Hi,

What a great idea. I'd thought of this too, for longer boats as they do with rowing eights for transport. The Lightning 12 looks interesting. Not sure if it would work (at all!) or for your West River, but something I'd thought of, in the spirit of 'nesting dinghies' would be an alteration to this process as follows:

1. Cut bow and stern off in front of each bulkhead.
2. Make a small rim around the two 'open' bits (end of bow and end of cockpit sections). Maybe 1" - 2" high all around, reinforced to hull and thencovered on 'joint' side with thin rubber.
3. Drill holes for bolts in bulkheads and rims.

Then you have ability to join 3 sections back up. But, as there are two open ends, you could then insert the bow piece into the open end of the cockpit section, then the stern into the open bow section.

So each piece slides into another - then you have 3 sections fitting into the cockpit (bulkhead distance and beam/volume could be worked out so they all fit). Strap it up and ready to be loaded, the same size a s a big suitcase.

In theory, the reiforced rims would need to stand up to strain of waves, etc, and rubber rim be watertight without affecting performance (OK if it's flush when tightened).

Could this work? Maybe something to try...

Anyway, I'll stop my mad ramblings now. Hope this gives you some ideas though.

Regards,
Darren
Melbourne, Australia

PS Or just store that kayak away and build a Yost folding one :-)