Portable Boats

Tools for Possibilities: issue no. 102

Once a week we’ll send out a page from Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. The tools might be outdated or obsolete, and the links to them may or may not work. We present these vintage recommendations as is because the possibilities they inspire are new. Sign up here to get Tools for Possibilities a week early in your inbox.

Boats that fit in a closet or trunk

Folding Kayaks

Kayaks are cool tools all by themselves… small, simple boats that give you access to virtually any waterway, big or small. Simple enough for a novice to enjoy, but with skill and experience, kayaks can also used for thousand-mile expeditions far from support.

Folding kayaks are a special breed among kayaks in general. They typically consist of a wood or aluminum frame inserted into a fabric skin, and assembled boats are reminiscent of the bone-and-hide baidarkas used by Inuit hunters. The obvious advantage to a folding kayak over the far more common plastic or fiberglass boats available is storage. When not in use, a folding kayak can be stored in an apartment or car trunk. But the boats are also serious performers–they are truly in their element when the seas get rough–and they tend to last much longer than rigid boats. Cracks in plastic and fiberglass can retire a rigid boat in 6 to 10 years. Folding kayaks can last for decades, not only due to the materials, but also due to the fact the individual pieces can be replaced.

Klepper of Germany has been in the business the longest, since 1909, and their boats have been around the world, including across the Atlantic, twice. They are also used by Special Forces. They are also expensive, but not quite as expensive as Feathercraft of Canada, a relative newcomer. Feathercraft makes boats using a high-tech approach in materials and design. Their boats pack down smaller, but they also cost more. Folbot is an American-made folding kayak that enjoys good reputation, in part due to their absolute commitment to standing behind their products, pretty much for life. Their boats are highly regarded, and they are significantly cheaper than the competition. They are Ford to Klepper’s BMW.

I just took delivery of a newcomer in the folding kayak world, a Longhaul Mark II made by Mark Eckhardt of Colorado. Eckhardt started his business repairing Kleppers and making accessories. He was an official Klepper dealer and service center for time, but has now struck out on his own making his own boats, that are in many respects are identical to Kleppers–a Longhaul frame will actually fit a Klepper skin and vice versa. But Eckhardt has addressed a number of what he sees as design flaws of the Klepper in his new boat.

Folbot Cooper

For an inexpensive folding kayak suitable for a novice, I recommend a new boat just announced by Folbot called the Cooper. Small and light, the Cooper fits into one bag, and has nice profile. And it comes in at a price that is 2/3 the price (or better) of other reputable folding singles, at $1400. As I mentioned, Folbot has been around for decades. A brand new model from them is a boat that has a lot experience behind its design and manufacture. Additionally, Folbot has an unbeatable guarantee… they guarantee that it will be free of manufacturing defects for life, and they’ll give you 100% of your money back within 60 days if you don’t like the boat and return in “like new” condition. That’s a tough deal to beat. — Alex Gray

A fine enthusiasts website for tracking the latest in folding kayaks is foldingkayaks.org. For reading I recommend:

The Complete Folding Kayaker Ralph Diaz, 2003, 256 p.

• Folbot Aleut I
  The Aleut is the least expensive foldable kayak on the market today. Like the double in the Folbot family, the Aleut is designed for the mass market, for people who aren’t performance-minded but simply want to enjoy paddling without much fuss. For that market, the Aleut I delivers the essentials of any folding kayak–foldable convenience and stability.
  The Aleut’s frame consists of aluminum long pieces and polycarbonate ribs. Its hull is Hypalon, and its deck is coated polyester.

Assembly and Portability
Assembly is a snap; the Aleut has only three ribs and only about fourteen parts. Some parts are already held together in subassemblies. You can get the Aleut either in one or two bags, but take the convenient two-bag option because the single bag is awkward to carry.

• Stability and Seaworthiness
  The Aleut’s stability cannot be overstated. No kayak can be termed untippable, but the Aleut goes a long way in that direction. It handles well in open water, and its nose refuses to dive in all but the highest waves and wake.
• Bailers and PumpsBailers and pumps are necessary safety items for any kayaker. They’re doubly important in a foldable because, in the event of a capsize, the relatively large interior space could fill with a huge amount of water.
  A bailer is a handy way to extract water quickly, but you won’t find a single one on the market. Make your own from a pail, plastic bleach bottle, or almost any large, unbreakable beverage container made for refrigerator storage.

Foldable skiff

Porta Bote

This is a very cool tool. Its a boat that folds up. It really works great. I wanted a little boat I could keep on my larger 24-foot boat so I could take me and my dogs ashore. This boat is perfect. Very stable and folds up when not in use. I tie it down on the bow when not in use. I have seen a lot of people use these with RVs, mounted to the side. You can use paddles or a small electric or gas engine to get around. It handles great and is easy to plane with a small engine like mine — a 4-horsepower gas engine. The other great thing is that I know the hull is not going to be punctured by my dogs or anything else. Its very stable with 2 people and two small dogs.

It’s very easy to fold up, takes less than 5 minutes. The seats act as braces to hold the boat open, so when you take them out the boat folds up. The boat is made of Polypropylene and has a 10 year warranty. I have the 8 foot model (smallest), which I got for $900 years ago but now goes for $1,250. — Bart Snyder

Pet hair roller/One Useful Thing/Official Stick Reviews

Recomendo - issue #425

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Reusable pet hair roller

I was burning through lint rollers like crazy to remove cat hair from my office chair. I ended up buying an Odora Pet Hair Roller. It’s a reusable device that removes pet hair from upholstered furniture, bedding, and some clothing. It uses a back-and-forth motion to pick up hair and deposit it in a chamber. Because you have to move it back-and-forth, it doesn’t work well on loose blankets, which is something to keep in mind. — MF

AI news

Keeping up with the advances in AI is almost a full-time job. The most reliable single source for understandable and useful news about consumer-facing AI that I use is Ethan Mollick’s substack called One Useful Thing. You can read it as a web blog or as an emailed newsletter. He is quick to thoroughly try out the newest thing and report on what it is useful for. — KK

Joyful social media 

I’ve intentionally cut down on my social media time, but there’s one account I never scroll past because it always makes me smile: Official Stick Reviews on Instagram. It’s the internet’s go-to spot for stick reviews submitted from around the world. Initially, I thought it was satire, but I soon realized the enthusiasm for finding cool sticks is both genuine and contagious. Here’s a good example. — CD

Best extension cord

I’ve struggled every which way to store and deploy very long extension cords in our garage. A year ago, I splurged on the ideal solution which I had seen in hi-tech company workshops: a retractable cord stationed on the ceiling or wall. Like the retractable cord in a vacuum cleaner, you pull it out to the length you need and then when done, a quick yank will instantly wind itself back up. I got an 80-foot one to reach into the yard, as well as the garage or workshop, and it’s so easy now that I don’t hesitate to roll out the cord. Innumerable generic brands make various lengths and gauge of wire. A 45-foot 12-gauge Suraielect Retractable is $90, and totally worth it to me. — KK

Velcro fasteners 

I have an old ugly couch in the basement that I’ve covered with a throw blanket. To prevent it from shifting or being pulled off, I used Velcro Brand Heavy-Duty Fasteners. It’s not a permanent fix, but it spares me from unnecessary fussing with it. — CD 

Stackable soup savers

I learned about silicone freezer trays during a visit to my parents’ house. They use them to store leftover soups and stews. The flexible silicone makes it easy to pop out individual frozen 1-cup cubes, and the rigid lids make them stackable in the freezer. — MF

Book Freak 168: The Idiot Brain

A Neuroscientist Explains What Your Head is Really Up To

Get The Idiot Brain

You probably feel normal most of the time, but below the surface, your brain is doing some extremely weird things. In his fascinating and funny book, The Idiot Brain, neuroscientist Dean Burnett guides us through the bizarre workings of our “idiot brains,” which often seems to work against us — from motion sickness to memory quirks to irrational fears. He reveals the latest research on how our gray matter functions (and malfunctions) and provides guidance on how the brain can help itself be a little smarter.

Four key pieces of advice from the book:

Memory is Egotistical

“Your memory often tweaks and adjusts the information it stores to make you look better, like a doting mother pointing out how wonderful her little Timmy was in the school play, even though little Timmy just stood there, picking his nose and dribbling.”

Our memories can be unreliable and biased towards making us look or feel better about ourselves. Be aware that your recollections may not always be as accurate as you think.

Embrace Randomness

“The brain really doesn’t handle randomness well. The brain seems to struggle with the idea that something can happen for no discernible reason other than chance. It might be yet another consequence of our brains seeking danger everywhere – if there’s no real cause for an occurrence then there’s nothing that can be done about it if it ends up being dangerous, and that’s not tolerable.

Recognize that our brains often try to find patterns or meaning where there may be none. Be aware that this tendency can lead to misinterpretations or false beliefs.

Depression Defies Logic

“Depression is not logical. Those describing suicide and depression as selfish apparently struggle with this concept, as if those with depression make a table or chart with the pros and cons of suicide and, despite there being more cons, selfishly opt for suicide anyway.”

Have compassion for those struggling with depression. Their experiences and decisions may not seem logical to others, but their suffering is real and shouldn’t be dismissed as selfishness.

Love is a Neurochemical High

“Being in love seems to elevate dopamine activity in the reward pathway, meaning we experience pleasure in our partner’s presence, almost like a drug. And oxytocin is often referred to as ‘the love hormone’ or similar, which is a ridiculous oversimplification of a complex substance, but it does seem to be elevated in people in relationships, and it has been linked to feelings of trust and connection in humans.”

Appreciate the powerful neurochemical effects of love and relationships. They can bring great joy, but also potentially cloud our judgment at times.

Danny Kim, Inventor

Show and Tell #406: Danny Kim

ABOUT DANNY KIM:
20+ years of vehicle architecture & prototype development. Inventor w/ 65 issued int’l patents, 22 USPTOs. Focus of HBS case study: Industrial design & sustainable transportation. Former Land Rover mechanic, machinist, woodworker, welder, and vehicle integrator. Reed College, UCB, RISD, & Media Lab.

LINKS:
LIT Motors
Wefunder
Flickr
Instagram
YouTube

TOOLS:
0:00 – Intro
1:19 – 48″ Margining steel lead screw shaft Rockwell 52 (AKA Handy File)
7:48 – Spectrum 375 Plasma Cutter (1/2″ lightsaber “Scissors’)
14:35 – Edwards 65 Ton Ironworker
16:07 – Miller MIG Welder
23:58 – Maybe cardboard would be a prototyping tool
23:49 – LIT Motors prototype

To sign up to be a guest on the show, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qc496XB6bGbrAEKK7

5-year Thai Visa/Budget Airline Luggage Bundles/States With the Most Travelers

Nomadico issue #119

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

The Thailand Remote Work Visa Actually Works

I’ve been hesitant to post anything about the 5-year Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) because I couldn’t find a way to apply on any official site and hadn’t seen anyone talk about actually getting one. I’m happy to say both have changed, with simple application info in English here and a report from an employee of SafetyWing who actually got through the process and is all set. This is a big deal if it holds because it’s a 5-year multi-entry visa that only requires showing income proof of around $15K per year. No fat local bank deposit like the retiree visa requires.

Flying to the USA With a Dog

New rules from the CDC went into effect August 1 for anyone flying to the USA with a dog. It’s all about rabies, meaning you need to fill out a form if coming from a low-risk country, but more than that for the others: “All pets must be at least 6 months old, appear healthy upon arrival to the United States and have a microchip inserted before they are given a rabies vaccine.” See the details here.

Buying the Bundle With Budget Airlines

I got some notes back from readers last week about luggage charges when I wrote about the pros and cons of the Volaris Annual Pass. One trick that I thought was more known and is apparently not is that to get the lowest fees on luggage, you need to commit when you book your ticket. The best deal is going to be when the airline presents a bundle upgrade option, which Volaris, Viva Aerobus, Ryanair, and the budget Thai airlines do routinely. In the case of Volaris, an international ticket only will be one price, adding a carry-on will be $20 more, and a bundle with priority boarding, a checked bag and a carry-on will be $60 more (great if there are two of you and just one can pay for luggage). Last year I took the bundle offer on RyanAir and got a checked bag and a set assignment for around 30 euros each on two different flights.

States With the Most Travelers

The feeling that your friends and neighbors are all traveling overseas this year will be impacted a lot by where you live, according to this study of travel frequency for Americans. “Residents of New York and New Jersey travel overseas at roughly twice the national frequency. In 2023, New Yorkers made a total of 5.9 million trips to overseas destinations (301 per 1,000 residents), while New Jerseyans completed 2.7 million trips (291 per 1,000 residents). Other top states include Florida, Connecticut, and Virginia. The three states with the lowest rates of overseas travel are Mississippi, Arkansas, and Idaho, at about one-third the national average or lower. Which city is tops for traveling residents? Multi-cultural Miami takes the prize.

What’s in my NOW? — Sheryl O’Bryan

issue #184

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Sheryl grew up in NY, moved to Cote d’Ivoire soon after college, and has worked with Third Culture Kids (TCKs) since 1988. She currently lives in Sebastian, FL where she loves driving with Mr. Bingley, her lizard loving pup.

PHYSICAL

• Fi Collar – my dog loves to explore the neighborhood and hunt for lizards with or without me. The Fi collar lets me locate him when he’s on an extended hunt. It also allows me to notify other Fi users that he’s lost. The app let’s me see where we walked or where he walked with the dog walker. I thought it was silly and indulgent at first, but now I love it.
• The Fudenosuke brush pen – especially the hard tip – helps me get my hand lettering game back on track when I’ve been lax in practicing. The harder tip ensures more consistency in the amount of pressure I need to apply for various line thickness. It also gives me more accuracy when trying new styles.
• Dashing Diva Manicure Stickers – They’re not for everyone, but if you love manicured nails and either hate paying for a manicure, hate what a gel manicure does to your nails, or can’t use nail polish with your non-dominant hand, these are the perfect solution to great looking nails.

DIGITAL

• Night Cafe Studio AI Art Generator – It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot of fun. It can be useful, too. I’ve used it to create images for character boards for the novel I’m plotting. When I can’t find the right picture for a social media post for work? Night Cafe Studio to the rescue!
• Libby app – I love books of all sorts, but making time to read is more arduous than I ever thought possible. Libby to the rescue! It links to your library card and gives you access to thousands if not millions of books. Currently, I’m listening to my 30th book of the year.

INVISIBLE

“Who are you from?”

I work with a lot of Global Nomads, and the “Where?” question is sometimes difficult. The “Who?” question is difficult at first, but eventually it opens up a literal world of influence when we think about all the places that impacted the people who impact us.

What’s in my NOW? — Sheryl O’Bryan