Japanese kayakers (beautiful)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFaE8bzmVVI

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZTNCBJXxY8&

 

 

A few Video’s from Our Great Friend Shiro Ose

A paddling partner and awesome friend, Shiro is our dealer in northern Japan. He made these vids:

 

 

 

BayLee Valves

A quick note on the BayLee Valves at the stern of the boats. During the normal life of the boat, these valves may become loose. This is very normal; they are a screw-on Valve. The ability to unscrew the valve allows access to the inside of the tubes at a later time (we do not want these valves permanently/glued shut). Should your valve become loose and leak a bit, there is an easy way to tighten the valve and close off the leak.

Grab the bottom portion of the valve through the fabric of the tube (see photo)

Inset the Valve closure lid into the top of the valve and use it to tighten the valve closed. Check out the video:

 

If you are having still having problems with air seepage, unscrew the top of the valve and re-seat the bottom portion inside the black “O”-ring.

A quick video I threw together last night.

 

From our paddling trip in march.

FC has joined Internet 2.0

We have a new official website, due to be launched this weekend! Our office has put a TON of work into the new template and filled it with awesome interactive photo’s of the boats and a complete product and ordering section. Check it out Monday 25th of July if you find some time on you hands.

Feathercraft kayaks

I have been remiss

I’m not the greatest Internet geek out there; in fact from time to time I definitely get over saturated and require some down time.

But I realize that if I lose momentum this whole blog dies. I’ll try and recreate my original energy and push more content onto these pages!

A few things I will post soon:
-video and pictures if our winter R&D trip in the Heron
-An actual story of our Japanese adventure lat November, with thoughts to our next trip there.
-A few ideas on local trips here on the BC coast
-And a couple ideas that have popped up in the last few days for boat care, improvement and trip comfort

It’s a tall order, but onward!

Thanks for holding tough.

Dan

Baylee River, self bailing

Quite a few modifications have been made on the Baylee line of inflatable boats, which we are very excited about! I thought I’d run through the list:

BAYLEE 1 (whitewater)

The boat has been completely revamped and has many changes which will make it a whitewater machine.

- the new River Raft now sports a rigid self bailing floor and eliminates the need for a spray skirt. No need to ever stop mid rapid to empty your heavy water laden boat.
- as with all Baylee boats, we have modified our welding techniques and the boats will hold air at pressure for extended periods of time (easily a week or more, depending on the temperature and air bleeding out valves).
- we have reinforced the inflatable seat-back to eliminate tearing.
- attachment points have been rearranged so as to not impede a paddler’s strokes. The old Rowing frame lash point which contacted a paddlers hands during heavy strokes have been eliminated, the rowing frame is now only an option, instead of standard.

-the inflated floor is 4″ thick fully inflated; to hold the paddler above the waterline, with another 4″ seat on top of that.

BAYLEE 2 (whitewater)

Yes, our midsize inflatable now has a riverboat edition!

The skeg and longer waterline allow a paddler to cover distance over flat water, this boat will track easily across that backcountry lake.

-the same self bailing floor as mentioned above.

-a mid boat seated position balances the paddler better in heavy whitewater, as well as allowing for added storage.

BAYLEE 3

We have taken our idea for a self bailing floor and tuned it up for the Baylee 3 to give it a rigid floor; for those who don’t mind carrying around an extra stick of butter (one pound weight increase over the soft floor).

-with the added fishing mounts, the row boat makes for an exceptional fishing platform for those who want a light weight backwoods machine.

Winter work

Snow here is a rarity: when it happens, we are just as likely to goof off as be productive.  Just before Christmas:

I figure this as R&D on the Baylee boats.

Toronto Boat Show

Feathercraft will have a presence at the Toronto boat show this year, starting on the 8th of January. If you are in the area, pop by and say hi: we love talking to kayakers (yachties are exhausting after awhile)!

If you have questions or need some help with your boat, kayak or Baylee, this would be a great time to speak with one if our fabricators/R&D team as these chaps are also our sales guys!

Happy new year!

I hope everyone has had a good break and restful holidays! I’m looking forward to the potential that 2011 brings; new trips, toys and adventure.

A lot of new ideas have been floating around here at home base, hopefully I’ll pen some updates down in the near future!

So long 2010, you were very good to me!