The Kayak as Dinghy

April-May 2000

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by James Lethcoe

The open double cockpit of this folding kayak makes it especially suitable as a replacement for a dinghy Photo courtesy of Klepper Canada

How many times in light airs have you glanced forlornly astern to see your dinghy shoving aside a bow wave which seemed to resemble that of a small battleship, and wondered why someone hasn't designed a tender more appropriate to the needs of the cruising sailor? The answer is, someone has, and it's called a "folding kayak".

The ideal tender for a small sailing cruiser should fulfill a number of rather stiff criteria. Not only should it tow well with a minimum drag, but it should resist swamping in a chop, stow easily when not in use, be seaworthy and safe for trips ashore, and be efficiently propelled to allow one to explore with relative ease those shallow lagoons and inlets inaccessible to the average deep-draft sailing craft. The folding kayak (or fold boat) answers these demands nicely.

The major disadvantage of a kayak as a ship-to-shore tender is that it can only comfortably carry one to two persons. However this disadvantage is offset by its speed. The fold boat can deliver a passenger to shore and return in the time it takes a conventional dinghy to cover half the distance.

If you have been towing a rubber raft or flat-bottomed dinghy, you will be amazed at the virtually drag-free performance of a sleek kayak. Our two-person kayak tows so effortlessly that we experience no discernible drag even in the lightest of airs. In fact, we often forget its presence.

When the wind picks up, the kayak really comes into its own as a reliable tender. Light, extremely stable and seaworthy, this little craft takes the most vicious of chops in stride. Most models come with a splash cover which completely seals the cockpit from boarding seas and spray. In three months of towing our kayak in Alaskan waters last summer, we never encountered conditions too rough for this little craft.

Towing a kayak presents slightly different problems from towing the average tender, however. A conventional bridle and long tow rope simply does not work; the absence of a substantial keel causes the kayak to wander. This tendency can be corrected by towing the fold boat four feet or so astern. Slightly more line, however, is required with a following sea as the light kayak tends to surf overtaking the mother ship. Editor's note: not all kayaks tow as well as this, particularly not behind a powerboat, so carrying on deck is usually the best option.

One of the great advantages of the fold boat is that it can be stowed snugly below when cruising offshore. Our two-person boat when broken down fits into three small bags. About a half hour is required to assemble the boat and slightly less time to disassemble it. More time should be allowed, however, if one is assembling the boat on deck where space is limited.

Folding kayaks have proven to be extremely seaworthy and safe when handled properly. Numerous offshore passages and even a transatlantic crossing have been made in these crafts. Although you will probably not want to set out across any oceans in your tender, there is a certain satisfaction in knowing you could if you had to. At any rate, paddling out to set a second anchor in a choppy anchorage can be accomplished with assurance and safety. Should a sizable surf be running, there is a certain consolation in knowing that surfing in folding kayaks is fast becoming a popular sport along the California coast.

Initially a little tippy, the kayak is stable as long as the occupants keep their centers of gravity low. Should she capsize, a fold boat is equipped with air bladders for flotation and in an inverted position will easily support the weight of two men.

Boarding the kayak can be a bit tricky. One should always be careful to step in the center of the craft and retain a firm handhold on the mothership until you can safely assume a sitting position. On boats with moderate to high freeboard, a boarding ladder would be a necessity. Our German shepherd, however, leaps back and forth between our fold boat and 31' ketch with relative ease.

In the evening after dinner is the time when the kayak is most appreciated. Gliding effortlessly along the shore to watch birds and wildlife, to explore shallow nooks and crannies, provides a major source of recreation after a long day's sail. And if we want to visit some nearby shore feature without bothering to weigh anchor on the larger boat, we do not hesitate to strike out in the kayak. Ours is so effortlessly paddled that a distance of several miles offers no obstacle at all. Fold boats also come with sailing rigs. While a kayak under sail can hardly be expected to perform like a crack sailing dinghy, they sail surprisingly well. Poor performers in light airs, they produce a reasonable turn of speed in moderate breezes. With lee boards down, they are quite stable. We have sailed our kayak with no problems on days when gusty winds and incompetent sailors were flipping El Toros and FJs all over the lake.

James Lethcoe and Nancy Lethcoe run Alaska Wilderness Sailing and Kayaking. Phone 907-835-5175. Fax: 907-835-3765. Email: awss@alaska.net. Web: www.alaska.net/~awss/

For information on Klepper Folding Kayaks contact: . Klepper West, 6155 Mt.Aukum Rd. Somerset, CA 95684-0130. Ph: 530-626-8647. Email: klepperwest@jps.net .Web: www.klepperwest.com or . Klepper Canada: 4718 1st Street S.W Calgary Alberta. Ph: 403-287-2120. Email: amscgyca@cadvision.com. Web: www.klepper.com. . Baidarka Boats, ph: 907-747-8996. Web: www.kayaksite.com