Reviews

Folbot Cooper

Sail Magazine
8/1/2009
Website: http://www.sailmagazine.com/
PDF: View PDF

This full-on sea kayak is just shy of 17' long when assembled and eatures an aluminum-pole skeleton under a durable skin of polyester and Hypalon. The complex setup takes about 20 minutes with practice, but pays dividends on the water. The Cooper tracks well and maintains its speed with minimal effort. While I didn't use the optional rudder, it may come in handy for long-distance paddling. Weight is under 40 pounds and it folds into a large backpack, but assembly requires a lengthy workspace, at least 25 feet. You'll need a big boat for that. While the Cooper's rubberized bottom is built tough, you wouldn't want to jam it onto a jagged rock. It has inflatable flotation bladders but a swamped kayak isn't fun. A patch kit is available for $30, and a sprayskirt for rough-water paddling is sold separately for $130. folbot.com

CONCLUSION: A solid-performing, stowable kayak for exploring interesting coves and inlets.

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