William Broadway - Inflatable Kayaks

Design a kayak that ...

Is lighter.

Is faster.

Is simpler.

Can do donuts?..

Can fit in a standard check luggage bag?..

iTrek series stand in a class of their own as the only fin-driven inflatable kayaks on the market. The combination of the patented MirageDrive®, removable steering and ultralight drop-stitch hull construction provides the ultimate lightweight kayak solution.

The patented (US11305858B2) removable steering allows any of these kayaks to turn within their own length. A carefully balanced rudder and compression tube cable management make for a smooth and nimble turning experience. A single line over-center mechanism deploys/retracts the kick-up rudder blade.

Prototype Development

The rudder blade pin has a shear point in it to avoid breaking the rest of the rudder design. It only breaks under severe force, the benefit of stainless steel cables/compression tubes over traditionally used nylon line is that there is next to no stretch over time meaning users may never need to adjust the rudder lines. This design set a new standard for ease-of-manufacture, ultra-low friction steering and a rudder system with the largest turning angle, giving any inflatable the ability to turn on a dime.

Testing

One of the best ways to test the durability of the steering, seat and drive assemblies was to take it out on a 6ft surf day and see how it steers when it matters most. This will force saltwater and sand into the system to ensure the tolerancing and offset features don't get gummed up, we leant a lot about where the part was weak and made changes to accommodate. Physically testing the worst-case scenario for us is often where we find the best pain points.