Kayarchy - the sea kayaker's online handbook and reference

 

Kayarchy shopping (4)

Clothing, accessories, magazine & book publishers, parts & materials, sailing kayaks, sailing canoes

Pile of kayaking kit

 

Most of these suppliers are in the United Kingdom. For the USA and Canada, see www.kayarchy.com. Continued from previous page about:
• Sea kayak shops
• Sea kayak suppliers
• Surf kayak suppliers
• Paddle suppliers

Sea kayak clothing

 

Jackets, spraydecks, buoyancy aids, etc

Smaller manufacturers or importers who sell direct to the public:

The big boys, who we think sell only through retailers:

Drysuits

Typhoon International (established 1947, world's largest manufacturer of drysuits for military, civilian, diving and surface applications). www.typhoon-int.co.uk. Also Kokatat, see above. As far as we know, they both sell only via retailers.

Direct sales from:

Personal buoyancy

Most sea kayakers use buoyancy aids. If you prefer a lifejacket you can buy direct from:

  • Cheap Lifejackets in Grimsby. Yes, that really is what they're called. From about £35.
  • Vacuum Reflex in Colchester. A generation of British sea kayakers used their Slimline lifejacket which was comfortable, made in neoprene-coated nylon to Royal Navy spec, and very durable. They will sell the Type 9 Naval direct to individuals, and when we asked in April 2010 the cost with VAT was about £68.50.

Apres-kayak clothing

See Kayak Shops and Crafts, Books, Jewellery, Etc

Roof racks

See Transporting Your Kayak.

  • Thule, Sweden. Thule makes a wide range of sturdy products, including some specifically for kayaks. Available from retailers throughout Europe. www.thule.co.uk
  • Kari-Tek. Scottish engineering firm which makes some nice easy-loader roof racks for sea kayaks. Not cheap but definitely worth a look if you've ever struggled to get your kayaks back up there. www.kari-tek.co.uk

Water purification

For multi-day trips kayaking or backpacking, you can't easily carry all the water you need for drinking and cooking. Unless you can expect to find a tap or a clear, clean stream, you need a good filter which can rapidly produce a couple of pints of drinking water minus the chemicals, bacteria and smaller virus-sized pathogens.

Drinksafe Systems logoSo that your filter does not get clogged up with mud and bits of vegetation, it is a good ideal to sieve the water first through a high-capacity pre-filter. You can buy pre-filter and filter systems direct from www.drinksafe-systems.co.uk

 

Other accessories, parts & materials

 

 

Woodworking tools in the UK

For all woodworking hand tools, power tools, machine tools, abrasives, adhesives and books, those nice people at Axminster Power Tools. www.axminster.co.uk

Boatbuilding wood in the UK

Timber for paddles and cedar strips for strip-plank construction:

Marine plywood:
If you want plywood which is both good and environmental, you'll have to make some telephone calls. See Which Plywood?

Polyester resin & glassfibre reinforcement suppliers in the UK

Epoxy resin suppliers in the UK

To buy boatbuilding epoxies, East Coast Fibreglass Supplies and CFS Fibreglass Supplies, above. For budget epoxies you could try Robnor Resins at www.resins-online.com

See also Biocomposites. For technical information about epoxies from the big boys:

Skin materials for skin-on-frame boats in UK

We don't know any European suppliers who have a range of synthetic skin materials:

In North America:

  • George Dyson. Heavyweight polyester and nylon. As far as we know, he does not have a website. Dyson, Baidarka & Co, 435 West Holly St, Bellingham WA 98225. Tel: 360-734-9226 FAX: 360-671-9736.
  • The Skin Boat School a.k.a. Spirit Line. Heavyweight nylon. www.skinboats.org
  • Kavon Filter Company of Wall, NJ. Heavyweight polyester, nylon and cotton canvas. www.kavonfilter.com

Sealants for skin-on-frame boats in UK

See Skin-On-Frame Materials In Europe.

Materials for inflatable and dry bags in UK

Neoprene for wetsuits

See Wetsuit Material. Want to make a tuiliq or similar accessories?

  • Elios Sub in Italy will supply single sheets of neoprene foam from a huge range of manufacturers and specifications. www.eliossub.com
  • Macro International in California will also sell single sheets of clearance stock. www.macrointlco.com

Online yacht chandlers (fittings, rope & paint) in UK

Online camping and rock-climbing supplies in UK

Online military surplus shops in UK

Shell dressings for First Aid, Buffalo / Montane clothing, cheap Gore-Tex bivouac bags. Both of these companies have been trading since WWII:

Waterproof fabrics, buckles etc in UK

Books & magazines


Kayaking publishers & bookshops

  • Le Canotier. A bookshop for kayakers. Their stock and their website are in both French and English. www.canotier.com
  • Pesda Press, www.pesdapress.com. British Canoe Union kayaking books and others.
  • Cordee Ltd. Some kayaking books, lots relating to other outdoor pursuits. www.cordee.co.uk
  • For "Instruction in Kayak Building", H C Petersen, published by the Greenland Provincial Museum & Viking Ship Museum, 1982, order online from www.atuagkat.com or www.qajaqusa.org.
  • Qajaq USA sells some sea kayaking books and publications including "The Little Kayak Book" by John Brand.

Sea kayaking magazines

Sea kayak booklist

Paul Caffyn, kayak circumnavigator and writer, has kindly provided us with his list of books about kayaking and canoeing. Who knew there were so many? Click here to view.

Sailing kayaks & canoes

 

Add-on sailing rigs

Kite power

Sailing canoes in UK (plans and boats)

Take a look at the website of Kruger Canoes, Michigan. They make the Sea Wind, Dreamcatcher and Cruiser, which have probably been more extensively tested than any other 50:50 paddling-sailing canoes intended for use on open water.

 

 

 

 

Go to next page for:
• Paul Caffyn's booklist

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