Steve Cramer wrote:

If you'd explored the site at all you would have found the order form
http://www.nigeldenniskayaks.com/Pag..._orderform.pdf and seen
that you have to check a box to NOT get a skeg.

If anyone is interested, I wrote to NDK about whether the 16' Romany
automatically came with a skeg. Apparently, it does not. It apparently
must be specifically ordered with the boat.

The specific question I asked was:

----
Does the 16' Romany come with a skeg by default or must it be special
ordered?
----

Here's the brief reply I got back:

----
Dear Sir,
You need to order one.
Regards,
Dave

Nigel Dennis Kayaks Ltd.


----


--
== Eric Gorr ========= http://www.ericgorr.net ========= ICQ:9293199 ===
"Therefore the considerations of the intelligent always include both
benefit and harm." - Sun Tzu
== Insults, like violence, are the last refuge of the incompetent... ===

"Eric" wrote in message
news:1gedzgm.1kbecvp1c7o3oiN%egDfAusenetE5fz@veriz on.net...

Hopefully you'll be able to find someone a bit closer who owns these
boats and will let you try them out.

Where are you at? Perhaps
there is someone reading this group who could help you out.


I think I did post a message last year but I'm not sure. Perhaps it's worth
another try.

So...

Any regulars or lurkers reading this own an Impex Currituck or Assateague
and live in the Chicago area? If so, would you be willing to get together
for an evening paddle on Lake Michigan some time? The post paddle
refreshments are on me.

Drop me a line at

Cheers!

DV

Eric wrote:

Steve Cramer wrote:


If you'd explored the site at all you would have found the order form
http://www.nigeldenniskayaks.com/Pag..._orderform.pdf and seen
that you have to check a box to NOT get a skeg.


If anyone is interested, I wrote to NDK about whether the 16' Romany
automatically came with a skeg. Apparently, it does not. It apparently
must be specifically ordered with the boat.

The specific question I asked was:

----
Does the 16' Romany come with a skeg by default or must it be special
ordered?
----

Here's the brief reply I got back:

----
Dear Sir,
You need to order one.
Regards,
Dave

Nigel Dennis Kayaks Ltd.



Fair enough. I guess the more salient question is whether any of the
importers will actually bring in any without skegs unless they're
special ordered. Skeg-less Romanys seem to become "white elephants" in a
hurry.

Eric wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:


Both come standard with skegs. The latest system that NDK has devised is
a real nightmare, so perhaps they don't intend for you to use it.


Curious...How is it a nightmare?

Their new front deck mounted system uses a convoluted combination of
tubing and pulleys and cleats that simply add friction to the system.
The thinner cord that the system requires stretches more and is less
less durable than the thicker cord of the old system. Some people find
the new cleat to be counterintuitive and inconvenient to use.

I had one reply that questioned the quality of the construction of Impex
and NDK kayaks (leaks, etc...), but this largely goes against everything
else I've heard about them. Of course, every manufactured item is bound
to have the occasional defect. Any opinions?

The two companies are pretty much polar opposites in terms of quality.
Impex boats are well built and have an good reputation.


Thanks for the information. I have recently heard good things about the
quality of the NDK kayaks, but nothing I would consider conclusive
yet...not a large enough sample yet...

That's my feeling, too. NDK has a lot to prove. A couple of friend of
mine have new boats on order and it will be interesting to see what
they're like.

Is there anything that compares to a NDK design wise? The skeg, day
hatch, compass, pump, reccessed fittings are very useful features. I
was planning on buying an NDK this summer. I should probably ask my
retailer (he only sells NDK) if he will correct any defects upon
delivery.



Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
Eric wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:


Both come standard with skegs. The latest system that NDK has devised is
a real nightmare, so perhaps they don't intend for you to use it.


Curious...How is it a nightmare?

Their new front deck mounted system uses a convoluted combination of
tubing and pulleys and cleats that simply add friction to the system.
The thinner cord that the system requires stretches more and is less
less durable than the thicker cord of the old system. Some people find
the new cleat to be counterintuitive and inconvenient to use.

I had one reply that questioned the quality of the construction of Impex
and NDK kayaks (leaks, etc...), but this largely goes against everything
else I've heard about them. Of course, every manufactured item is bound
to have the occasional defect. Any opinions?

The two companies are pretty much polar opposites in terms of quality.
Impex boats are well built and have an good reputation.


Thanks for the information. I have recently heard good things about the
quality of the NDK kayaks, but nothing I would consider conclusive
yet...not a large enough sample yet...

That's my feeling, too. NDK has a lot to prove. A couple of friend of
mine have new boats on order and it will be interesting to see what
they're like.

Alex Horvath wrote:
Is there anything that compares to a NDK design wise? The skeg, day
hatch, compass, pump, reccessed fittings are very useful features. I
was planning on buying an NDK this summer.

Skegs, day hatches and recessed deck fitting are standard features on
most sea kayaks. Compasses are optional on many other boats, as they are
on NDKs. Foot or deck pumps are not as common, but few people feel they
need them. I had a deck pump in a Nordkapp and never found it all that
useful, especially for the weight penatly involved. I'm contemplating
installing a foot pump in the only boat I own with enough footroom for
it to work, but I haven't decided yet.

I should probably ask my
retailer (he only sells NDK) if he will correct any defects upon
delivery.

Don't ask, insist on it. Better yet, insist on a defect free boat.

I had erroneously assumed that NDK and VCP kayaks were made in the
same factory. It appears that VCP kayaks don't have the quality
issues.


(Alex Horvath) wrote in message . com...
Is there anything that compares to a NDK design wise? The skeg, day
hatch, compass, pump, reccessed fittings are very useful features. I
was planning on buying an NDK this summer. I should probably ask my
retailer (he only sells NDK) if he will correct any defects upon
delivery.



Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
Eric wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:


Both come standard with skegs. The latest system that NDK has devised is
a real nightmare, so perhaps they don't intend for you to use it.


Curious...How is it a nightmare?

Their new front deck mounted system uses a convoluted combination of
tubing and pulleys and cleats that simply add friction to the system.
The thinner cord that the system requires stretches more and is less
less durable than the thicker cord of the old system. Some people find
the new cleat to be counterintuitive and inconvenient to use.

I had one reply that questioned the quality of the construction of Impex
and NDK kayaks (leaks, etc...), but this largely goes against everything
else I've heard about them. Of course, every manufactured item is bound
to have the occasional defect. Any opinions?

The two companies are pretty much polar opposites in terms of quality.
Impex boats are well built and have an good reputation.


Thanks for the information. I have recently heard good things about the
quality of the NDK kayaks, but nothing I would consider conclusive
yet...not a large enough sample yet...

That's my feeling, too. NDK has a lot to prove. A couple of friend of
mine have new boats on order and it will be interesting to see what
they're like.

Alex Horvath wrote:
I had erroneously assumed that NDK and VCP kayaks were made in the
same factory. It appears that VCP kayaks don't have the quality
issues.

AFAIK, the only connection between the companies was that they shared a
US distributor up until recently. VCP boats are much better built,
lighter weight and offer all the same options that NDK does. They're a
company that's made a lot of good moves in the last couple of years,
introducing new models that go head to head with NDK and upgrading some
of their older designs to give them more appeal to the US market. The
only lament I have about them is that they've reduced the number of
boats they offer with ocean cockpits, which I strongly prefer over
keyhole designs.

Another British company that produces nice boats is P&H. They've always
had a reputations for good quality and performance. Like VCP, they've
been introducing interesting new models recently. They're also pushing
the boundary of materials somewhat, with some designs offered in
carbon/Kevlar pre-preg construction. They're ultra-light by current
standards (under 40# for 17'-18' boats), more than double the price of
fiberglass and currently very scarce. A local dealer has a couple and
they're impressive. While they're out of the reach of most paddlers,
it's good to see a reputable company exploring the limits of kayak
construction. There's bound to be some "trickle down" from these to
their more affordable layups.

Brian Nystrom wrote:

The
only lament I have about them is that they've reduced the number of
boats they offer with ocean cockpits, which I strongly prefer over
keyhole designs.

I'm curious, what do you not like about keyhole designs?




--
== Eric Gorr ========= http://www.ericgorr.net ========= ICQ:9293199 ===
"Therefore the considerations of the intelligent always include both
benefit and harm." - Sun Tzu
== Insults, like violence, are the last refuge of the incompetent... ===

Eric wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote:


The
only lament I have about them is that they've reduced the number of
boats they offer with ocean cockpits, which I strongly prefer over
keyhole designs.


I'm curious, what do you not like about keyhole designs?

I find ocean cockpits to be much more secure for playing in rough water,
surf and rock gardens. It's too easy to slip off a thigh brace in a
keyhole cockpit or even fall out of the boat altogether. I also paddle
Greenland style and the small cockpit is much better suited to the
technique and the outfitting it requires.