I Bought a Kayak

[@georgerawley8006]

Brett, the nice thing about fiberglass is if you goof just grind/file your mistake and then reapply. As a maintenance welder working in a paper mill I was able to work with many other crafts including pipe fitters doing fiberglass repair and construction ( junction boxes covers for electronics junctions in wet environments) and running fiberglass piping. It just takes practice and patience.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah, I am pretty sure I am not going to shoot video of my first few repairs! We will see how it goes.

[@georgerawley8006]

@AdventureOtaku It might be good to video the repairs, just not post anything immediately. It's all in the editing anyway 😁😁

[@AdventureOtaku]

@georgerawley8006 that is true

[@barry4fish]

I think the Explorer is the kayak that Tom Nickels uses in the paddle stroke videos he has put on KZbin (along with yours, his videos have also been very helpful). I hope you enjoy this project, seems like fun and you get to paddle it after it’s done!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Im looking forward to paddling it. I really don’t remember what it paddled like, but hull wise it is pretty similar to my delta. So I am very curious.

[@bobrein8093]

I've paddled an Explorer before I knew what I was doing. I also paddled a Romany Classic. As a newbie at the time, I felt the Romany was a better boat. I came to learn that the real flagship was the Explorer. Anyway, as you know I wound up buying a Delta 16. No regrets!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah, I think it should be an interesting comparison. And there is nothing wrong with NOT preferring the flagship. I don't use Werners "flagship" paddle.

[@stevenjohnson9714]

Last two digits of the hull id number are the year it was made. Have fun with the project. Learning new skills is an adventure !

[@AdventureOtaku]

totally is. Last two... got it! thank you!

[@tehbieber]

@@AdventureOtaku you can actually get as specific as the month of manufacture. The last two digits are the model year, the digit before that tells you the actual year it was manufactured, and the letter before that is the month (A for January, B for February, so on and so forth)

[@AdventureOtaku]

48E10 are the last 5 digits? May of 2010?

[@tehbieber]

@@AdventureOtaku so I think that means model year 2010, manufactured in May of 08. Seems a little odd for a model year to be two years after the manufacture, but maybe that's normal with boats? This is all also assuming that they gave it a US hull number for sale in the states, maybe it's a little different in the UK?

[@AdventureOtaku]

@tehbieber yeah I was confused too. I may email skuk. Thanks!

[@georgemorcom9700]

Looking forward to following along on your refurbishing this Explorer. I have some older boats myself that I’ve had to do some minor fixes, upgrades and just TLC. I have a Current Designs Sirocco, its composite sister the Gulfstream (my favorite of my touring kayaks) and a P&H Delphin. I was shopping for a Cetus myself and ended up with the Delphin. On each one, there have been some things I’ve needed to do and some I just wanted to do to personalize them. Can’t wait to see how your Explorer turns out. No criticism from me at all. I’ve learned a lot on all the things I’ve done along the way and any mistakes you make along the way, I guarantee others have done as well. Good luck!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks brother! Thanks for watching.

[@Simon_W74]

That is going to be a very interesting video series Brett. I have never done any fibre glass work, from what I have seen and been told by a friend of mine that works in the industry it is all in the prep work as to how well it turns out, similar as to spraying paint, the better the prep the better the finish out of the the spray gun, and less work getting the end result to really look the cats whiskers. Will look forward to the project evolving over the winter and your skills growing with it. We have couple of paddlers at out Club that have NDK boats and they both prefer them over there previous boats. I would love one but they are out of my price bracket, so I will settle with one of the Celtic Paddles instead.

[@AdventureOtaku]

well, honestly I can't afford one either... but this was too good of a deal.

[@Simon_W74]

@@AdventureOtaku I see them come up for sale every now and then, Never that close to home, and normally their smaller models. I just wish that more manufacture's made Sea kayak for the folk of my height and build that doesn't mean we have to use ultra light gear. I looked at the Valley Ethan 17.7 and I only get 12 kg of kit to take as I make up most of the total paddle weight. Hopefully now that I am trying to run again, if I am successful, will drop a good few KG. I had to stop running 27 years ago due to damage to my knees, which ended my Military Career much earlier than I was planning. So far most of my runs have been ok, just the odd niggle here and there, probably because my mind still thinks I can go faster than my aging body can do.

[@neilpage1153]

I love restoration projects, whether it's boat's, bikes, cars or whatever...I'm looking forward to watching the transformation unfold 😎

[@AdventureOtaku]

You and me both!

[@jonathansharlin2306]

Dude , did you see his Petrel Play that they make? That’s a real fun boat to paddle. The Explorer is so vanilla … ho hum…

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah Joey makes amazing boats but I don’t think I can get a months worth of gear in it. The explorer may be vanilla but it is a highly regarded expedition boat

[@RayFreemanleftcoastinsights]

Awesome project! Practice spraying gelcote on a test panel to get things dialed before spraying the kayak. As someone mentioned, prep is critical to strengthen spider cracks and prevent leaking. NDKs are popular here in BC. As an expert paddler, you should really enjoy this boat. The Delta is probably the best boat for ‘most’ paddlers…good design, cockpit space, volume, quality, and value (my Wife has a Delta 16). I had an old Nordkapp HM…very efficient, but really had to lean over to turn. Cockpit was tiny. The newer Nordkapps have evolved. Seaward always had innovative designs, but used a hand layup for their composites; so were unnecessarily heavy compared to vacuum bagged boats. Am enjoying my current ‘dream boat’, a P&H Volan. All the best with the project!

[@AdventureOtaku]

thank you! Yeah, I am going to practice a lot of things before I let myself loose on this boat. thanks again.

[@RayFreemanleftcoastinsights]

If you mess up…just sand and spray again!

[@AdventureOtaku]

yeah... I think that will probably happen... at least once.

[@bryanb8366]

Nice find! I can just say after i picked up my NDK Pilgrim explorer i haven't touched my Seward Luna for a year. Nigel makes one hell of a boat restoring it will make the paddling way more enjoyable.

[@AdventureOtaku]

we will see....

[@lauraphillips6512]

I’m sure you will do well with this restoration

[@AdventureOtaku]

I hope… I think it’ll turn out okay….

[@anninwhack1998]

Hey have fun w your fixer upper!

[@AdventureOtaku]

it is that for sure.

[@rickspann9352]

Enjoy the journey with kayak repair... as someone just said two digits in the serial number is the year it was manufactured.

[@AdventureOtaku]

oh...it's gonna be a journey.

[@Perspectologist]

Cool! I’m looking forward to seeing this project. I can envision a fiberglass kayak in my future (down the road a bit), so it will be cool to learn about what it takes to repair and maintain them, and also learn how it fits in with your other kayak. Thanks for taking us along on this part of your journey.

[@AdventureOtaku]

thanks for joining me. I have paddled half a million composite boats... but never owned one. Looking forward to a contrast and compare.

[@MikeSG1960]

This should be a good series. Good luck with the refurbishment.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks!

[@tehbieber]

My wife has a Romany thats twenty sonething years old. It really seems like just about the only thing they've changed on them since then is the slider vs haul line for the skeg. Those things are classics

[@AdventureOtaku]

yup... if it aint broke....

[@tehbieber]

@@AdventureOtaku exactly. Although I think this specific one you've got might merit some fixing ;) I actually just got done patching a hole in the Romany, but thankfully I don't have KZbin watching over my shoulder and didn't have to make it pretty. Reattaching that coaming is gonna be crazy to watch

[@PumpkinVillage]

You don't have the skills yet but you will. Looking forward to the series. Take care, Al

[@AdventureOtaku]

thanks brother! it should be interesting.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

I picked up an old surfski last year that may be as old as the 70's. Very much like the ones I used to see on the river when I was rowing in the late 70's. Will probably never paddle it as it's only 400mm (15.75") at it's widest. Will probably do it up and have it as a wall hanger. A man needs a project or six.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I am in the "six" category, as you will see in next weeks video.

[@kayeanderson3494]

Looking forward to the transformation!

[@AdventureOtaku]

me too. Patience is going to be key though.

[@kebolton]

As I understand it, the "Big Three" of expedition sea kayaks are the NDK Explorer, the P&H Cetus and the Valley Nordkapp. My butt isn't shaped like Nigel's, so the stock seat in the Explorer and most NDK do not work for me except for the Pilgrim, which I find faster than the Explorer, though it would not hold as much gear. The Pilgrim does surf wonderfully, though! Excited to see the restoration. I have significant expedition miles in Cetus, Scorpio, and Jura. No notes, except that I want still more miles. Properly rigged, the Cetus sails beautifully. I carry a Greeenland paddle and a ~208 cm mid wing paddle when sailing. I use the GP as deep keel and the wing for downwind. The best paddlers I know who do not get paid to paddle, they paddle Valley. The Nordkapp set the bar for expedition kayaks, and is the next/final boat for my fleet, to join a 30 lb Q-Boat.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah I like the Valley boats, but I have never been a fan of the Nordkapp... for no good reason.

[@RemyDarke]

Nice addition. The Explorer and Romany are nice boats. The month and year should be the first 3 numbers in the HIN but they changed the format in later years and I don't remember the order.

[@AdventureOtaku]

that is at least a starting point! thanks so much!

[@JeffBrandt-p4n]

Congratulations on your new / vintage kayak!

[@AdventureOtaku]

thank you!

[@paddlekc]

Those are great kayaks. Nice winter project.

[@AdventureOtaku]

exactly right. On both counts.

[@nunyabidness3075]

A labor of love. Enjoy.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks. We will see if I end up loving it!

[@toddsoderstrom8779]

Nice subject for a video - I am debating taking on a project like this as well ...

[@AdventureOtaku]

,maybe see how mine goes first. Unless you already have the skills I am going to have to learn.

[@dimatraveler]

А vagabond on a kayak, I really survive on uninhabited and tropical islands Greetings from Indonesia from the Dima traveler channel 👋🙂🏝 Бродяга на каяке, реально выживаю на необитаемых и тропических островах Привет из Индонезии от канала Dima traveler 👋🙂🏝. ...

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching.

[@wisenber]

A word of caution. Boat restoration is a gateway drug to boat building. Enjoy your journey. Also, watch those temperatures when working with any resin. Cold is not your friend.

[@AdventureOtaku]

yeah, and honestly it won't fit in my garage. so I can't work on it there.... not sure how temp is going to play out.

[@Dagh1]

Should be a great boat when you're done with it, make sure to protect your lungs as you fix it though :)

[@AdventureOtaku]

lungs and skin.... yeah... fiberglass has its down side.

[@kurtsisson1491]

Last two digits will tell you the year it was built

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yup, so I have learned. She is a 2010.