Typical
Questions Customers Ask
What Is A Klepper
Folding Kayak
How Do The Four Models
Differ?
How Does A Klepper Fold?
How Long Does It Take?
What Sets a Klepper TrulyApart From
The Competition?
What Materials Is It Made Of?
Why Don't You Use Composites For The
Frame?
What Do Owners Like Best About Their
Kleppers?
What Do You Mean By Military
Application?
Can I Solo Paddle And Sail A Two
Seater?
Do The Boats Require Much
Maintenance?
How Long Do These Boats Last?
Can I Do Simple Repairs
Myself?
Are Replacement Parts Available For
Older Models?
Do The Kleppers Ever Change?
How Do I Get A Klepper?
What Kind Of Guarantee Comes With A
Klepper?
Should I Buy A Single Seater Or A
Double Seater?
What Deck Color Should I
Chose?
WHAT IS A KLEPPER FOLDING KAYAK?
A Klepper Folding Kayak is an Eskimo style kayak
that is made of a folding wood frame and a pliable
skin, folds into one or two carry on bags for
transportation, and has been developed by German
craftsmen and engineers for over 89 years into a
state of the art seaworthy kayak with full upwind
sailing capability.
HOW DO THE FIVE MODELS DIFFER?
The Aerius Series covers the full range of boating
options from kayak touring to extreme expedition
kayaking. The Aerius Scout and Aerius Classic are
designed for the recreational user while the Aerius
Expedition meets the needs of the experienced
adventurer. The specialist, professional or armed
forces kayaker prefers the Aerius Quattro XT. New
owners often excel quickly and become great
travelers, excellent sailors, and experienced sea
kayakers. When choosing your boat keep this in mind.
.
HOW DOES A KLEPPER FOLD?
There are 31 wooden pieces that interconnect via
patented "snaplocks". One half of the frame is
snapped together and slid into the "skin" and then
the other half. The two halves are connected, a
coaming is put on, air sponsons are inflated by mouth
and you are done. See Slide
'n Snap Assembly.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The average assembly time for one person - bags to
boat- is 15 minutes with no tools and no force. All
parts are color or number coded. Disassembly takes
less than ten minutes. Two people can comfortably cut
these times in half.
WHAT SETS A KLEPPER TRULY APART FROM THE
COMPETITION ?
The Klepper is designed for full upwind sailing.
Every model is equipped with a maststep, mast support
bracket, stayfittings and rudder bracket to
accommodate four sails: two drift sails and two full
sails. See Sail
Upwind. Also, every two-seater model
from1997 on has a built-in solo seat in the center of
the cockpit which converts a two seater to a one
seater in a matter of 10 seconds
WHAT MATERIALS IS IT MADE OF?
The frame is Austrian white mountain ash and Finnish
birch (age dried for three years). Fittings are of
rust and corrosion proof metal alloy. The hull (skin)
bottom is either a hypalon rubber/rip stop Trevira,
polyester cord/hypalon or military spec. tri-blend
rubber/rip stop/tri-blend lamination. The decks are
an Egyptian woven canvas especially made for the
Kleppers.
WHY DON'T YOU USE COMPOSITES FOR THE
FRAME?
The editor of Canoe Magazine once said, "If wood was
invented today, it would be considered the miracle
material of all time. " Specifically, wood of the
grade quality that we work with is the ideal material
for the frame of a folding kayak because it is strong
AND resiliant, it works synergistically with itself
and with the fittings when under constant stress, it
floats, it is the easiest material to repair in
field. Parts are relatively inexpensive to replace,
parts do not seize together, it lasts and lasts for
incredible lengths of time, is warm to the touch,
quiet and aesthetically pleasing now and over time.
There are no composites that fulfill all of these
Klepper requirements.
WHAT DO OWNERS LIKE BEST ABOUT THEIR
KLEPPERS?
Because the boats are more seaworthy and more
versatile than anything in its class. The design
(suspension-like frame/perimeter air sponsons/complex
variable multichine shape) is totally unique and
unparalleled in its record of accomplishments. The
boat can run rough rivers and cross oceans. It
paddles, sails, and can be used as a diving platform
among countless other applications. If the boat ever
capsizes, you just climb right back in. The Kleppers
are the most stable and safest of all kayaks.
Moreover, they will last the longest and be the
easiest to repair of all the boat materials. Finally,
they have classic lines and strong color schemes, do
not go out of style, and age like fine leather.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MILITARY APPLICATION?
The Klepper MK13 (civilian expedition model) was the
official "stealth" kayak of NATO since 1953 and has
recently been replaced by the four air sponson
Commando known in it's civilian version as the
Quattro XT.
CAN I SOLO PADDLE AND SAIL A TWO SEATER?
Absolutely! The solo seat allows center positioning
for optimal trim and balance as well as proper leg
and back positioning. Limitations would be a light
boat in heavy winds with no load. Larger people love
the boat for solo usage. It provides comfort that no
solo kayak offers. Recently, a gentleman named Joe
Weight paddled and sailed from Grenada to Puerto Rico
with this configuration.
DO THE BOATS REQUIRE MUCH MAINTENANCE?
Not at all! All of the materials are chosen for
maximum durability in the most adverse conditions
ranging from arctic cold to tropical heat and
humidity. Saltwater is not an issue. The boats should
be cleaned and waxed a few times a year. For long
storage, they should be packed dry. That's it!
HOW LONG DO THESE BOATS LAST?
Kleppers commonly get two generations (approximately
50 years) on frames and at least one generation (25
years) on hulls. The latter figure is based on old
style hulls that used natural rubber which was
eventually the weak link in the system. Natural
rubber was replaced over 20 years ago
by hypolon, a synthetic rubber which proves to
have a longer life than natural rubber. Heavy
tour group usage and military application may reduce
these figures by half.
CAN I DO SIMPLE REPAIRS MYSELF?
All maintenance and most repairs of Klepper Aerius
folding kayaks can be performed by the owner.
Replacement of a frame fitting is a do-it-yourself
project as necessary soft rivets are supplied with
fittings. Also frame, rudder, and sail parts can be
ordered for replacement. Keelstrip installation or
replacement of bow or stern rubber stems on hull are
also do-it-yourself maintenance projects for the more
skilled owner. In all of the above cases simply order
your necessary parts with instructions from the
Klepper Service Center or a dealer near you.
ARE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FOR OLDER
MODELS?
Klepper services all kayak models built from 1951.
Replacement parts can be ordered from the Klepper
Central Service Center NORTH AMERICA or from the
Central Service Center EUROPE in Rosenheim or a
dealer near you. All frame parts can be ordered
individually as can boat skins. Kleppers total
commitment to its customers is to provide top
quality, factory-original spare parts and service at
the lowest possible price.
DO THE KLEPPERS EVER CHANGE?
The basic Aerius design will not change since the
overall satisfaction with these boats is
unprecedented. The attention to fine details to
enhance function, comfort and convenience are always
foremost. Recently, Klepper has introduced a 12 1/2'
"mini" called Aerius 2000 which is aimed at smaller
and younger persons. A new and exciting development
is a new hull for the Aerius II called the Quattro.
With four air sponsons which allow shape change from
deep-sitting V to a highly buoyant U shape and
anything in between. The application for this
capability is endless.
klp
HOW DO I GET A KLEPPER?
To get actual price information or to order a
catalogue, please call 1 800 500 2404i in the US or
1 800 323 3525 in Canada.
For outside the US and Canada please see Contact us. It is good to order at least six
weeks before a serious trip in order to insure
getting the type and style of boat you want. Waiting
lists of one month are common on boats and hulls.
Please note that repairing in Germany is only
available from october to march.
Parts and accessories are available immediately or
within two weeks.
WHAT KIND OF GUARANTEE COMES WITH A KLEPPER
All Kleppers and accessories have a factory warranty
to assure materials and workmanship. Warranty service
is provided by any official Klepper dealer worldwide.
Kleppers Guarantee is their word of honor. If
you are sincere and honest, they will rectify in
the most amicable way possible. They have done
this for long time now, so they know when and
how things happen. In any case, they will try to make
you as happy as they can.
SHOULD I BUY A SINGLE SEATER OR A DOUBLE
SEATER?
If you are an "individualist" who enjoys solitude, a
single seater is definitely the best choice. If you
enjoy nature more when "sharing" it with someone
else, you would prefer a double seater. Also,
every two seater from 1997 on comes with a built in
solo seat which is located in the center of the
cockpit and converts a double-seater in 10 seconds
effectively into a single seater.
WHAT DECK COLOR SHOULD I CHOOSE?
The deck color is a very personal choice. Red and
yellow are the safety colors which add a color
splash to photos; Olive or black assure camouflage;
Blue is a marine classic; and Mint is a fresh, cool
alternative.
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