Hey folks,
I have recently been looking at new kayaks again and this one has caught my eye. But I can’t recall anyone ever having anything to say about it.
I have done a little bit of research on it.
So the question is “Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this kayak, or anything concerning Nigel Dennis kayaks?”
Any input is appreciated
Thanks
Chuck
NDK’s
Chuck,
If you do a search at this site you will find a bunch of information about NDK’s. The consensus is that the designs are very good, but the quality/workmanship is shoddy. Nigel Dennis seems to be a very independent guy, in that for the longest time, he ignored repeated complaints about this. I have heard that they have made improvements in this area (QC), but I don’t know for sure. I have a Greenlander Pro and I must say that my feelings echo the above consensus.
Some of my complaints:
Where the skeg line enters through the deck fitting, it was cutting a groove in the top of the fitting. The result was increased friction making it harder to raise the skeg. This is not something that took a long time to happen. It happened the first time that I used the skeg. The line that came with the boat was too coarse, I guess. I replaced it with a smoother Dacron line and it (so far) seems to be working better.
Also, a couple of other minor things:
—Two of the recessed deck fittings popped out.
— The holes that are drilled through the hull for the carrying handles were never sanded smooth, so the line quickly frayed and needed replacement. I Pulled the line out and sanded it smooth, before replacing it with new line.
— The backband pinched my butt. It was pretty much useless. I replaced it.
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If you look under the combing (outside), the fiberglass is very rough in that area. They could have paid more attention to that.
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If you put your head inside the hatch and look at the bulkheads, the fit is so bad that there is a gap of 3/4 of an inch in places at the point that it meets the side of the boat (you can’t see this from the other side because of the fiberglass tape). There is no excuse for this. It’s not hard to make a tight fitting template.
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Having said all that, If I was going to buy another Sea kayak today I would still consider NDK. They truly are very good designs. Take a drive down the peninsula and test drive a few, see what you think. If I was you, I would first test drive a WS Tempest. It’s a very nice boat and IMO, better built.
Bob
Arthur and Larry, the Lacosta del Golfo
expedition guys, used Greenland Pros to make the trip from Louisiana to the Yucatan. They carried 150 lbs of gear in each. They seemed very happy with the choice. The boats did have a few modifications.
NDK kayaks
had a history for poor QC. The company has been working hard to improve the overall quality of the production boats in recent months. I have a Romany and it is great rough water boat. The rope skeg is very hard to deploy. There is a NDK owners group on yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDKOWNERS/
that offer lots of tech tips.
NDK Greenlander Pro
I purchased my Pro over the winter and have paddled nearly every weekend since the beginning of May. Paddling locations are the Hudson River near West Point, NY and Sandy Hook, NJ.
I have found this to be a fast kayak, considerably faster than the NDK Explorer (which I also own) and with much better glide. When in following seas, it has been easy to keep up with and ride waves for extended periods. The boat is extremely responsive to edging and is easy to carve turns with just a little hip steering.
The primary stability of this kayak is more tender than the Explorer. Mine did not feel comfortable until I had fully padded out the boat, but now feels great. Secondary stability comes on much later than the Explorer, but when that point is reached it is extremely solid. Interestingly, the rougher the water I was paddling in, the more stable the boat felt. One thing that takes some getting used to is the grabby feel of the hard chines. Paddling in reflecting waves pushed the boat laterally more than I was used to. The rough water ride is wetter than the Explorer, as waves will crash over the sharper bow more easily. However, this boat is made for paddling in the rough stuff and is just as capable a performer as the Explorer in the right hands.
The boat does roll easily and has a very low deck for layback rolls, but I would say the Explorer rolls a little easier due to its smoother edges. Overall, I would say this kayak is somewhat less forgiving than the Explorer. Nonetheless, if you’re an experienced paddler or looking for a boat you can grow into, it is an excellent choice. You can grow into it and not get punished along the way.
As a side note, a lot of people who have the Pro pull the seat and install a foam one. More comfortable and a lower center of gravity for a little more stability.
Cheers,
Ken
NDK…
Well, my wife’s Explorer LV, which arrived 3 months late, is very well made for an NDK boat. However, while three boats were withheld from that shipment failing inspection, my memory is that another that was shipped was too poorly made to be fixed.
Though NDK has made strides in QC, it’s still not great. If you order a Greenlander Pro, get it from someone who will insure any issues are dealt with properly. On the East Coast that would be MIKCo (Maine Island Kayak) or Sea Kayak Georgia. I don’t know who in your quarter of the continent is as reliable.
Those that have Greenlander Pros seem to greatly enjoy them. There probably isn’t another boat like it.
Just want to thank yall for your input.
Will be having a nice little discussion with the dealer tomorrow regarding what I have learned today. Wish me luck!
Thanks again
Chuck
Seems all of NorCal is going Brit
I think I need to hang a Union Jack over my garage.
The Union Jack
Hey TS Chuck:
Better yet, why don’t you hang The Jack on your Romany? Rusty Chuck and I were talking earlier this evening about British boats. Haven’t they been at it longer than we colonists have?
Dick
Brittish boat philosophy
one thing I do like about Brittish boats are the ‘valley’ like or type hatches…this compared to the American style hatches that usually have a neoprene cover and then a hardshell.
Welsh Lion
If its a Romany, the Welsh Lion would be more apt.
The Romany has the Jack and Lion
already. The Nordkapp is of yet unadorned but I think it will get the Asian porn star.
Hey , are you going to wait until your
wife leaves for Bejing or are you going to hide it in the loft?
Dick
Why wait
Already have the tattoo! I wanted to put a decal of Jun in traditional Japanese dress on it. I had one on my Falcon when it got smashed on the rocks.
Hey, Guys!
I didn’t see the name on the thread, and I missed the discussion. Not that I know squat about any sit inside yet.
But I always knew if I got a SINK, it would be a Brit boat!
With a last name like mine
Brittan, it was meant to be.
Bought it this am
Chuck
Congrats
Come on over to the BCU symposium.
Among the various
non skin-on-frame West Greenland style boats available, the Greenlander Pro seems “interesting” to me, but not necessariliy the best. It certainly gets style points for the upturned stern, but in its neither the fastest nor the best-handling of these boats. My totally subjective preference is for the Superior Kayak boats (wood/fiberglass Hawk, etc., of which the Arctic Hawk and Sparrow Hawk can be found in glass or Kevlar) and the Betsie Bay Boats. I also find the Anas Acuta unsatisfying by comparison with SK and BB.
Sanjay
Arctic Hawk
I would have to agree with you Sanjay. The Hawk is my favorite design too. Mark Rogers did a wonderful job replicating the Greenland kayak. However, the lighter construction, lack of a skeg, non-recessed deck fittings and small front hatch made it impractical for my needs. Cool boat though.
I own a Hawk,
and it’s a magnificent boat. I keep thinking about trading up to a Hawk SS, a tad narrower, and a couple of inches longer, but SK’s prices have gone out of sight (i.e. 5 grand). I was very lucky to get my Hawk used–one of the best days of my life, driving to Long Island, and discovering a longer, thinner version of the Arctic Hawk as beautifully finished as the best furniture. My wife managed to sell my Arctic Hawk for just less than I paid for it, and I got 500 outings out of the Hawk before it officially became hers. It’s 8 years old, and still looks like new despite the hard use and endless car-topping. I even let 5 inches of water freeze solid in it once or twice, with no apparent damage. I can’t handle it in the largest seas, since I don’t have Inuit-style arm bones, or else it would remain my everyday ocean boat. It’s so pretty that when I leave it on the car, I notice that passersby stop and touch it.
Sanjay