Gear Locker: Feathercraft K1 / Werner Shuna

June-July 2004

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alex Matthews

Feathercraft K1

A different sort of backpacking trip!

One of the challenges for any kayaker is boat storage. Aboard a sailboat for instance, cargo space is always at a premium, and flying to remote paddling destinations with a rigid sea kayak is prohibitively expensive. Folding kayaks handily solve these problems by disassembling when not in use.

My review sample of the 16.5’ Feathercraft K1 arrived in a single box containing a big black duffel measuring 36” x 20” x 12” and weighing approximately 65 lbs. A panel on the duffel can be zipped open to expose padded shoulder straps and a hip-belt, transforming it into a big, easy-to-carry backpack.

But it’s what’s in the bag that really got me excited. With the aid of the comprehensive instructions (an assembly video is also supplied), the kayak went together easily with no need for tools or cursing. With practice, assembly takes about 40 minutes, but on your first time give yourself a good hour. All the steps are pretty straightforward and the design itself is elegantly simple. In the daunting task of engineering a folding kayak, Feathercraft has forgone fiddly or overly complex approaches in favor of a clean and reliable construction.

The frame consists of two main sections: the front and back of the boat. Shock-corded aluminum tubes are permanently attached to keel plates at the bow and stern, and high-density polyethylene crossribs serve to set the cross-sectional shape. Half of the frame is assembled at a time and stuffed into the skin. A clever feature is the use of two frame components as levers, used to extend the frame lengthwise. Rigid coamings attach at the hatches and cockpit. Two long inflatable sponsons in the fabric hull create a really taut fit for the skin.

This skin is a major key to the K1’s success. Materials are excellent and seams are welded instead of sewn. The resulting bond between the duratek hull and polytech deck fabric is totally waterproof, as are the fabrics themselves. In fact, this is one of the driest boats that I have paddled in awhile.

The K1 has two hatches, although the bow opening is very small and the stern hatch is bisected by the frame tube that runs down the center of the deck, so loading anything, other than small items, is better accomplished through the cockpit. Hatch closure is a roll-top design with a buckle similar to a drybag. Storage capacity is pretty good for the careful packer.

Alex was surprised by how well the K1 handled.

The K1 comes standard with Feathercraft’s excellent rudder system, a nylon sprayskirt and a sea sock. The sea sock consists of a coated, seam-sealed nylon bag that attaches to the cockpit, creating a ‘pod’ within the boat. Imagine sitting in half a sleeping bag. The sock does the same job that bulkheads do in a rigid kayak, preventing the entire volume of the boat from filling with water in the event of a capsize. The seat is extremely comfortable , featuring an inflatable seat back.

Afloat, feeling the kayak flex with every ripple, my first thought was: ‘A metal tubular frame with nylon stretched over it? Sounds just like my tent! Would I flip my tent upside down and go for a paddle? What was I thinking?’

But any feeling of fragility quickly disappeared, displaced by the K1’s obvious competence. In fact, the K1 is much more fun to paddle than I expected. With those big sponsons and a beam of 25”, I expected no more than ‘utilitarian’ handling, but the 51 lb K1 handles very well. A lot of the beam is out of the water, at least when the boat is unloaded, and it has decent speed and a decidedly good lean turn when edged. The overall handling has a feeling of quiet competence. Initially, it’s a little strange for those of us used to rigid kayaks. The boat flexes a lot, but it is just this flex that makes it so reassuring. This characteristic is particularly evident in confused water. Cruising by a breakwater where waves reflect and the conditions can be a little squirrelly, the K1 cruised through solid as can be. With a load aboard, the K1 settles in a little deeper but still performs admirably.

Feathercraft has done an impressive job of creating not just a boat that folds into a bag, but a really good kayak that folds into a bag. The product is extremely well made, performs very well and immediately inspires a desire to travel to distant exotic locales.

At the price of $5,185 Cdn, the K1 is certainly not cheap, but a blend of such high quality and performance seldom is.

Feathercraft Folding Kayaks 4-1244 Cartwright Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C.Canada V6H 3R8

Phone 604-681-8437Fax 604-681-7282

E-mail: info@feathercraft.comWeb: www.feathercraft.com

Werner Shuna

Werner's Shuna paddle.

The Shuna is one of Werner’s new high-angle touring paddle designs. The high-angle concept promotes a more vertical or upright stroke, with the hands held higher, and favors shorter paddles. This vertical paddling style fosters a more active and powerful stroke, although it may prove somewhat demanding and tiring for beginners. The Shuna, along with its bigger brother, the Corryvrecken, replace the Kauai and Molokai models in the Werner range. As I am very familiar with the Kauai, I was curious to compare and contrast the two.

On first inspection the Shuna appears close to the Kauai. The Shuna is just a little smaller, at 46 cm wide by 18 cm long, but it’s the non-power face of the blade that gives the most immediate visual cue that this is a different paddle. In cross section, the Shuna’s spine is a classic Werner rectangular shape, while the retired Kauai’s spine is round. The Shuna also has a noticeably less pronounced dihedral shape to the power face of the blade. As usual, the Shuna features the impeccable Werner quality that I’ve come to expect. Fiber orientation and finish on my 215 cm carbon sample are exemplary. The union between blade and shaft is very clean. The clever new ferrule design, consisting of two injection-molded parts, provides a very high tolerance fit and exhibits no slop. This system allows feather adjustments in 15° increments, from unfeathered to 75° offset, for both right and left hand control.

Our test sample Shuna features Werner’s neutral bent shaft. The goal behind this twisty bit of business is to promote a more natural alignment of the wrist and arm than straight shafts provide, theoretically thereby reducing the potential for repetitive motion injuries to tendons, ligaments and muscles, as less stress is generated on the body. Because such ergonomic shafts require complicated two-part bladder molds for their manufacture, costs are typically high. But not to fear, the Shuna is also available in a straight shaft configuration in carbon or fiberglass. And Werner also offers their shafts in two diameter sizes, to properly fit larger and smaller hands. Yup, these folks are serious about paddles!

On the water, the Shuna represents a little less ‘beef’ than the Kauai. It is a little less powerful on the plant and grabs less water, but I often felt that the Kauai was just a shade too big for me for general touring. The Shuna also feathers from one stroke to the next really smoothly. This smoothness in the water will likely make it a favorite with instructors, as it transitions from stroke to stroke very nicely. Yet there is still a ton of support for rolling, sculling and spirited play in the surf zone.

The neutral bent shaft is very, well... neutral. It feels balanced, resting in the hand naturally. The grip area of the shaft fits the contour of the hand securely and provides excellent indexing, allowing the paddler to instantly orient the blades at all times. For me, at 150 lbs, the Shuna represents a great ‘athletic’ touring/play paddle. Performance is very good and it’s extremely well made. If you have adopted a high angle paddling style or are curious about it, then the Shuna is a great choice. If you want a bigger blade design check out Werner’s Corryvrecken.

WERNER SHUNA

Carbon blades and carbon neutral bent shaft: $357 US

Carbon blades and carbon straight shaft: $333 US

Fiberglass blades and fiberglass straight shaft: $250 US

Check with your local dealer for Canadian pricing.

Werner Paddles Inc.33415 SR 2 Sultan, WA, USA 98294 Phone: 800-275-3311

E-mail: info@wernerpaddles.com

Web: www.wernerpaddles.com