Kayaking is a fantastic way to exercise and have fun in the great outdoors. However, some people are put off by the sport because the boat can be cumbersome to transport and tippy, and opt for something like an inflatable standup paddleboard instead. For those folk, London-based product designer Kirk Kirchev has created the Super Kayak – a watercraft that addresses both those concerns.
The Super Kayak is a modular, inflatable, sit-on-top catamaran kayak. It consists of two streamlined inflatable aramid fiber hulls joined together by an anodized 7000 aluminum alloy frame.
The hulls are double-skinned and coated in thermoplastic polyurethane to guard against punctures and abrasions. The frame includes:
- A seat with an adjustable footrest.
- Folding adjustable backrest.
- A small netted cargo-carrying platform.
The Super Kayak comes with a four-piece paddle, a carrying bag, and a portable electric pump. The company claims the pump is suitable for 15 hull inflations per USB charge.
In its disassembled and packaged state, the watercraft measures 28 by 20 by 12 inches (65 by 50 by 30 cm). Once assembled, it measures 12 ft long by 3 ft wide by 2.5 ft high (360 by 94 by 75 cm). It weighs only 30 lb (15 kg) and can carry a maximum load of 220 lb (100 kg).
Kirchev is currently developing extra components, including an aft cargo deck, a front child/pet seat, a sail mount, and an outboard motor mount.
The product is on Kickstarter and costs a pledge of £938 (about US$1,304). The planned retail price will be $2,100.
