FX canoe polo kayak series

The FX series is a design that has been percolating in my mind a number of years. I think that once you start designing your own kayaks you are always looking to make changes and new iterations, even if it is only in your mind. It certainly is the case for this new design. I started the prototyping more than four years ago, however with a new family and new priorities I have been unable to progress the design as fast as I wished. I ended up paddling the prototype version for more than 18 months competitively. This certainly did give me time to clarify my thinking around how I wish the final version to look and feel.

I started with the following basic parameters :

• continue to be easy drop the nose without having to double pump
• increased space around the knees for better control
• extra stability compared to our Blaze/ Shock/ Blast family
• easy to turn

secondary considerations

• more volume to control players who are on top of you.
• Simpler turning style required so easier to learn to turn efficiently. The scooped- out tail of the Blaze family works best with a distinct change in hip angle part way through the pivot to generate the fastest turn. 
• Flatter hull so that when you are on top of a defender while you are shooting you have a potentially more stable platform.

In the end we finally came up with 3 design sizes that can get cut into 2 sizes each:

FX SMALL

First impressions are that this is fast, really fast. Suitable for young adults wanting a kayak easy to dip and easy to accelerate to top speeds. 

• FX 3: cut down FX SMALL
• FX 4 : full size.
• Length: 298cm
• Width: 56cm
• Paddler weight range: 55-65kg

FX MEDIUM

This was the first version of the FX series. As usual I designed it for me first of all. Typically I am between 75-80kgs. I definitely prefer a kayak that is easy to dip the nose under with a single stroke. Also I am happy to have a reasonable nose down attitude when paddling at 50% speed, as in a little bit of water pearling over the front bumper. This is just because most contact/ tackling/ jostling is at the lower speeds. So having the nose already low makes this easier, as long as you can sprint to clear the water on the deck and it doesn't bury. 

• FX 5: cut down FX MEDIUM
• FX 5+ :  ok so lied as we cut this into 3 sizes with this one having the same volume in the middle as the FX6, but with trimmed down ends. Keeping it more "bobbly"
• FX 6 : full size
• Length: 298cm
• Width: 60cm
• Paddler weight range: 70-85kg

FX LARGE

This one took ages to get finished!!! I had so many issues with the design and then the mould making process. When it was finally completed I was stoked to find that this was a jostling machine!! Players using the FX LARGE were just a pain to deal with. We also made the tail a lot wider all the way to help keep ensure no-one would paddle over your defensive position unless you wanted it. 

The FX Large is proving very popular in that is its just got so much room around the legs and feet, but still having that easy to dip nose control.

• FX 7: cut down FX LARGE
• FX 8: full size (we have already made an FX8+ size for a bigger guy)
• Length: 298cm
• Width: 62cm
• Cockpit Depth: 24cm-25.5cm measured inside of hull to bottom of cockpit rim (front)
• Paddler weight range 80-105kg

Where to from here: 

Well the design work is never completed and always once you have finished a design you are still thinking of improvements. To give you an idea of what I have in mind:

• Improve construction
• FX 3 version with lower volume nose for smaller women. 
• FX PRO versions of all models; as I know I can improve the designs to increase speed.
• FX EXTRA SMALL
• FX XL especially given the popularity of the Flash and FLASH XL models for us. Seems there is a need for polo kayaks for players 110kg +++
• another completely different family of kayaks........perhaps I could 
  "design" one that looks like all the others and call it the BAAAA? or not. 

As always your feedback or questions are always appreciated. Either here or to my email address: jamespaddles@gmail.com 

Blaze, Flare feedback and developing the Blast

 Just over 1 year ago we launched our first polo boat the Blaze. This was the culmination of a 6 month design and prototype testing process that saw an idea of what was required through to a finished product. As they say though the design process is always on-going and we keep taking on feedback from our clients, as well as our own experience paddling and competing in the boats day in day out........................

Blaze release announced

 Announcing the release of the Blaze polo kayak. New Zealand's first designed and produced polo kayak in the last 10 years. 

After months of testing and extensive feedback from many of the countries top paddlers JC POLO are please to have finally received the mould for our new kayak. We will be starting to manufacture the first orders over the coming weeks. Expect to see a few of these awesome kayaks at a polo tournament near you as we deliver orders and get a few Demo kayaks out to clubs. 

I thought it would be of interest to attach a couple pictures of the Blaze's development for those that are interested in these sort of things.

Below is the plug taking shape. The Plug is the master pattern that we make the final mould from. 

Below are the two prototypes we used for extensive in field testing. As you can see both these versions have plenty of tape on the them from all the holes. These were made from fibreglass and as such were certainly not expected to have lasted as long as they have. Each kayak would have had in excess of 100hrs of game play during testing = 200+ games per kayak. So now you know why we are so certain we have winner in terms of good design. 

Finally we have the mould. Below you can see what the mould looks like. 1st image in the inside of the mould, 2nd image in the outside of the hull mould and the 3rd image is actually the first Blaze being started ;-)

Once we get production sorted out I will be happy for potential clients and those that are interested to come join in the process of making the kayaks. 

First Blaze out of the mould :-)

Prototype Canoe Polo kayak

Hi Guys,

I have had a few queries about the new Polo boat I am working on so I thought that I would post a few images. I paddled this initially on Wednesday and was impressed. First impressions are as follows: 

• easiest turning polo boat I have ever paddled ( without resorting to a polo boat that is too small for me).
• nose dips easily.
• plenty on volume around the knees.
• cockpit rim is terrible as it cuts thighs (not mine , but people with real thighs).... have work to do on this. 
• whole seating and cockpit rim needs some work to get up to production stage. 
• fast and easy acceleration, though will test further.

So I will attempt to play some games tomorrow in the prototype boat. Main interest is how the boat handles defensive work with the lower volumes in the nose and tail. 

First Post