With the high value Aussie dollar a lot of the products we use have come down in price.This has been mainly driven by suppliers being able to deliver lower prices .
Strangely some prices have gone up but that is more to world demand in those products i.e Carbon and Kevlar has gone up by a staggering 30% in the last 6 months
So rather than hang onto that extra money our selves we have decided to pass these savings onto customers resulting in considerably lower prices for the next few months or the Aussie dollar drops in value .
More on the web site
Nadgee Bombora LV standard with skeg ..$ 2550
Nadgee Expedition no rudder or skeg ... $ 2950.00.. Skeg an extra $350.00 ..rudder an extra $450.00
Nadgee Solo standard is now ..$3900 inc rudder
Ice Breaker layup in Kevlar is now $850.00
Light right and mean Carbon $950
Light and easy unchanged at $650.00
That makes a lot of the kayaks seem pretty expensive especially the over seas brands and you have to ask your selves why are there so expensive compared to these......same question I always ask my self !!
Beat that all.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PHOTO: Caught out in big seas
Here's a photo that Andrew McAuley took just after we had paddled the 20 odd Kilometers from the southern extremities of Tasmania to Maatsuyker Island,half way around on our West Coast of Tasmania,Strahan to Hobart Trip.
We were paddling in huge swells and as we closed in on Maatsuyker the seas and currents made the ocean pretty messy. We ended up having to make some quick decisions and Paul Loker (in photo) noticed a gap through some off shore biggish rocks . I ended up having to do some huge high bracing as waves sent me through the gap.
We were hollering so much after getting through,the adrenalin was fair pumping.
And this was the sheltered side of the Island !!
We were paddling in huge swells and as we closed in on Maatsuyker the seas and currents made the ocean pretty messy. We ended up having to make some quick decisions and Paul Loker (in photo) noticed a gap through some off shore biggish rocks . I ended up having to do some huge high bracing as waves sent me through the gap.
We were hollering so much after getting through,the adrenalin was fair pumping.
And this was the sheltered side of the Island !!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Our first bagging
Well we finally managed to Vacuum bag our first kayak,well the hull anyway.
We are selling this kayak on ebay at the moment if your interested
Its a great looking kayak with a custom gel coat paint job..a real one off
It was quite a learning curve to get it right,we ended up getting the first attempt wrong and had to bin the bits we stuffed up but I was warned that the failure rate can be high when you first start this kind of process.
There are lots of new materials and products out there for composite manufacturing these days and I'm making the most of trialing these new processes/materials in out "skillup" with the new moulds.
I even have 4 kg of bamboo resin coming from the US to trial, I don't think I will be making any boats out of it but it will be great to play around with a product like that.
Well a few more of these out of each new mould will see NKA staff ramping up the technology and heading for our Vacuum infusion process .
The main reason for all of this is to produce the highest standard kayak we can but also to get ourselves out of the fumes that are produced with a hand layup.
We are selling this kayak on ebay at the moment if your interested
Its a great looking kayak with a custom gel coat paint job..a real one off
It was quite a learning curve to get it right,we ended up getting the first attempt wrong and had to bin the bits we stuffed up but I was warned that the failure rate can be high when you first start this kind of process.
There are lots of new materials and products out there for composite manufacturing these days and I'm making the most of trialing these new processes/materials in out "skillup" with the new moulds.
I even have 4 kg of bamboo resin coming from the US to trial, I don't think I will be making any boats out of it but it will be great to play around with a product like that.
Well a few more of these out of each new mould will see NKA staff ramping up the technology and heading for our Vacuum infusion process .
The main reason for all of this is to produce the highest standard kayak we can but also to get ourselves out of the fumes that are produced with a hand layup.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
vacuum bagging then Vacuum infusion and life
Wow its been awhile since I have updated the blog as Ive been busy with work and life commitments
Our family had the worst luck over the Summer period with broken wrists (skateboarding) broken eye ( rock thrown in eye...don't ask!!) and a real life threatening scare with sun cancer ,please slip slop slap if your going in the sun .
But were all over that now ....all over it !!!
There has been lots of new happenings since I last posted.
The big one's has been the manufacturing of three new moulds and the release of our new Double sea kayak the Nadgee 2 but more on that soon .
Getting Australian Canoeing Instructor qualifications last October was a big accomplishment and we are now offering Instruction and training through my sister buisness Wilderness Coast Sea Kayaking which is also the parent buisness for a guided sea kayak tourism based buisness on the Beautifull Wilderness Coast
so there has been lots going on ......lots
We have had the moulds made to enable us to use some new manufacturing processes and new resins/consumables .Its been very exciting and frustrating to get a handle on new techniques.
Firstly we are starting with Vacuum bagging then slowly progressing through to the Vacuum infusion process.Its all new stuff and I have had fun practicing making flat panels to start off with.
The not so fun part was making our first vacuum bagged hull on a Nadgee Solo only having to junk it and start again...very frustrating considering the time,material used to get it going but the experts tell me its to be expected in the first 1 to 10 kayaks and then once its mastered.. its mastered !!
Our Nadgee 2 Double sea kayak was manufactured last year off the concept off the old Tasman Twin sea kayak.
We changed the bits and pieces we didn't like and have come up with an outstanding double sea kayak.
After manufacturing the first 6 now we are pretty sure we have got it right for a good purpose double sea kayak.Check the website for details
So heaps has been going on in Life and in work and its all been a challenge but as they say if it doesn't kill you it only makes you stronger
Our family had the worst luck over the Summer period with broken wrists (skateboarding) broken eye ( rock thrown in eye...don't ask!!) and a real life threatening scare with sun cancer ,please slip slop slap if your going in the sun .
But were all over that now ....all over it !!!
There has been lots of new happenings since I last posted.
The big one's has been the manufacturing of three new moulds and the release of our new Double sea kayak the Nadgee 2 but more on that soon .
Getting Australian Canoeing Instructor qualifications last October was a big accomplishment and we are now offering Instruction and training through my sister buisness Wilderness Coast Sea Kayaking which is also the parent buisness for a guided sea kayak tourism based buisness on the Beautifull Wilderness Coast
so there has been lots going on ......lots
We have had the moulds made to enable us to use some new manufacturing processes and new resins/consumables .Its been very exciting and frustrating to get a handle on new techniques.
Firstly we are starting with Vacuum bagging then slowly progressing through to the Vacuum infusion process.Its all new stuff and I have had fun practicing making flat panels to start off with.
The not so fun part was making our first vacuum bagged hull on a Nadgee Solo only having to junk it and start again...very frustrating considering the time,material used to get it going but the experts tell me its to be expected in the first 1 to 10 kayaks and then once its mastered.. its mastered !!
Our Nadgee 2 Double sea kayak was manufactured last year off the concept off the old Tasman Twin sea kayak.
We changed the bits and pieces we didn't like and have come up with an outstanding double sea kayak.
After manufacturing the first 6 now we are pretty sure we have got it right for a good purpose double sea kayak.Check the website for details
So heaps has been going on in Life and in work and its all been a challenge but as they say if it doesn't kill you it only makes you stronger
Friday, July 8, 2011
When Fibrglass isnt fibreglass
Doing some research on the internet and I came across this youtube clip.
They might be talking about fishing boats and I might not agree with the outboard motor use !!
But I happen to use the same material and products from the same suppliers for this company and have visited both them and the Nuplex testing site.
It shows the strength and versatility of good quality materials and workmanship
If you need to know what your Nadgee Sea Kayak is made from check this out.
They might be talking about fishing boats and I might not agree with the outboard motor use !!
But I happen to use the same material and products from the same suppliers for this company and have visited both them and the Nuplex testing site.
It shows the strength and versatility of good quality materials and workmanship
If you need to know what your Nadgee Sea Kayak is made from check this out.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Whats been doing
Well I have just come out of the shed for what seems an eternity...its been go go go since about November last year.
So what has NKA been doing, well,we are 90% through finishing off a new design single sea kayak.
Loosely based on the hull of a Nadgee Expedition but we have totally redesigned the deck to include
Like the single I'm about 90% along the way to completing this project.
Based on the Tassie twin double which is a fast stable and enjoyable sea kayak , I have moved the seating position so paddlers dont paddle clash whilst paddling.
Added a center hatch and added all those features that make Nadgee Kayaks a leader in kayak design and manufacture.
This is one double kayak that will stand out as a true double sea kayak.
There is lots of work getting a plug ready for molding.My fingers tips are so raw from sanding that I have to tape them up each morning to save them.
Its such hard work but very rewarding when the final product is ready for the market
Watch out world ..
Nadgee 2 double sea kayak on the market soon and the new Nadgee ........ ( I haven't decided on a name for the single yet )
They will be on an ocean near you soon !!
So what has NKA been doing, well,we are 90% through finishing off a new design single sea kayak.
Loosely based on the hull of a Nadgee Expedition but we have totally redesigned the deck to include
- The most comfortable cockpit and thigh support
- New hatch configuration with Kajak sport 10' hatches front and back with a 3/4 day hatch utilizing the 8' hatch and lid
- The now obligatory forward day hatch ( which I'm now a fan of as its so easy to get too,no more twisting and searching in the day hatch for those needed little bits and pieces)
- Options of skeg or rudder and still retain the ability to paddle in most conditions without either until required that is
Like the single I'm about 90% along the way to completing this project.
Based on the Tassie twin double which is a fast stable and enjoyable sea kayak , I have moved the seating position so paddlers dont paddle clash whilst paddling.
Added a center hatch and added all those features that make Nadgee Kayaks a leader in kayak design and manufacture.
This is one double kayak that will stand out as a true double sea kayak.
There is lots of work getting a plug ready for molding.My fingers tips are so raw from sanding that I have to tape them up each morning to save them.
Its such hard work but very rewarding when the final product is ready for the market
Watch out world ..
Nadgee 2 double sea kayak on the market soon and the new Nadgee ........ ( I haven't decided on a name for the single yet )
They will be on an ocean near you soon !!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
I hate Kevlar
"I hate Kevlar" is an often made comment when I'm making a Kevlar Kayak,its so bloody hard to work with and one of the reasons many manufacturers wont go any were near it OR if they do its only in the hull as a deck of a kayak is much harder to prepare for laying up.
Now as I keep on saying you need to know the weight of the cloth and maybe the weave as well to get a full understanding of what your kayak is made of as there is more than just plain old Fibreglass in there (I hope!!)
When I build a Kevlar boat it is a 300gm per sq mtr cloth in a satin weave...bloody hard to cut with scissors let me tell you...what was that" I HATE KEVLAR"!!
Kevlar has been around for some time and has proven it self in many applications.
If I was to have just one choice and one kayak it would be a Kevlar hulled kayak as its super strong when used in a good weight/weave and for kayaking its general all round purposefulness makes it top of the choices.
Its puncture resistant,its abrasive resistant,its flexible and we need all of those attributes in sea kayaks especially if you are rough on your gear
Drag your boat up the beach...get Kevlar...
Like playing around rocks......get Kevlar..... stronger than plastic
Did I mention as a manufacturer I hate Kevlar !!
Now dont get me wrong all of the cloths have their down side ....Kevlar's is that it breaks down with UV something we have plenty of here in Australia but with a good Gel Coat and proper care keeping the sun off the internal bits of Kevlar makes this a fairly low risk of happening.
It also makes a great external keel strip being so abrasive resistant
Now why don't we see its usage so much in our kayaks.
1. Its so hard to work with it takes me 3 times longer to cut patterns for a Kevlar boat than any of the other fabrics
2. Its easy to get air bubbles when doing a handlayup with Kevlar resulting in extra time and resources to ensure this doesnt happen.
3. Won't sit down over bumps and ridges easily with out extra care ..hence decks are a night mare with Kevlar
4. Its so god damm hard to work with !!
As a manufacturer I hate Kevlar for the above reasons but as a paddler knowing the material used in our kayaks I LOVE KEVLAR for all of the good reasons I have mentioned.
It will result in a longer lasting tougher kayak
Did I mention I hate Kevlar!!!
Now as I keep on saying you need to know the weight of the cloth and maybe the weave as well to get a full understanding of what your kayak is made of as there is more than just plain old Fibreglass in there (I hope!!)
When I build a Kevlar boat it is a 300gm per sq mtr cloth in a satin weave...bloody hard to cut with scissors let me tell you...what was that" I HATE KEVLAR"!!
Kevlar has been around for some time and has proven it self in many applications.
If I was to have just one choice and one kayak it would be a Kevlar hulled kayak as its super strong when used in a good weight/weave and for kayaking its general all round purposefulness makes it top of the choices.
Its puncture resistant,its abrasive resistant,its flexible and we need all of those attributes in sea kayaks especially if you are rough on your gear
Drag your boat up the beach...get Kevlar...
Like playing around rocks......get Kevlar..... stronger than plastic
Did I mention as a manufacturer I hate Kevlar !!
Now dont get me wrong all of the cloths have their down side ....Kevlar's is that it breaks down with UV something we have plenty of here in Australia but with a good Gel Coat and proper care keeping the sun off the internal bits of Kevlar makes this a fairly low risk of happening.
It also makes a great external keel strip being so abrasive resistant
Now why don't we see its usage so much in our kayaks.
1. Its so hard to work with it takes me 3 times longer to cut patterns for a Kevlar boat than any of the other fabrics
2. Its easy to get air bubbles when doing a handlayup with Kevlar resulting in extra time and resources to ensure this doesnt happen.
3. Won't sit down over bumps and ridges easily with out extra care ..hence decks are a night mare with Kevlar
4. Its so god damm hard to work with !!
As a manufacturer I hate Kevlar for the above reasons but as a paddler knowing the material used in our kayaks I LOVE KEVLAR for all of the good reasons I have mentioned.
It will result in a longer lasting tougher kayak
Did I mention I hate Kevlar!!!
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