back packable Canoe

It seems so hard to post pics these days but here is my folding canoe from 25 years ago:

Is it possible to reduce size of image before posting?

<changed png file (3.2MB) to jpg format (0.33 MB with medium compression)>

 

Yes, post it as attachment

 

The attachment function allows you to place thumbnails in the post which link to the larger images as Gonzo says.

As to reducing the (file) size of an image before posting, I opened your original png file and resaved it as a jpg. I used corel and selected 70% quality setting which saved a JPG compressed to 1/10 of the PNG file size. Alternately, opening the png in windows paint and choosing file->save as and choosing JPG format yields a file size savings of 80%.

As to reducing the pixel dimensions, you can resize using photoshop, photoshop elements, corel photopaint, paintshop pro, etc., or even windows paint (image->resize then saveas) or for windows there is a handy ImageResizer addon (was located at CodePlex Archive https://imageresizer.codeplex.com/ I believe) that is similar to the older windows powertoy addon which allows you to select a group of files from windows explorer and resize them all down to a smaller pixel dimension with a click (make a copy of the images before resizing until you're sure of the program just to be safe)

 

Cool! curious about the specs? Especially time to assemble and disassemble for packing, total weight with all the accessories, and comfort factor compared to rigid canoes. Thanks.

 

Thanks, I really must try harder re. pictures.

I designed and built the canoe when I lived in a flat and spent a great deal of money developing it because I thought it could be commercialised. All plastic with regard to mass production and zero maintenance. The skin is PVC laminated onto nylon fabric like all the inflatable canoes/kayaks you can get today, they were made by a hovercraft skirt company to my drawings. The bottom boards are rigid PVC foam joined together with a 360 degree hinge of string. The seat frame is also the backpack frame and the harness straps double as seat support straps. The mk1 had three separate struts to form a kind of Warren truss of the sides between each frame bay, but this was soon replaced with three struts connected to a hinge on the lower frame tube to stop them from falling out or getting lost. On the version in the picture the frame tubes have channels attached which hold panels made from twinwall polypropylene (estate agent/realtor signboard). The fabric is tensioned across the frame with bungee cords but lengthwise tension was something else that needed a lot of development; first toggle levers to push the stem pieces outwards, then cams, and finally screw jacks as in this version. I'll put some pictures in the next post.

Thanks for your interest.

 

What was the finished, in the backpack weight of this puppy?

 

PAR I just got it out of the loft and weighed it for you! 16.4kg (about 36-37lbs) minus paddle and inflatable buoyancy. Pack size 36" x 12" x 9"; I must have chosen that as a target size.
Still no luck trying to get the image location of an image on my Mac so you will have to imagine a picture of it. Will ask my son when he wakes.

 

I had been looking for a either a folding, knockdown inflatable canoe or kayak that I could carry in a small compartment and ran across quite a few but many of the folding types had lots of
frame, ribbing, long set up times etc. I ran across a 16 foot inflatable canoe from Sea Eagle that has a drop stitched rigid inflatable floor BUT also drop stitched inflatable sides.
This permits a rectangular side as compared to a round tube like most inflatable kayaks. I have had a drop stitched floor in a 10 foot inflatable and at 10 psi, the floor is extremely rigid


As a side note, I also ran across the Saturn Kaboat which has the drop stitched inflatable floor but round tubes. The inside space between the tubes is small but you are sitting up above the tubes anyway so you only need room for your feet but it is quite wide and stable. www.saturninflatable.ca

 

Stupidity. An image has to be hosted somewhere before it has a URL, I had a chat with son then decided to use the boatdesign gallery facility. A few more images which should show how it goes together.

I'm getting there.

 

That thing is very nifty.

Familiar with the bwca?

It looks a little small for two.

Is it a single person rig?

The flat bottom looks brutal in wind or to paddle. Have you had it out much?

I find a skeg to be sort of mandatory.

 

Barry, Nestawayboats.com from UK sell an inflatable like the one you describe called Aquaglide Chelan; I've had a go, really nicely made but does not pack neatly like mine!
Fallguy, mine is one person only. To be honest it doesn't paddle that well because the sides are so high - you sit low down, and yes, a skeg would help.
Portacruise, about 15-20 minutes to assemble or dismantle. I don't think it would compare well regarding handling, seaworthiness etc. to a rigid kayak or canoe. But it has been abused in the pool, and you can place each end on a chair and stand in the middle so fairly tough.

I won't be doing anything with this boat but it did/does have potential for more development such as inflatable tubes between the sides and the skin. I'm just putting it here as a kind of public record and for those interested in folding boats.

 

We ended up with the Chelan Tandem, as the canoe from Sea Eagle did not fold down small enough

 

Very nice canoe Alan. If you've got some time to fabricate it...definitely well worth the effort. Your folding canoe reminds me of the Oru style folding boats, which are very light. The progress of flat pattern, light & recycled material boats is promising indeed.

These kayaks have a deck and I suppose that is why the pack is wider. You get the prize for narrowest pack!

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Folding Boats For All | Inspired by Origami | Oru Kayak https://www.orukayak.com/collections/kayaks