Spoiled

I’m so spoiled that I forget how spoiled I am.

I paddle one of the kayaks I built. In the world of kayaks, it is a bullet train. By design, we’ve sacrificed some maneuverability to gain speed, tracking, and efficiency. This gives me the ability to cover a lot of distance: more than 30nm (34.5 miles) in a day, if I’m trying.

A Reminder

“3.2 knots and I’m not paddling hard,” said a paddler trying the NC17 for the first time. We were paddling into a 10-knot headwind that was gusting to 18. She then told me that 3 knots is the speed she aims for when she isn’t paddling into a headwind in her current kayak. She then turned the kayak about 45 degrees off the wind and stopped paddling. “The wind doesn’t turn it even when I stop paddling; I’ve never paddled anything like it.”

It was at this moment I realized that I am spoiled. It didn’t surprise me that the kayak held course because I experience this every time I go kayaking. Once I pick my heading and paddle, I need to do very little to keep the kayak pointed where I want to go.

Energy Cannot Be Created or Destroyed; only Transformed

Many manufacturers have foam seats and/or backbands. They even market these as being the most comfortable seat for your kayaking adventures.

We make our seats out of fiberglass and bond them into our kayaks. One reason for this is weight: our seats are lighter than most kayak seat options available. Another reason is physics. Since our seats are solid they don’t compress. Why is that important? So you transfer more of the energy from your paddle stroke through your seat and into moving the kayak, not into compressing foam.

Our seats are ergonomically designed, come in 3 different widths, and are also comfortable. I can sit in my kayak and paddle for as many hours as my bladder will allow.

Splish, Splash

Our unique flange keeps you drier and aids in self-recovery and assisted rescues. The flange deflects water away from the cockpit. It won’t stop a big wave from getting to you, but in mild chop you won’t be constantly splashed.

You can use the flange like a handle during wet entries and assisted rescues. You can read more about the flange in this post.

All Geared Up

I have paddled some touring kayaks that are very tippy when empty. I love touring (it is my favorite way to camp), but even so, I paddle my kayak empty(ish) more often than loaded. It just isn’t realistic to go camping every time I paddle.

Our kayaks are designed to be paddled empty or loaded, so they perform well either way. However, they handle differently depending on your load. You will need an extra paddle stroke or two to get up to speed loaded, and you’ll also need a bit more stopping distance. But once underway the kayak has so much momentum you can use a lower paddle cadence and still maintain speed.

Waves are Gonna Wave, Wave, Wave…

The bow of our kayak design does a lot of work. It has a very narrow entry into the water, which helps keep the bow wave to a minimum and helps the kayak hold course. As you move up from the waterline the bow widens and is upswept. The upswept bow, increased volume, and the flange helps the kayak climb over waves.

This is a balancing act: too much lift paddling into head waves and the kayak will breach and lose momentum, too little and the kayak is punching through the waves rather than riding over them. The bow cuts through smaller waves and rides over larger waves without excessive yaw. This means the kayak stays flatter, allowing more of your power to move you forward, not up and down.

Let’s Go for a Paddle

It’s not that I haven’t paddled other kayaks. I have paddled many different kayaks by many manufacturers over the years. Some I liked, some I didn’t, but there is only one that I love. I love it so much that I bought the company when the last of the founders retired. So I’m not really motivated to paddle other kayaks because, well, I’m spoiled.

Schedule a demo to see for yourself just how spoiled I am.