At NC Kayaks we are single-minded in our pursuit of the best touring kayak there is. A touring kayak is a type of sea kayak that is designed with long-distance travel in mind. Our kayaks are fast, light, hard tracking, durable, look good, and have enough storage so you can really go somewhere. All of our kayaks are built by hand in Tacoma, WA.
Our fixed keel design eliminates the need for a skeg or a rudder. This means the only moving parts of the kayak are the footpegs and the hatches, less to maintain, and less that could break or jam. There is more storage than a similarly sized kayak with a skeg because there is no need for an internal box for the skeg to retract into, and unlike a kayak with a rudder, the footpegs are fixed, so you can really connect with the kayak.
All of our kayaks were designed with industry-standard safety features, watertight compartments forward and aft of the cockpit, perimeter lines, bow, and stern handles, as well as reflective decals and our exclusive perimeter flange, a ½ inch-wide rubber flange that goes around the entire kayak, it deflects water away from the cockpit, protects the kayak from bumps and scrapes, and makes a very useful handle for deep water re-entry.
When making an NC Kayak we use an NPG-ISO gel coat, this is a gel coat that is UV resistant, very durable, and is specifically made for marine use. We also use a vinyl-ester resin that is stronger and can flex more than polyester resins, and like our gel coat is specifically made for marine use. The fiberglass cloth we use is first-quality, name-brand E-glass. Using higher-quality fiberglass helps us build consistent laminates and results in a high-quality finish.
Want to know more? Give us a call, we are always happy to talk about our kayaks. Our number is (253) 476-8582
Scroll for an overview of our three models and their characteristics:
The NC15 series
At fifteen feet, eight inches long, and twenty-three inches wide the NC15 is the most nimble of our touring kayaks. Perfect for exploring tidal estuaries, lakes, bays, and coastlines. The narrow bow keeps the nose of the kayak tracking while the abbreviated stern allows you to easily rotate the kayak. The NC15 has a load capacity of three hundred twenty-five pounds and typically weighs between thirty-nine to forty-three pounds depending on the model and options.
The NC15 Escape has forward and aft hatches and starts at $4,595
The NC15 Excursion has a single aft hatch and starts at $4,495