Folding boat
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Folding boats fill a need for people who do not have storage space for a full size boat or cannot transport a full size boat. Folding boats are usually smaller boats typically ranging between 8 to 12 feet. This style of boat must also allow for easy lifting which requires a light weight. Folding boats are made from light weight materials such as marine plywood, aluminium or more exotic man-made materials lighter and tougher than aluminium.
There are several folding boat makers and folding kayak makers in the world from the USA, England and Australia with several variations and models. The handyman can also produce their own unit at home with plans or buy designing their own version.
The lower stiffness and rigidity may add to potential safety of a folding boat by allowing it to flex over waves. This stops the boat from the rocking effect of an inflexible boat.
Some folding boats have a transom for attaching an electric or petrol engine outboard. These are usually in the order of 2 - 4HP but can be up to 10HP. As folding boats are light there is no need for lots of power and someone unfamiliar with HP output could easily make the mistake of using an engine too large and not suited to a folding boat.
Traditional boats in the same category of folding boats include inflatable dinghies and small aluminium boats (tinnies). Inflatable boats try to solve the portability problem with an inflatable keel and side pods. This allows better storage and weight advantages. The main problems of these craft are that they are still quite heavy, they can puncture while on the water and can be time consuming to inflate and deflate for usage. Folding boats require in the order of 10 to 15 minutes to set up and put away but are much tougher than an inflatable craft, and may ultimately be smaller in storage as an inflatable boat may have hard board components for the floor. Aluminium boats cannot be disassembled and the folding boat of space age material is stronger than aluminium, while the strength to weight of some wooden ply is actually stronger than aluminium.
Although there is much to be said of the advantages of a folding boat, they are not commonplace in boating and aluminium and inflatable alternatives are far more prevalent despite some folding boats having been sold for several decades.
Prices of the best new folding boats today can range up to nearly AUD $4000.
