AIRONAUT B
FEATHERCRAFT POR T ABILITY
SEEKER ST 16 “A
TRAK
re you bulls***ing me?” This is auto- body mechanic—and TRAK Kayaks’ neighbor in Airdrie, Alberta—Dennis Paron’s reaction when he sees the kayak he ran over with a customer’s truck, twice, just days after the accident. TRAK Seeker, serial num- ber 2535, suffered only a bent gunwale and cracked coaming—both easily replaced—in the Dodge dust-up.
A week later, #2535 arrives on my door- step. I eagerly assemble the beleaguered boat. It looks brand new. I search the sleek red and white skin and find a faint tread mark on the hull.
When it comes to TRAKs, disbelief is a not uncommon response. How can a folding boat that assembles effortlessly in just 10 minutes look and paddle like a high-performance composite sea kayak?
The Seeker’s bow and stern frame sec- tions use shock-corded aluminum poles and snap-in crossribs for intuitive assembly. These then slip into the polyurethane skin through a watertight sliding seam in the back deck. Every folding kayak requires some kind of clever trick for expanding the frame inside the skin, and TRAK’s slick hydraulic jacks are the easiest system we tested. The hydraulics also allow you to change on-water performance on the fly: pump the keel lever to adjust rocker for playful maneuverability or straight tracking; use the gunwale levers to compensate for weather- cocking by adding a slight side-to-side curve to the waterline.
Solid foot pegs, adjustable thigh braces and a padded seat with low-profile backrest com- bine to provide excellent contact and control for edging, bracing and rolling. With its drum-tight skin and full complement of deck
bungees, perimeter lines and end toggles, the Seeker is all but indistinguishable from a hard-shell. Included dry bag-style bow and stern floats can be packed with tripping gear or inflated for buoyancy.
Mimicking Greenland-style kayaks, the Seeker’s graceful entry, hard chines and V hull reward intermediate and experienced paddlers with very quick hull speed and responsive carved turns. Initial stability will feel tippy for beginners, but super forgiving edges make this a great boat to grow with. Composite performance and durability come with a price and weight to match. The Seeker’s robust, wheeled travel bag rolls easily over grassy lawns, international termi- nals and exotic ports, but it’s not a package you can simply throw over your shoulder when it suits. TRAK’s do-it-all design, how- ever, means it’s truly the only boat you need.
IDEAL FOR
Tripping, fitness paddling and surfing on all types of water; airline travel or out-of-trunk mini adventures.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video review.
PERF ORMANCE
rand new in spring 2014, the Ai- ronaut is Feathercraft’s first foray into the realm of blow-up boats. With its uniquely curved hull and side panels, it’s an unusual looking—not to mention incredibly lightweight—inflatable kayak. For my first assembly of the Aironaut, I barely glance at the five-step instruc- tions. Inflating the three air chambers and integrated seat with the supplied hand pump—compact enough to stash behind your seat when touring—takes just over five minutes. Slide in the coam- ing inserts, grab your paddle and you’re ready to hit the water.
At just 20 pounds, the Aironaut is a marvel of ultralight engineering. The deck and hull are constructed from a durable, welded urethane fabric. To avoid damage from temperature- and altitude- related pressure changes—or overzeal- ous pumping—each air chamber is equipped with an automatic relief valve. Field repairs with the supplied kit are as simple as patching the tube in a bike tire. The Aironaut’s distinctive curves rise into upswept bow and stern, giving it a fine, dry entry and superb maneuverabil- ity. Acceleration and cruising speed are quick, and the boat sprints without push- ing water. In rough seas, the flexible hull dampens the waves, yielding a smoother and less splashy ride.
With its higher profile and center of gravity, the Aironaut catches more wind and is less stable than a flat-bottomed boat. Sliding in the double-finned skeg gains well-mannered tracking. Tucking legs under the thigh straps increases stability on edge.
ASSEMBLY TIME
LENGTH WIDTH
MATERIAL WEIGHT
PRICE 52 | ADVENTURE KAYAK WEBSITE
10 minutes or less 16’
22.5”
Polyurethane skin/ aluminum frame
48 pounds $3,499
www.rethinkkayak.com
A generously sized cockpit accommo- dates a wide range of paddlers, and the inflatable backrest and seat pad offer arm- chair comfort. With no frame to cramp internal storage, the Aironaut easily swallows gear for a weekend adventure. Combine the Aironaut’s feathery weight with its comfortable storage back- pack, and you have a performance kayak that you can actually hike into remote waters. Throw in the speedy set-up and pack-down time, and you’ll also be whip- ping it out of your Smart car whenever the water beckons.
IDEAL FOR…
Grab-and-go day and weekend trips on sheltered waters; foot, pedal and plane travel.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video review.
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