Pakboats Puffin Kayak Operation manual

Puffin Kayak
Assembly
and
User Information
ScanSport, Inc. / Pakboats
Post Office Box 700 May Street
Enfield, New Hampshire 03748 USA
Phone: [phone] (toll free)
From outside the US: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
www.pakboats.com

– 2 –
Cross Ribs
Boat Skin
Stem Stem
Keel
Gunwales
Deck
Seat
Forward Deck Support
w/latch clip
Stern Deck Support w/clip at end
Latch Clip
(A)
(B1) (B2)
(C) (C)
(D) (D)
Cross Ribs:
Stem
(inside boat skin)
Strap
Keel
Inflated Air Tube Seat
Forward Deck Support
Stern Deck Support
(A)(B1) (B2)(C) (C)(D) (D)
Gunwale
( in channel)
Gunwale
( in channel)
Figure 1, Parts
Figure 2, Assembled (deck removed)

– 3 –
1. Roll out the boat skin and assemble all the
rods.
2. Insert both gunwales as far as they will go.
Close the black flaps to cover the ends.
3. Assemble keel and stems.
4. Position keel and stems inside the boat skin.
5. Mount cross rib (A).
6. Mount cross ribs (B1) and (B2).
7. Mount the four remaining crossribs, (C)
and (D).
8. Inflate both air tubes just enough to give a
little pressure. Pull the tubes up towards the
gunwales. Continue inflating both air tubes
alternately until they feel hard (about as much
as a fit person could do by mouth).
➜The sections of the long rods are
internally connected by elastic cords to
ensure correct assembly.
Assembling the Puffin Kayak
➜The rear part of the kayak will now be
where rib (B1) is installed.
➜Cross rib (A) is the widest one and will be
installed at the center of the kayak. To install
it the keel angle is moved to the center of the
kayak.
➜As the cross ribs are installed the keel
will gradually straighten.
NOTE: The hull is symmetrical. It does not
matter at which end cross ribs (B1) and (B2)
are installed.
➜The cross ribs are connected to the keel
by means of latch clips. Each cross rib has a
plastic clip at the center. Position this clip on
the keel as shown in Figure 3 and press in
the direction of the arrow until the latch clip
locks. Mount the elastic band to secure the
locking.
➜The ends of the cross rib clip to the
gunwales at openings in the gunwale
channels.
➜The keel will now be at an angle.
➜The curved pieces without plastic fittings
are stems. The narrow end of the stems fit
into the keel.
➜The two longest rods are gunwales. They
are to be inserted in channels along the
edges of the boat skin. The channel
openings are under black flaps at one end of
the skin.
NOTE! We recommend that you study this manual carefully before you start the assembly
procedure! When assembling the Puffin Kayak, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2
of this manual.
Figure 3, Latch Clip
Keel
Cross Rib
Elastic
Band
Latch
Clip
➜ Make sure the keel is straight and the stems
are centered in the ends of the boat skin.
➜Make sure the keel is straight during the
iinflation. If it bowes to one side, add more
pressure to the air tube on that side.

– 4 –
9. Mount the forward deck support.
10. Locate the strap attached to the front end of
the boat skin and secure cross rib (B2) as
shown in Figure 4.
11. Mount the stern deck support.
12. Locate the strap attached to the rear end of
the boat skin and secure cross rib (B1) as
shown in Figure 4.
13. Inflate the seat.
14. Mount the seat.
15. Hook “short” end of deck over the stern
(boat’s rear end) and pull other end of
deck towards the boat’s front end.
Support the boat with your foot while
stretching the deck to fit over the bow.
16. Attach the Velcro fastener along the edge of
the deck to the matching Velcro strip on the
boat skin.
➜The seat is placed with the foam down on
the bottom of the kayak and the back against
cross rib (B1).
Front seat-straps: Run ends under cross
rib (A) and buckle accross the keel.
Back seat-straps: Run longest end under
cross rib (B1) and keel, and buckle to
short end.
The seat is equipped with additional straps
on each side for back adjustment.
➜The straight rod with a clip at one end, is
the stern deck support. The clip will attach to
the top of cross rib (B1). The “naked” end of
the rod should be placed against the flap at
the rear end of the boat skin.
➜The straight rod with a latch clip close to
one end, is the forward deck support. The
latch clip will attach to a corresponding clip at
the top of cross rib (B2). The “naked” end of
the rod should be placed against the flap at
the forward end of the boat skin.
The Puffin Kayak is now complete.
Strap
Cross Rib (B1 or B2) Buckle
Attached to
end of boat skin
Figure 4, Securing Cross Ribs (B1) and (B2)

– 5 –
➜Undo all the Velcro before you try to get the ends of the deck off.
➜To remove the gunwales:
• Open the black flaps and move to the other end of the boat.
• Grip the side fabric on one side just below the gunwale, about a foot (30 cm)
from the end.
• Push with the other hand against the end of the gunwale.
• Straighten the boat skin, move your hands, and repeat the process on both
sides of the boat until the gunwales can easily be pulled out.
➜Open the air tube valves and roll up the boat skin from the end opposite the
valves.
NOTE! If some gunwale sections disconnect, you can still pull
the gunwales out, but it is then important to stretch the
boat skin so the gunwale channels are straight.
Disassembling the Puffin Kayak
Disassembling is essentially the assembly process in reverse, but there are a few
important details:
Note!
• If a cross rib becomes disconnected from a gunwale, there is not enough pressure in
the air tubes. You need to get to shore and add more air. Reduced pressure is common
if you assemble the boat on a warm, sunny day and go paddling in cold water. Under
these conditions you should add some extra pressure during assembly.

– 6 –
Some general information about your Puffin Kayak
Patches and Reinforcements
Punctures and abrasions to the kayak skin are
easily repaired with the enclosed repair kit.
• Cut a patch to cover the damaged area plus
3/4" around it.
• Round the corners of the patch.
• Clean the patch and the area to be covered,
and apply a thin coat of adhesive to both
surfaces.
• Wait until the adhesive feels dry and apply the
patch. Make sure the surfaces are pressed
together well. Note: The smooth side of the
patch should face out.
• Apply adhesive to the side that appears
embossed.
The kayak can be used immediately after the
repair, but the bond will get stronger for several
hours as the adhesive cures.
You can add reinforcement to wear areas. The
keel line is the most exposed to wear, and we
recommend that you add a keel strip if you
anticipate a lot of abrasion. After some use it is
easy to see which areas are exposed to wear.
Simply install patches of same color fabric or
contact your dealer for a keel strip kit.
Punctures of the air tubes can be repaired with
the adhesive in the repair kit and a patch. The
patch material in the repair kit can be used on
the air tubes as well. Follow the procedure
described above. It is important to clean the
surfaces well before applying the adhesive.
Note:
Adhesives work best on rough surfaces. We
recommend using fine sandpaper before adhe-
sives are applied.
Note:
303 Protectant and other similar products will
protect canoe skins and air tubes from harmful
UV rays and help extend the life of your Puffin,
but we never use protectants on our own boats.
Nor do we recommend that you do.
The reason is that you can not apply a patch
without completely removing the protectant from
the area to be patched, and the protectant has
to be removed with a chemical solvent.
Also, the Puffin skin’s PVC coating has very
good UV resistance without any protection and
should last for many years.
We recommend that you store your Puffin
Kayak in the shade whenever practical.

ScanSport, Inc. / Pakboats
Post Office Box 700 May Street
Enfield, New Hampshire 03748 USA
Phone: [phone] (toll free)
From outside the US: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
www.pakboats.com