BS: ... a folder tends to have a lot of metal parts, which you may or may not be
geared up to making (though I managed with materials out of the DIY store, a hacksaw
and an electric drill).
RH: Sounds to me as though almost everyone is at least geared up to making them like
you, Bill! :-)
BS: The other snag with folders is the difficulty of getting nice skin material
off-the-shelf.
RH: (I will have to build that cheap and convenient heat shrunk polyester skin and
coat it with roofing hypalon asap ...)
BS: ... Still, an adequate (and affordable!) folder can be built using PVC-coated
polyester (truck tarp material) and proofed cotton duck for the deck, without hassle.
It's certainly worth it for the convenience of a folder.
RH: That much is certain!
BS: ... my 11-foot PBK-24 folder cost under $250 for the materials ... About 100
hours of my free time went into building it. ... (Interesting that I can build an
entire folding kayak for about the cost of a spraydeck for a Klepper . . .)
RH: But the K-people pay themselves for their time! You touch upon a sad point: The
demise of the craftsman! Very few people are prepared to pay someone what amounts to a
living wage to build something by hand these days and professional folding boat
builders do not die rich (unless they gamble successfully with a portion of their
earnings).
Ralph
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