Outfitting of the Kaskazi Kayak

Kayak Features | Hatches | Rudder & pedal

Kayak Features

Computer assisted design Fine entry bow Large cockpit for easy entry and exit Solid construction Bulkheads Comfortable seat Hatches - large for easy access - smooth run-off for dry ride Cockpit tunnels Carry handles Internal and external seam Hand layup - vacuum bagged Hull In all our kayaks we use a sandwich construction with a core material. Depending on the kayak we may vary the thickness of the core. We use extra layers in the in bow and stern for additional strength and impact resistance. These are also the areas where the most abrasion takes place from landing and launching. The internal finish is smooth, unlike the majority of kayaks on the market.

Deck
We also use the sandwich construction method with a core material for most of the deck. In areas where the core will not drape properly we replace the core with other layers of material. We have extra strengthening around the around hatches, carry handles and the cockpit area.

Lay-up Method
We mostly use the hand lay-up method, but keep the weight of the kayaks within fine tolerances by ensuring all materials used in the kayak are weighed.
There are variances of up to 10% in the weight of some of our materials. By staying alert to these variances we can and do keep the final weight of our kayaks to within 5% of the specified weight. We quote the final weight of the product, fitted with rudders, deckfittings and seats, and not the weight out of the mould which obviously will be less.

Seams
On all our kayaks we bond both internally and externally. With our open deck kayaks we manually bond the kayak internally. The carefully positioned hatches and cockpit opening provide access to the hull and deck bond for a secure and safe bond. In our closed kayaks (surfski and OS1) we obviously lack full internal access and use an overlapping flange system.
In addition to this we also bond the kayak externally. On all our kayaks this is the cosmetic colour stripe running the length of the kayak. Underneath that bit of colour is a 25mm wide cloth seam.

Bulkheads
We use flexible fibreglass bulkheads, bonded into place. We only depend on the bulkheads to provide us with compartments in the hull, and not as structural supports. Depending on the kayak and the position of the bulkheads, the bulkheads are either fibreglassed into place or bonded in with Sikaflex, a very sticky but flexible bonding paste.

Seats
Our one-piece fibreglass seats are bonded into place.

Rudder and pedal
We use an 8 mm Stainless Steel bolt bonded through the deck at the stern of the kayak. The three piece Kaskazi rudder is fitted over the bolt and held in place by a locknut. The weakest part of the rudder system is the aluminium blade, which is designed to bend or in extreme cases break before the whole rudder mechanism is broken from the kayak.

The pedal system on the sea kayaks is pure simplicity. A fibreglass strongback with an indexed track is fibreglassed into the cockpit area along the centre line. A Swivel pedal system is fixed to this, allowing for over 35 cm of pedal placement. On the sit-on-top kayaks the track is mounted directly to the deck, and the pedals are fitted to this.
The rudder lines are braided Dyneema with a breaking strain of 400 kg. These Kevlar lines are incredibly abrasion resistant, and while we recommend that they be checked every 2 years, a few of our kayaks are going strong after 4 years with the same lines. The rudder can be lifted out of the water with a continuous up/down haul line running from the rudder to the cockpit.

All items (bulkheads, seats and pedals) bonded to the hull can cause stress points during a severe impact. This explains why we keep the bulkheads flexible and bond them in place with as much inbuilt flex as possible. The other two items are more rigid and can cause impact damage if bonded incorrectly. During a severe impact on the hull at a place where the seat or pedal system are bonded in place, the seat or pedal system will generally break loose before damage occurs to the kayak.

Hatches In all our kayaks we use a bulbous rubber moulding bonded to the kayak deck, over which a nylon cover fits snugly. A tight fitting fibreglass lid fits over this ensuring a very good watertight seal. We also use a plastic screw hatch on some of our kayaks.

Deck rigging
All deck fittings are secured either by stainless nut and bolt or with an aluminium Bulbex (banana-split) rivet.
The front of the cockpit has a unique 5 point stretch cord attachment allowing for adjustment for larger deck packages, and it also allows for the easy attachment of deckbags and even the sail.
The deck on the ARX series is secured with a stainless steel rivnut.