Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Guigui Prod have a carbon kit available that shaves 2kg off the weight of a boat.
The carbon based kit swaps out the plastic rail and seat for a carbon rail and foam seat.
The stiffer setup will not only allow for the drop in weight it should also improve the performance of the boat without compromising its strength.
Continue readingOutfitting your kayak or canoe correctly is always a great idea. If the boat fits you well, it will paddle better.
Unsponsored is packed with outfitting tips and guides, but here is a video from Bren Orton detailing the outfitting of a Pyranha kayak.
Outfitting The Jackson MixMaster Kayak – learn how to outfit this slicey kayak, the Jackson kayak MixMaster.
We’ve been following the develops at Soul Waterman HQ for sometime. We love what Corran is doing over there and it’s great to see the line of boats that are being produced.
We shared some graphics showing what the outfitting would/could look like a few months back. The outfitting is now a reality and is being fitted to the new production line of kayaks. I’d be interested in knowing peoples thoughts on this.
North East Kayaks and Paddles had a visit from Wavesport today and they showed them the updated outfitting for the Diesel and the D-series of kayaks. They also brought along the kids Fuse 35 which is also now available.
The Diesel is still available with the Core Whiteout outfitting but now comes in a cheaper version called Blackout which looks pretty cool, it has ratchets in already and can have hip pads put in if required too!
We’ve been following the development of the whitewater line of Soul Waterman kayaks since Corran Addison first announced them.
The new boats are almost ready for full production. As we are getting close to the release we are starting to see examples of what the actual outfitting will be like. Corran has taken some recent images of the new Soul Waterman outfitting and we are pretty impressed at Unsponsored HQ.
From the very first moment you sit in a boat you start to get “a feel for it”, how it fits and possibly even how it may perform. As beginners we start off in boats that may be used by many different size paddlers, which results in cockpits being kept clutter free. Loose, comfortable boats feel good on flat water, but they can make leaning and bracing difficult. Once the boat is padded to provide a close, body-hugging fit that still allows for quick and easy water exits, performance can dramatically improve. This same rule applies to all levels of kayakers, whether they’re paddling easy whitewater, big water runs or creeks. Customised outfitting helps transfer every trace in the river’s current through the kayak’s hull to your body, helping you sense your surroundings, make critical maneuvers and maintain your balance, thus staying upright!
Since paddlers press against their boat’s inner hull with the small of their backs, butts, hips, thighs, knees and feet, it is these key areas that should be customised to match the shape and size of the paddler. To make this as easy as possible I am going to break the cockpit into a handful of sections and tailor each one to help you get the best control possible from your boat. Many boat manufacturers have really stepped up their game and are providing some excellent outfitting as standard in their kayaks. However these systems still need adapting in some way to ensure that they fit YOU correctly.
The new Mod 5 system from Fluid Kayaks looks pretty interesting. Some pretty clever ideas. Continue reading
Jason Cole has kindly agreed for his hip pad and footrest modifications to be included on Unsponsored.
Extended Hip Pads
I added a couple of 10x12x6cm blocks of PE foam to bolster the hip pads, and found a use for the old bungees (attached to the bottom of the seat) to retain them in place.
I found this in the archives! I think an updated version is called for.
I have tried to gather together a number of good outfitting examples. They are intended to be a source of ideas or possible options that you may want to consider for your kayak. The best way to look at the information is as a pick & mix. Experiment and take the elements that work best for you and discard the rest.
Getting the outfitting of your boat correct may happen with the first go but more than likely will require both time and patience.
The plastic seat most manufacturers install in their kayaks is molded to generic size even if the kayak is available in several different sizes. To get the most of any kayak design it is important that it fits you well. This means that all contact points – seat base, seat sides, back rest, foot rest and thigh braces should be adjusted/customised to fit your body. In this post I’m going to concentrate on the seat and what you can do to improve fit.
From the very first moment you sit in a boat you start to get “a feel for it”, how it fits and possibly even how it may perform. As beginners we start off in boats that may be used by many different size paddlers, which results in cockpits being kept clutter free. Loose, comfortable boats feel good on flat water, but they can make leaning and bracing difficult. Once the boat is padded to provide a close, body-hugging fit that still allows for quick and easy water exits, performance can dramatically improve. This same rule applies to all levels of kayakers, whether they’re paddling easy whitewater, big water runs or creeks. Customised outfitting helps transfer every trace in the river’s current through the kayak’s hull to your body, helping you sense your surroundings, make critical maneuvers and maintain your balance, thus staying upright!
Since paddlers press against their boat’s inner hull with the small of their backs, butts, hips, thighs, knees and feet, it is these key areas that should be customised to match the shape and size of the paddler. To make this as easy as possible I am going to break the cockpit into a handful of sections and tailor each one to help you get the best control possible from your boat.
Continue reading
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