TRAK 2.0 KAYAK

Lots of trawlers pack around kayaks, play boats, and bikes, but where does one put all these toys? Usually the only option for transporting toys is to clutter the decks, strap them to the rails, stuff them into the dinghy on the flybridge deck, or “stow” them out on the sidedecks or foredeck. But what if you could take a quality touring sea kayak, suited for anything from a day paddle to a multi-day trip, and pack it into your lazarette? The Trak 2.0 Kayak offers you just that option.

Built in Alberta, Canada, Trak Kayaks launched an Indigogo campaign at the end of June in order to raise the necessary funding to begin producing their newest launch, the 2.0. Trak has already raised over 750% of its goal to begin building the ultimate folding tour kayak. This isn’t their first folding kayak, though: Trak’s ST16 was well received and paddled by many.

The 2.0 is a skin-over-frame design, with its rigidity coming from building out the bow and stern with aluminum poles and frames. The framework is inserted into the kayak skin through a zipper opening in the after end of the kayak. Once assembled and placed inside the skin, three hydraulic rams are used to create the tension on the frame that stretches the skin drum-tight. But the rams don’t just tighten the boat’s skin, they can also be adjusted to change the hull shape to adapt to different water conditions. For example, since the boat doesn’t have a traditional articulating rudder, adjustments can be made to induce a slight bend in the frame to help the kayak through quartering seas.

Any serious cruising boat is going to love the fold-up design as well as the ability to stow the boat in out-of-the-way locations while not being used so that it won’t be needlessly exposed to harsh conditions on deck. We think the Trak 2.0 will be a top-rated kayak that won’t sacrifice seaworthy performance for the added benefit of stowability.

Starting at $2,799 • Pricing options at: www.trakkayaks.com