Feathercraft Kurrent User manual

The Legendary Performance
YOUR ADVENTURE UNFOLDS
TM
Feathercraft Products Ltd. 4-1244 Cartwright Street on Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3R8
Toll Free: 1-888-681-8437 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.feathercraft.com [e-mail]
Kurrent
FOLDING KAYAKS

Contents
Kurrent Folding Kayak...........................................................Page 2
Specifications ........................................................................Page 3
Kurrent Frame .......................................................................Page 4
Care and Maintenance ..........................................................Page 5
Kurrent Assembly Instructions ..............................................Page 8
The Feathercraft Sea Sock .....................................................Page 15
Disassembly..........................................................................Page 16
Feathercraft Kurrent 1

Built in coaming
Feathercraft Kurrent 2
Comfortable sling seat
with inflatable back
& bottom
Removeable air sponsons inside
skin along gunwales
Hull reinforced on outside over
keel and chine bars
Kurrent Folding Kayak

Feathercraft Kurrent 3
Seat: 420 denier rip-stop nylon with inflatable
air back and air bottom
Accessories: Included with every kayak:
Nylon Spray Skirt
Sea Sock
Adjustable Foot Brace Bar
Repair Kit
Pack Bag
Assembly Video
Illustrated Instructions
Specifications
Length:
Beam:
Weight:
3.98 m (13’1”)
63.5 cm (25”)
10.65 kg (23lbs)
Storage Volume: Low
Frame: 5/8” Round
6061 - T6 Aluminum
Magnesium Tubing with clear
Anodized Coating
Crossribs: Injection Molded Polycarbonate
Skin Material: Welded Urethane
Pack size: 79 x 40 x 28 cm (31 x 16 x 11”)

chines, gunwales and deckbars
through-bolted permanently
to keel plate (same for bow
and stern)
Feathercraft Kurrent 4
Kurrent Frame
crossribs are injection
molded polycarbonate
seat sling suspended
from chines & gunwales
foot brace
shockcorded tubing

Care and Maintenance
The Frame
The tubular frame is very strong and corrosion resistant. Basic
maintenance is required, generally every 2 to 3 months, after
extensive use, or if water has flooded the kayak. Disassemble
the kayak frame. Completely rinse the inside and outside of the
tubes with fresh water. Keep frame inserts and extension bars
free of sand and grit.
Using rubber gloves, coat the frame inserts and sliding sections
with Bo-Shield T-9 (a small bottle is included in the repair kit).
Made by Boeing, this is an excellent lubricant and protectant.
Apply this to the frame prior to assembly to allow tubes to
slide together more easily. This product can usually be found in
marine hardware stores and some bike shops.
Apply the lubricant liberally to all sliding pieces and spring
buttons to prevent parts from seizing, if you plan to leave the
kayak assembled for a couple of months.
After paddling, sponge out water that may have pooled along
the keel.
The Skin
The urethane skin fabric is very UV and abrasion resistant, given
normal use. Do not store outside, unprotected. The fabric can
be affected if continually stored in moist and damp conditions.
Do not store the skin rolled up wet. Care must be taken when
approaching rocks, barnacles or shells. To avoid puncturing the
hull, exit the kayak and lift over any sharp surfaces. Do not pull a
loaded boat over rocks or carry a loaded kayak.
A patch kit is included for repairs. Urethane adhesive is used to
apply any patches or fill nicks. Instructions for patching are on the
adhesive. Duct tape will also work well, and is a good addition to
your repair kit.
Feathercraft Kurrent 5

Welded Sealskin
The Polytech deck and Duratek hull are urethane. Seams are
permanently sealed.
A patch kit is provided for deck, hull or sponson punctures.
The urethane glue will work for repairs to all of these fabrics.
For preparation and application, follow the instructions on the
adhesive container.
Sponsons
Due to the tight fit of the skin, the sponsons are under
considerable pressure and some seepage of air may occur.
Reinflate as necessary. After paddling on hot days, release air
from sponsons, especially if leaving the kayak beached in full
sun on a hot day.
To Repair/Replace Sponson
The sponsons can be removed from the sleeve sewn to the
inside of the skin. Turn the skin inside out. The sponson
chamber is open at bow and stern ends. Tie a long string
through the hole in the tab at each end of the sponson. Pull
sponson through the center opening of the chamber (where
sponson hose is attached). To reinstall, pull the cord attached
to the sponson back through the chamber. Ensure sponson
is not twisted in the chamber.Inflate slightly to check fit.
Urethane glue and patches are included in the repair kit.
Duct tape will also work for the sponsons.
Feathercraft Kurrent 6

Feathercraft Kurrent 7
Kurrent Frame Parts
Large
Stern
Crossrib
Small
Crossribs–
Same for
Bow + Stern
Large Bow
Crossrib
Skin
Seat
Rim inserts
Deck Bars–
Same for
Bow + Stern
Chine + Gunwale
Extension Bars
(shown without
seat sling)
Foot Brace
Keel Extension
Bar with
Black Tape

1 SET OUT FRAME PARTS AS ILLUSTRATED
2 SHAKE OUT BOW & STERN FRAME
SECTIONS
• Theshockcordedtubingtakes
shape.
• ThebowhasBstampedon
plastic plate.
3 ATTACH SMALL CROSSRIBS TO BOW & STERN SECTIONS
• Pinonsmallcrossribinsertstoholeonblackblockonkeel
tube.
• Chineandgunwaletubessnap-fitontocrossrib.White
spacers are on “cockpit” side of crossrib.
Feathercraft Kurrent 8
Deck bar
Over-serts
•Rivetheadstofaceinto
kayak, not against skin.
Gunwales
Chines
Keel
Pin into block

4 UNFOLD SKIN
• Insertbowandsternframe.
• Velcrotabsareattachedtotheinsideofthehullalongthe
keel.
• Havethetabsopen.Checkthatalltherivetheadsonthe
frame section joins are facing towards the inside of the
kayak. This will avoid unncessary wear at these points.
• Slidebowandsternframesectionsintotheskin.
• Centertheframealongtheinsidekeelstrip,pushingthe
section to the very ends. Check that the keel tube aligns to
the strip along the inside keel.
5 SLIDE FOOT BRACE BAR ONTO BOW FRAME SECTION
• Webstraploopsaroundgunwalebar.
Feathercraft Kurrent 9
Insert bow frame section
Foot Brace Bar

6 INSTALL KEEL EXTENSION BAR
• Bowendhasonebandofblacktape;sternendhastwo
bands of black tape. Connect to frame sections in skin.
• Besuretheoversleeveontheextensionbaris“open”and
the shockcord is visible. The shockcorded sections will be
“overlapped” along the keel.
• Pullthetubesuptowardsyou.Insertthebowsideintothe
pocket of the stern side, and push the tubes down to the
hull. Slide oversleeve over join.
Feathercraft Kurrent 10
Bow
Stern
Keel bar
is overlapped
Slide oversleeve to close
extension bar
Push down
1
2
3
Pull up. Twist oversleeve
until “pocket” appears.

7 INSTALL CHINE AND GUNWALE BARS WITH SEAT SLING
• Theseatslingwillbesuspendedfromthechineandgunwalebars.
These bars are all the same. Have the extension bars inserted to the
sewn sleeves of the seat sling. Place the seat sling with the extension
bars into the kayak with the safety label towards the bow.
• Unfoldmid-connectors.
• Beginwiththechinebars(thelowertubes).Connecttothestern
frame tubes. (It is usually easier to work on the opposite side of the
kayak from the part you are installing).
• Connectthebowendtothecorrespondingbowframesection.
• Shockcordedsectionjoinstogether.Slideoversleeveoverjoin.
• Connectthegunwalebarsinthesameway.
1
2
3
Feathercraft Kurrent 11
Keel
Oversleeve
Close
Stern
Bow
Chine
Chine
Gunwale
Gunwale
Slide seat sling to the
stern while installing
chine & gunwale
extension bars.
Pull out. Twist oversleeve
until “pocket” appears.
Align straight. Slide over-
sleeve to close.

8 INSTALL LARGE BOW AND STERN CROSSRIBS
• Beginwiththebow.Therearetwoblackblocksonthe
keel bar. The larger block is a “twister”. Open the twister
to allow the pin on the base of the bow crossrib to slide
into the hole in the smaller black block. Angle the crossrib
towards the spacers on the chine and gunwale tubes. Fit
the pin into the small black block on the keel. Position the
rib between the spacers, pushing the rib onto the tube.
The stern rib attaches the same, but with no twister.
Stern crossribBow crossrib
Feathercraft Kurrent 12
Twister on bow
keel

9 INSTALL BOW & STERN DECK BARS
• Insertdeckbarthroughkeyholeintopofcrossrib.Connect
to deck bar of frame sections in skin. Rotate deck bar to
lock in place.
Feathercraft Kurrent 13
Rotate deck bar to lock

10 CONNECT UNDER-DECK BUCKLE TO BUCKLE ON CROSSRIBS,
BOTH BOW & STERN 11 INSTALL RIM INSERTS
• Slideriminsertintopocketonundersideofcoaming.
Feathercraft Kurrent 14
Rim insert
Stern

12 INFLATE SPONSONS
• Turnthetopofthevalvetoopen.Wheninflatingsponsons,
alternate sides to ensure the frame remains centered. The
air pressure from the sponsons will shift the frame within
the skin. Inflate until the skin is tight. Twist cap to close.
Tuck sponson tubes and valves out of the cockpit area.
Avoid stepping on the hose and valve, and try to keep the
valve free of sand.
13 INSTALL SEAT
• Inflateairbladdersintheseatbackandbottomtosuit
personal comfort. Less air in the bottom is usually better.
Feathercraft Kurrent 15

Feathercraft Kurrent 16
14 THE FEATHERCRAFT SEA SOCK
• Madefromhigh-qualitycoatednylon,theseasockisa
great safety item. The top of the sock fits tightly around
the cockpit coaming rim. Contoured to fit along the
seatback and bottom, the “foot” is loose through the
cockpit, creating a “pod”. The paddler then sits in the
sock. Legs and feet are not constricted. The spray skirt fits
as usual. In the event of a capsize, water will only enter
the sock, and not the whole boat.
We can not stress enough the importance of the Sea Sock.
It is your key safety item in a capsize to prevent flooding
yourkayak;italsopreventssandanddirtgettinginthe
kayak.
Tips on Usage and Installation
• ThecolouredFeathercraftlabelindicatesinsideor“right”
side of sock.
• Centertheseamontherimoftheseasockwiththe
center point on the bow of the coaming.
• OncetheSeaSockisinplace,sitinthesock,and“burp”
it by lifting the edges, releasing trapped air that causes the
sock to billow up.

Feathercraft Kurrent 17
15 OPTIONAL COCKPIT BRACING BARS
• Thewebstrapwithbuckleatthecockpitisfortheoptional
bracing bars.
• Slideoversleeveonthighbracetowardsbow.Insertstem
end of tube (a) through the hole in large stern crossrib.
Insert bow end (b) through hole in large bow crossrib.
Slide oversleeve towards stern til snug and spring button
appears.
• Webstrapgoesaroundgunwalebarandthighbrace.
Gunwale bar
Thigh brace
ab

Feathercraft Kurrent 18
16 ATTACHING OPTIONAL SKEG

Disassembly
Release air from sponsons. Remove coaming rim inserts.
Remove seat. Remove deck bars. Twist & slide oversleeves
openongunwalebars;disconnectfrombowandsternframe
sections.Twist&slideoversleevesopenonchinebars;discon-
nect from bow and stern frame sections. Open Velcro tabs.
Twist&slideoversleeveopenonkeelbar;lifttodisconnect;
overlap the join to release, and disconnect from bow and stern
keel frame bars. To help loosen the bow and stern frame sec-
tions from within the skin, with the palm of your hand, push
along the outside curve of the skin. Pull the bow and stern
frame sections out of the skin.
Packing the kayak in the bag
Remove the deck shockcords, and use these to hold the bun-
dles of frame parts together. Lay the seat cushion in the bag to
act as padding when using the pack straps. Next, arrange the
crossribs in the bag. To roll the kayak skin as tight as possible
–layoutflat;pullsponsonhosesouttosideswiththevalves
open. Fold the bow and stern ends into the center of the cock-
pit. Fold this in half.
Beginrollingfromtheopenfoldside;kneelingontheskin–
roll – kneel – like you would a thermarest pad. Close sponson
valves. Tuck hoses into fold of skin. Secure rolled skin with 2
pieces of shockcord. Place the skin in the center of the bag,
with the bow and stern frame bundles on either side.
Tuck remaining items in bag.
Lifting the Kayak
Thekayakcanbeliftedwithtwopeople,oneateitherend;at
eithersideofthecockpit,holdingtheframecockpitarea;or
one person, lifting over the shoulder.
Avoid lifting a fully loaded kayak.
Storage
To store in the bag – ensure the skin has been allowed to
completely dry, and that the frame has been cleaned and lubri-
cated.
To store assembled – protect from elements, under a cover, on
a rack.
Do not store the kayak in a non-breathable storage bag.
Feathercraft Kurrent 19