The gunwales are marked with red dots. The chines are marked with green dots.

Step 2

Join the long pieces together. Insert a gunwale extender into each gunwale and snap the extenders into the metal slots marked with a red dot and attached to the keel's bow. Snap the chines into the metal slots marked with a green dot. All the black plastic locator clips must face into the boat.

Step 3

Attach each of the numbered crossframes to the long pieces at the corresponding numbered location on the keel. The crossframes sit perpendicular across the five long pieces. Once completed, the frame takes on the shape of a kayak.

Step 4

Assemble the two section rear deck strut and insert it into the top snaps of crossframe number four and five. The snap button should face up and sit near the cockpit.

Step 5

Finish joining the metal pieces by sliding the tensioner device onto the rear deck strut and the stern of the keel. Snap the footpegs into frame number one and two, and velcro the cockpit into the frame.

Step 6

Slip the frame into the skin by starting with the bow. The frame should slide into the skin without catching on anything. Align the skin's zippers with the frame's struts and close them.

Step 7

Tension the skin by spinning the tensioning device's handwheel and attaching the stern gunwale extenders to the metal clips at the stern. Keep spinning the handwheel until you remove all the folds and creases from the skin.

Step 8

Fasten the velcro straps located at the cockpit around the cockpit ring.

Step 9

Inflate the sponsons. The tubes are located just to the stern of the cockpit. Your breath provides enough force to inflate the sponsons.

Step 10

Finish outfitting the kayak. Fasten the seat to the frame with Velcro and hook the deck cords onto the deck.

Article Written By Bryan Hansel

Bryan Hansel is a freelance photographer and kayaking guide who began writing in 1993. His outdoors articles appear on various websites. Hansel holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and religion from the University of Iowa.

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