Thanks for all the comments, so far 87, and some very useful data. In my profession i get the 'you can't do it' response a lot, personally i find that a driver. I am open to useful critique and advice, so rather than a negative critique without knowing the facts, try i don't think it's possible because of......I will be happy to then explain how i have, or have not managed to resolve that/those issues. To answer some of the questions/comments on here:

These questions are on the back of many interviews, I understand the bias comment, but in terms of the questions the option to state whether it is an advantage or disadvantage is up to the individual. What I am attempting to do is offer a solution to current market transformable kayaks, to do this i need to understand the pain points associated with use. Many of the questions around storing, transporting, and time were major issues within interviews i.e. Many apartment dwellers really wanted to kayak, but had problems with storage and transport. The term transformation has been used on the back of existing frameworks of form changing products, and best describes what i am working on. To say folding only refers to kayaks that fold, and this title is often given to kayaks that are actually assembled. Collapsible is a better definition but doesn't necessarily cover all bases. So if your imagining a robot when i say 'transforming' then great, that is a step in the right direction. I am not trying to out do solid kayaks in performance, but provide an alternative that might increase participation and remove barriers for SOME people.

When i talk about integration I am referring to a single piece (including the seat). So far i have 43 prototypes, and test rigs, this has been through a highly divergent, iterative process with some really exciting results. So far I have systems from telescopic to folding using lo-tech and high tech systems and materials. Some are based around skin on frame, some where the skin is the frame, and another that is tensioned using cable, kind of a tensegrity. Some innovations have been accidental discovery i.e. i can change the beam on one of them by adjusting a pulley. Setup times vary, with the frameless version using material memory to transform in under a minute, and another a cable pulley system that converts from a crank system in about 90 seconds. Performance has been good, but not incredible (from expert paddlers), but it is work in progress and getting better. I have a background in boat design and have won awards in several categories, so i'm not a tyre kicker with pipe dreams. Hope this answers some of the questions/comments and thanks again to those who have helped out.