AF 3022--ultralite question

AE3022-G
Post Reply
Jenvacc
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 10:10 pm

AF 3022--ultralite question

Post by Jenvacc » Thu Aug 09, 2018 5:26 pm

I don't see any posts on the advanced frame ultralite...af3022.
Wondered if anyone out there has one, and what their opinion is. I will receive my yak on Friday.
My concern is the lighter material regarding the fabric and the polyurethane
Bottom vs. pic. It doesn't have an inflatable floor and doesn't work with drop stitch floor if I decided to want a stiffer floor. I appreciate all responses, good, bad or otherwise.

vortex
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 2:22 pm
Location: UK

Post by vortex » Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:08 am

I've paddled it with the AF DS floor & it's great.

rlpugh1
Site Admin
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:52 pm
Location: Concord, Ca

Post by rlpugh1 » Fri Aug 31, 2018 12:57 pm

Vortex...really, you paddled the Ultralite with a DS floor in it? Could you provide some pics? We did extensive measurements and determined that you cannot properly fit a DS floor in the Ultralite. On the other hand, you can fit a backbone in there.

vortex
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 2:22 pm
Location: UK

Post by vortex » Fri Aug 31, 2018 1:26 pm

https://www.advancedelementskayaks.co.u ... ight-kayak

Worked perfectly - much improved on choppy water.

I wouldn't use a backbone as there is a different bladder set up (just a left & right tube), rather than normal AF set tube setup.

JCOOLEY
Site Admin
Posts: 993
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:46 pm
Location: Benicia, CA

Post by JCOOLEY » Tue Sep 04, 2018 11:40 am

vortex wrote:https://www.advancedelementskayaks.co.u ... ight-kayak

Worked perfectly - much improved on choppy water.

I wouldn't use a backbone as there is a different bladder set up (just a left & right tube), rather than normal AF set tube setup.
Vortex,

Can you provide a picture of the inside of your Ultralite with the DropStitch floor in it? AE did measurements and determined it would not fit properly.
AE has put the backbone in it and it works fine. Even though the tubes are different being a left and a right, they still come together in the bow and stern and when inflated, press down on the backbone blade to hold it in place.

vortex
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 2:22 pm
Location: UK

Post by vortex » Tue Sep 04, 2018 11:53 am

Sorry, I don't have a demo at the moment - it's gone out to a customer.

JCOOLEY
Site Admin
Posts: 993
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:46 pm
Location: Benicia, CA

UPDATE

Post by JCOOLEY » Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:55 pm

We have put the DS floor in the Ultralite and it seemed to fit ok. It is a little too wide in the stern. It obviously makes the seating area smaller but we were able to fit in with shoes off and the footbrace removed. It will be fine as an option with the note that the seating area/foot room will be tighter.

As for the backbone, it works however given that the seat is foam, you will feel the beam when you sit down. The seat could possibly be modified with foam on either side of the backbone to level it out but that might be too much to ask.

vortex
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 2:22 pm
Location: UK

Re: UPDATE

Post by vortex » Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:31 pm

Great! I managed with 34" leg + size 11 kayaking boots with foot brace with no issues & found the paddling position fine.

Seems to be a useful upgrade to this kayak if you prefer a harder floor.

Note the usual caveat, that a more rigid base will make the outer cover a bit more vulnerable to abrasions, than a soft base that will absorb impacts.

JCOOLEY
Site Admin
Posts: 993
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:46 pm
Location: Benicia, CA

Post by JCOOLEY » Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:14 am

Also, adding the Drop Stitch floor takes away from the purpose of this boat. A lightweight AdvancedFrame that can be taken anywhere and performs as the AdvancedFrame series does. Adding the DS floor adds 6 lbs to the 17.5 and almost puts you at the weight of the SPORT. To each their own though.

Post Reply