From there I slid the frame inside the outer skin. Then I pulled out the bag with the 3 jacks. These are the levers that give the Trak it’s amazing shape-shifting ability. I fiddled with one for a moment to see how it worked. The leaver extends the frame, then there is a small switch to let the pressure back out. So I put the two side jacks in. Easy. Then the bottom jack was a different story. . for a moment. It would’nt fit! Well, after a moment I had an epiphany. I pumped the side jacks a bit which pushed the frame back and suddenly the bottom jack fit right in. Funny, later looking at the book I found they have a similar suggestion. Nice.

From there it was obvious that the seat pillars just slid right back to connect with the back frame. Then I grabbed the combing which again slides in. It fits nicely into a mold in the front brace and onto the back frame as well. Then you work the skin around the combing grooves frm there. This was different than the one I had tested earlier in the year at Canoecopia. Much nicer in my opinion. Simpler. After putting the combing in, I just zipped up the back. One thing I should have done there was to adjust the knee braces. I didn’t, so I will have to go back and do that. They are similar to some WW boats where you can move them forward or back and screw them in.

Next I slid the seat in. You can see in the moldings exactly where it goes. There there are pins on each side to connect the seat to the pillars. Then there is simple cleat for the seat adjustment. Again it was really obvious where everything went together.

In the front and back of the kayak are buoyancy bags. One had a bit "B" on it so I knew where that went. LOL. The buoyancy bags can be inflated as is, or they zip open to hold gear, then you can top them off afterward. I had to fold the seat down to put the rear one in. Next time I’ll just put it in before I zip up the back. Lastly I put the bungies on and I was ready to go. Off to the lake!!

Since I already had the kayak together, I took their advice and just put it on the top rack like any other kayak. The black and white kayak looks great on my black Jeep by the way. In about 5 minutes I was at the lake and putting it on the shore line. Oh, yes that is my Novorca paddle.

I took a bunch of pictures of the kayak and a few people came over to see what I was doing so I told them about the new kayak. One couple from China took a ton of pictures and were full of questions. They could not believe you could put it in a bag. Now I have to tell you, when I first opened the bag the boat looked gun-metal gray. The pictures show that but out of the bright sun it’s black. A very pretty boat. Of course this is the point where you know why I was attracted to the Trak. Folding kayaks are ugly!! Not the Trak. It looks like a kayak. The white hull give an impression of a fiberglass boat at first glance. I’m glad Janna convinced be that a black deck only would look best. She was right.

Here’s me posing my my new Trak. You can see I was not dressed for paddling. So. . . Well, with the water around 40f. . I won’t tell you how I had left the skirt at home. . . but i did have a pfd in the back of the jeep . . . and took it for a spin as the sun began to set. LOL!

Again, I can’t thank TRAK enough for sponsoring me. This is really quite an amazing new design in the kayak world. One I’m very proud to show off. Watch for future posts as I start getting a feel for it on the water and in the "big stuff". I also want to tell you about the nice instruction manuals and the CD soon, but right today I’m just happy to sit back and enjoy the beauty of my Black & White Trak. Be sure to check my ever changing events calendar on KayakQuixotica.com and if you come to any of the events just find me and you can test paddle it. That’s what it’s here for! And don’t worry, I won’t try to sell you. I’ll let the boat do that.