It’s always an exciting time when a new kayak is ready for production. It’s when all of hard work everybody has put into making a design become a reality comes to the surface, and what was once an idea in a meeting turns into something you can carry to your favorite river and head downstream.
Developing a new model takes some time. After deciding just what we want the model to do, David Knight and EJ go to work developing a virtual CAD model of the concept. From that, prototypes can be molded and tested, proving a design functions as intended. Once we’ve reached that point, the final CAD model can be made into a plug the mold maker uses to machine a production kayak mold. There’s a lot more that goes on too, like graphics and outfitting development, but that’s the process in a nutshell.
When the final mold comes into the factory, the activity level really heats up. It takes some time to ‘dial in’ the correct molding parameters, so we can be sure the performance and quality level live up to Jackson Kayak standards. There’s a lot more to rotomolding a kayak than pouring plastic into a mold, melting it, and spinning it. Ramp rates, cooling rates, mold treatments, cooling fixtures, etc all can influence the plastic integrity and final shape of a kayak. Jackson Kayak has expert molders with decades of molding experience, and these guys know what they’re doing. This is a critical phase for any new product as EJ, and all of us at Jackson Kayak, are passionate about consistently providing a high performance, quality product, and taking a little time to make it perfect is well worth it.
Well, the Zen is at that phase! Last week at the factory EJ, Dane and I hit the water with a couple pre-production test kayaks to compare small variations in hull shape as we nail down the final production specifications. Rock Island is a great place to test a kayak like the Zen, with everything from waterfalls and long rapids, to surf waves and playspots within minutes from the factory.
We’re excited about the Zen. It’s got speed, stability, is easy to roll, and an absolute blast to take downriver. It will be excellent for beginners to experts on a wide variety of river types and features, and I personally can’t wait to have one in my quiver.
Stay tuned, the Zen is about to launch…..
Damon
VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
VN:F [1.9.7_1111]
Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)
0 comments:
Post a Comment