Author Topic: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago  (Read 17886 times)

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« on: 01 April, 2008, 10:28:32 am »
Some pictures from a hot ten day trip in August of 2006. Had just picked up a Feathercraft Wisper foldable kayak:








"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Kayaking in the Stockhom archipellago
« Reply #1 on: 01 April, 2008, 10:49:30 am »
That looks like a lot of fun.  Butterfly expressed a lot of interest in the water-borne side of things when we went to the Outdoor Show....

Love the sigline, btw
Getting there...

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockhom archipellago
« Reply #2 on: 01 April, 2008, 11:06:14 am »
Try it and you'll love it. Lot like cycling but on water, and the beer stay cold!  ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_archipelago

"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

alan

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #3 on: 01 April, 2008, 11:22:25 am »
That is very interesting.I developed an interest in kayaks a couple of years ago to the extent of spending a weekend in Ambleside trying to decide which to buy but realised that the n+1 syndrome relating to bikes still had me in it's grip.This is not such a strong grip nowadays. :-\

This itch still occurs occassionally. :evil:
Can you tell me more about your kayak,make,model,retail outlet please?
My original intention was,& remains, a kayak cruise around selected parts of the GB coastline ..a kayak-camping journey.

Addendum.
To avoid a thread hijack a link to some other place or PM may be approprite

Addendum II
Have found the Featherlight website

andygates

  • Peroxide Viking
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #4 on: 01 April, 2008, 12:06:51 pm »
Ee, that looks lovely.
It takes blood and guts to be this cool but I'm still just a cliché.
OpenStreetMap UK & IRL Streetmap & Topo: ravenfamily.org/andyg/maps updates weekly.

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #5 on: 01 April, 2008, 05:34:51 pm »
Thanks for your comments!

Alan, nothing like an itch you can't scratch so better to give in! :)

From what I heard foldable/falt kayaks were very popular after WWII all over Europe and especially in Britain and Germany. Lots of brands and most looked like the classic Klepper with a stout wooden frame. In the late 60's when boats started to be made in glassfiber they pretty much disappeared.

Not much has happened until Feathercraft started making it's K1 model in early -90's. They started from scratch with ultrasound welded seems, alloy tube frame with elastic cords similar to a tent, a new rudder design that other makers soon copied, a sit-sock instead of waterproof compartments for safety etc:

http://www.feathercraft.com/technology/construction.php

Basically the function of a glassfiber kayak, lightweight 17kg skin on frame construction similar to the original Inuit qayaq with the packable function and long lifespan of the Klepper.
Among the drawbacks I would count the high initial cost, the cheaper models has some what limited payload, slow to load as larger items goes in through the cockpit,  a bit time consuming (about 45 min) build and fold (about half of that). Not hard but  fiddly as it has to be done in the right order so not ideal for everyday fold:

http://www.foldingkayaks.org/gallery/assembly

Waiting for the subway with all the gear for the ten day trip except water and fresh produce. The kayak and all accessories goes in the black backpack:



Guess you found the info but here are some more:

http://www.feathercraft.com/kayaks/traditional/wisper/index.php

http://www.foldingkayaks.org/wisperreview1.shtml

http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1624

http://www.foldingkayak.com/kayaks.htm#Wisper

It is imported to Britain from Canada by Knoydart in Penrith:

http://www.knoydart.co.uk/

Pictures and movies:

http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Feathercraft+Wisper

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/fF098Y2-yBo&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/fF098Y2-yBo&rel=1</a>

Dubside is a good roller and because of him there is now a rollingrib made:

http://www.dubside.net/

http://www.qajaqusa.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=28049&g2_page=12

http://seakayaking.vodpod.com/video/433271-greenland-rolling-feathercraft

http://dashpointpirate.typepad.com/the_dash_point_pirate_woo/2007/10/a-blast-from-th.html

http://dashpointpirate.typepad.com/the_dash_point_pirate_woo/2006/07/just_one_more.html

But there are plenty of similar but cheaper craft on the market so check the links below:

http://foldingkayaks.org/

http://www.foldingkayak.com/index.html

A daytrip this winter on a lake close by:




"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #6 on: 01 April, 2008, 05:37:08 pm »
Oh, you lucky #$%@#$%@$.

I love kayaking, but very rarely get to try it. And I've wanted a folder for a long time. AND I'd really like to go to Sweden.

Post more please!
scottclark.photoshelter.com

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #7 on: 01 April, 2008, 05:50:00 pm »
Sorry Scott, I have to take care of some things now. But check back later this week and I hope I will have reinstalled the programs on my other computer were all the pictures are.  ::-)
"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #8 on: 01 April, 2008, 05:56:35 pm »
Sorry Scott, I have to take care of some things now.

No hurry at all--didn't mean to push. Just enjoying the pictures.

Quote
But check back later this week and I hope I will have reinstalled the programs on my other computer were all the pictures are.  ::-)

That doesn't sound like as much fun as kayaking....
scottclark.photoshelter.com

alan

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #9 on: 01 April, 2008, 07:55:35 pm »


Alan, nothing like an itch you can't scratch so better to give in! :)


Very true.
I have a garage full of bikes scratches representing an itch for a variety of different types:geared,fixed,tandem,touring,mtb,road,there is also Marj's Trice. That's a lot of itching & scratching but I think it's wearing off a bit now.However the n+1 principle remains.

Knoydart.....been there:they were very patient & helpfull.
Thanks for the other info/links.

redshift

  • High Priestess of wires
    • redshift home
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #10 on: 01 April, 2008, 09:33:55 pm »
*jealous*

I started to learn to kayak last year, but so far only on still water and a little bit of easy grade 1/2 moving stuff.  I have a little river runner (Liquid Logic Li'l Joe) but it was watching people sea kayaking that made me want to learn. 

I was even looking at the Fujita site a while back, but I think I'll learn to walk before I start running.  :)
L
:)
Windcheetah No. 176
The all-round entertainer gets quite arsey,
They won't translate his lame shit into Farsi
Somehow to let it go would be more classy…

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #11 on: 01 April, 2008, 10:20:03 pm »
Ooh, lovely. :) What tent do you have there?
Quote from: Kim
^ This woman knows what she's talking about.

Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #12 on: 01 April, 2008, 11:10:44 pm »
I want one of those now
“There is no point in using the word 'impossible' to describe something that has clearly happened.”
― Douglas Adams

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #13 on: 02 April, 2008, 07:00:45 pm »
Ooh, lovely. :) What tent do you have there?

It's a Hilleberg Unna secondhand bargain. Great for solotrips and pitching on small islands as it has a very small footprint. In foul weather it's easy to un-button the inner to cook. OK for two in fair weather or shorter trips too. Good pictures here:
http://www.moontrail.com/tents/hilleberg_unna.php

Kayaking is very popular in Stockholm so there are lots of places to rent. With thousands of islands in the archipelago they shelters against hard wind and larger waves except in the outer rim. Easy to find cottages to rent or places to camp and local ferries if weather turn bad.  ::-)
http://www.google.com.sv/search?hl=sv&rls=GGLF,GGLF:1970-01,GGLF:sv&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=kayaking+stockholm+archipelago&spell=1

Have joined a group to set up a new kayakclub so cycling will have to take backseat this year. But LEL next year sure sound tempting... :P
"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #14 on: 02 April, 2008, 07:51:23 pm »
*jealous*
I started to learn to kayak last year, but so far only on still water and a little bit of easy grade 1/2 moving stuff.  I have a little river runner (Liquid Logic Li'l Joe) but it was watching people sea kayaking that made me want to learn. 
I was even looking at the Fujita site a while back, but I think I'll learn to walk before I start running.  :)



http://qajaqunderground.com/

Yup, practice make perfect! :thumbsup:
But I think once loaded with gear, food and some nice beverage there is plenty of stability. Have never tried a Fujita but they seem to be very well made and had some good reviews in the US.
Were do you train and are there places to rent nearby? I decided to get by without a car so a foldable was an easy choice. But with a car there is so many well made cheaper kayaks around that the cost could be hard to justify. I also wanted to be able to kayak in Vietnam, Britain or some other exotic places but those plans are put on the backburner for now... :-X
http://www.feathercraft.com/gallery/wisper.php


"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

agagisgroovy

  • Formely yellow-ceitidh
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #15 on: 02 April, 2008, 08:46:15 pm »
Looks fun!

We have two plastic surf/day tour sit on top kayaks and an inflatable 'barge'. We had no end of fun in the summer holidays!  ;D

donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #16 on: 03 April, 2008, 02:21:00 pm »
Yes, watergames with kayaks in summer is such fun! Do you paddle sections of the coast or are they for playing in the waves?
It's great to hear how every one do their own thing! There are so many way's of using a kayak and such variation of craft's. Must be the equivalent of bicycles but on water! ::-)
Anyone have a favourite place to recommend for seakayaking? Think I might bring my kayak along sometime.
"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."

chris

  • (aka chris)
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #17 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:05:06 pm »
Must be the equivalent of bicycles but on water!

Totally agree. We bought an inflatable barge (see YCs post above) at the Outdoors Show a couple of years ago and took it on holiday to Coniston. The first day we just pottered about the beach near the campsite. The next day we plucked up the courage to paddle over to the over side (Katie even managed to swim a width of Coniston). By the end of the week we were paddling the length of Coniston, and went on an 'expedition' (well the kids called it that anyway) to Wild Cat Island.


Katie, Zoe and Lewis messing about in Blue Barge.

Last year we bought a couple of sit-on-top kayaks and met up with some friends in the Outer Hebrides -


Mrs Chris catches a wave on Benbecula.


Mrs Chris and our friend Jane trying to perfect their bunny hop.


A day trip on Berneray.


Paddlers paradise.


On the way home from Scotland,we stopped off at Coniston and had another 'expedition' to Wild Cat Island.


YC (aka yellow-ceitidh) enjoying a paddle at Coniston.


donpedro

  • ain`t haulin` any lambs to the marketplace anymore
    • But, I'm Swedish!
Re: Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago
« Reply #18 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:35:23 pm »
Great pictures Chris! Looks like a top notch summer fun for the kids, and mum too!  ::-)
Bring back childhood summer days of exploring the new world of water...!
"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy."