"back40" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 20:30:37 GMT, "Mike Hackett"
wrote:


Even the Folbot singles have generous cockpit openings, if that's what
you
are looking for. The price is reasonable,

Yes, especially now their annual sale on till month-end.

and the company very nice.

Read reviews from many happy owners, just one disgruntled one who said
things broke (plastic crossframe?) the first time out. Warranty
service seems first-rate.

They are stable. Not the fastest or most responsive things out there, and
not the
"one with the kayak" type, so there's tradeoffs, depending on what you
want.

You'll probably need to work on the seating a bit, though, to improve
under-thigh and lower-back support.
I did read comments on the lack of a footrest.
Personally, I'm glad Feathercraft has gone to direct ordering from their
website.

It would seem logical to either sell factory direct, OR through
dealers, but not both, since your own dealers wind up competing with
you, (and situtations like I encountered happen).

Mike (has a Greenland II for us, wants a Kahuna for me)

You have a Greenland II! That is the boat I am now considering,with
the sail rig, and if I could ask your advice...I would primarily be
paddling solo. More than a few people have said they regretted buying
a double for solo use, because the added height and beam makes
paddling in the solo position awkward, and the greater windage when
only loaded with one paddler makes it a handful in crosswinds or rough
water.
Have you found this to be the case? Would I be making a mistake buying
this for solo use?
It is, after all, only a few inches longer than my current rotomold,
2 inches more height, but there is ten inches more beam, although that
should provide considerably more stability, and being a large paddler
myself, I didn't think it should be a problem.
The Kodiak model is also more roomy than my Dimension Nomad, and has a
larger cockpit opening, AND is considerably cheaper than the
Greenland, BUT is the only model for which Folbot does not offer
aluminum crossframes. Given my bulk, I'd rather have the metal, and
the ability to carry another paddler occasionally, or a lot of camping
gear would be a plus.
The closest paddle for me is Lake Ontario, hence added freeboard and
stability would provide more peace of mind.



The GII is a great boat. Get the solo kit and you should be fine. Check out
the solo sprayskirt mods on http://www.folbot.com/forum.html for sturdier
options.

Dave


Red Greenland II
http://webkatz.net/kayak/gII.html