Failure Modes
The first time I heard the phrase, “failure modes,” was in a program about the Three Mile Island disaster. If I remember correctly, a…
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In the Shop
Building Your Boat Part 4: Finishing Details
We’ve made all of the parts, prepped each one for assembly, and even bonded your kayak. So what’s left? There are still a few more…
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The Goldenrod Blem Kayaks
It All Began… It all began with an order for a goldenrod NC17 Quest. I started as I always do, spraying the gel coat.
Read MoreBuilding Your Boat Part 3: Bonding your Kayak
Bonding your Kayak: The Magic of Methyl Methacrylate When bonding your kayak we use Methyl Methacrylate Adhesive (MMA) for several steps of our building process.
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Building Your Boat Part 2: Prep for Assembly
Last week, we described how we make all the parts for your kayak. At this point, like raw gemstones, they are rough. Next, we…
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Building Your Boat Part 1: Making the Parts
What do we mean when we say that NC Kayaks are handmade in the Pacific Northwest? We mean that we make all of the fiberglass…
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Do you know who built your kayak?
If You Get an NC Kayak… In a world where manufacturing is increasingly automated, each NC Kayak is hand-built in the Northwest, by just two…
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How I got Here
The Port of Angels Much of my family lives in Port Angeles, Washington. I spent the first ten years of my life there and went…
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Glitter Obsessed
Magpies don’t actually like shiny things. The myth is that magpies love shiny things and will steal them for their nest. Science says that…
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The 35-pound Kayak in the Room
The Challenge: We have a customer who lives near the water. They own an expedition kayak but wanted something easier to get to and from…
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