A Newton is a unit in which buoyancy is measured.
150 N (Newton) is approx 15 kg or approx 15 Liter.
What is the life expectancy of a kayak?
This depends, of course, on how well the kayak is maintained. On average, however, you can expect it to last 12-15 years.
Why do you have blue and dark-coloured life jackets? They can’t be seen very well in water, can they?
We also have life jackets in red, silver, grey and also rainbow-coloured colours. What is important is that the inflated life jacket is in the international signalling colour orange or yellow. This is the case with all of the SECUMAR life jackets.
Do I have to look after or store the kayaks in any particular way?
They do not need any special care. They should be cleaned once in awhile and over the winter you should partially inflate them and store them in a dark place.
Is the polyvinyl chloride environmentally conscious?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is harmful only when burned. Otherwise the PVC is extremely robust and durable and therefore is no threat to the environment.
I go sailing and my weight is over 200 lbs. ( 90 kg ), which life jacket do I need ?
Your weight is only of marginal interest to us. What is important is what kind of clothing you are going to be wearing. In most cases today, we recommend life jackets with 275 Newton. We do this for the following reasons:
As a rule, a life jacket has a life time of 10 to 15 years. However, you do not know today which items of clothing you will have acquired in the next few years or into which cold waters you will dare to venture into in the next 8 years. But since the weight of a 275N life jacket is not substantially greater than that of a 150N life jacket, and the price difference is likewise insignificant, even today we are recommending tomorrow's standard.
Are spare parts available?
Yes, of course. As the manufacturer, we have a legal obligation to hold stocks of spare parts for 7 years after they are produced.
Are the kayaks easy to maneuver and do they have good tracking qualities?
This depends on the model you buy. Easy maneuverability and good tracking are two qualities that are difficult to find together. A boat which is easy to steer most likely doesn't have optimal tracking qualities. However, we do our best to combine these two properties for a sufficient solution. Our white water kayak, however, has excellent maneuverability which compromises the tracking qualities.