One of the daily features has become the posting of a “Folbot Mystery Photo” where people try to identify what’s in the photo — which all have something to do with Folbot or the kayaks. The answers range from serious to funny — we’ve even had one of the posters insisting that the picture was of an alien worm from outer space (I don’t think she was serious).
Today’s photo is a favorite of mine — it captures the joy of a successful first assembly of a Folbot kayak.
The challenge on Facebook was, “What is the actual purpose of the ‘Robin Hood hats’ that these gentlemen are wearing? Do you know?”
There are always interesting things to see when walking through the Folbot factory. There are kayaks in all stages of manufacturing — from the raw materials to the finished boat.
Do you know what this is?
Winner gets to bask in the glow of knowing they were correct.
The correct answer (properly phrased in the form of a question) is: What are the polycarbonate crossframes used in the Folbot kayak frames before they were replaced by aircraft grade aluminum?
Every once in a while we receive a phone call or email about an assembly problem regarding a new customer’s Folbot kayak. The communication goes something like this: “I assembled the kayak (love it!!), but had two pieces left over. What are they and did I do something wrong?”
The mysterious items look just like this:
We calmly assure the customer that they did a brilliant job in assembling the kayaks and tell them that those pieces are simply covers we create to go over the metal keel ends of the large cockpit kayaks, so that they are protected in transit. When the kayak is assembled, they are naturally left over.
Over the years, we have had many suggestions as to what those pieces can be used for (apart from their intended use). But hand’s down, the most popular idea is to wear them as “Robin Hood” hats.
Thanks to Rudy Matthaei and his sons for so vividly demonstrating that use!
The good news is that the Matthaeis look just as sharp without the hats in their new Greenland II.
When walking through the Folbot plant, sometimes you come across an interesting sight. Last week it was the innards of the RF welding machine, today it was this:
Who knows what they are and what they are doing? Hint… they are not giant bananas.
