: Such lobster claws snap onto the aluminium tubes, and allow instant
: collapsing of the structure.
: Okoumé stations are lighter than polypropylene or polyethylene stations
: Still, enough weight was saved so to keep the total weight under 15 kgs for
: easier portaging, even though I used rather heavy 18mm diameter, 1.5 mm
: thick tubing (instead of e.g 1.2 mm i.e 0.49" if you're not familiar
: with millimeters)- as another purpose was to build a sea yak that should
: be able to hug the shore including paddling around capes when the wind
: picks up).

Eric,

Nice work and some good original problem solving. "Snap" together
solves one of the major folder construction problems, leaving
the skin as problem number one.

The "lobster claws" look a bit thin at the snap on point.
Do you think they will hold up over repeated snapping of the
tubes without losing their memory ?

I've used thicker walled tubing as well as thinner walls than
the 6061 -T6 x .049 that I normally use. I've found it to be
the best all around for weight "and" rigidity.

I've just purchased a quantity of 6063-T832 x .055wall tubing for
my next folder. The .055 wall is all I could find in this grade tubing,
but I bought it anyway for it's superior corrosion resistance vs. 6061-T6.
Though thicker walled, it's actually lighter than 6061-T6. It's
used a lot by sail rig and mast producers and is well proven in a salt
water enviorenment. Plus, it's less expensive than 6061-T6 and is used by
Feathercraft in the Kahuna.

I referred to 6063 as "lower grade" on another forum, but Mark Balogh
of Balogh Sail Design quickly pointed out the error of my thinking.
For which I am most appreciative.

HDPE is indeed more expensive and heavier than your excellent Okume / lobster
claw hybrid. However, the Sea Rover, with it's 8 cross sections, heavy HDPE
coaming, and additional inwale tubes has a final weight of under 15kg.( 32lbs)
Additional weight will be saved when the CF coaming is finished.

Keep up the good work. Hopefully we can get together for some folder paddling
one day. Do you live in the wine country ? ha!

Enough talk for one day, time for a motorcycle ride.

Best,
Tom