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PERCEPTION EXPRESSION 15.0
PERCEPTION EXPRESSION 15.0
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CASH PRICE = $949.00 CREDIT CARD PRICE = $987.00
Category DescriptionOpen up even more of the exciting possibilities kayaking has to offer by developing your skills and expanding your environments in a Perception touring kayak. These kayaks are designed for more performance, a tighter fit, and more capacity than recreational kayaks, but offer predictable handling so beginners or experts can venture on longer excursions on more types of water. Kayak DescriptionThe Zone Deluxe Seating system is ergonomically engineered to provide a comfortable fit. Adjustable leg support eases pressure on hips and legs, while the height-adjustable backrest and snug wrap-around wings help you dial-in to the perfect fit for all-day comfort on the water. 2011 UK Canoe & Kayak Magazine Best Touring Kayak! Features Rudder Capable Bow and Stern Hatches Bungee Deck Rigging TruTrak Skeg System Adjustable Padded Thigh Braces Bow and Stern Bulkheads Zone DLX Seating System Soft Touch Handles Slidelock Foot Braces About Perception KayaksAnd just like us, those that have known us all those years love the sport of paddling in its purest and most simple form. Then there are those just getting to know us. We're all trying to balance today's strains on personal time, family time, and work. At Perception, we believe now's the time to start thinking about how you or your family is going to fill those priceless pages of your photo album. Almost anyone that paddles knows the Perception name and its storied history. We're excited to move into the future with even more innovation and the reliable quality that everyone has come to expect. Now, more than ever, it's time for you to discover (or rediscover) the concept that has kept us popular all these years. Our kayaks somehow offer the greatest adventures you'll experience, yet bring the simplicity to life we all desire so much. You'll be amazed at how simplicity can make things so interesting. Test PaddlingItching to Paddle?Terms, Shipping & Misc.Warranty3-Year Limited Warranty Terms and Conditions For the original retail purchaser (“Consumer”), Perception kayaks by Confluence Watersports are warranted against material or manufacturing defects in the hull and deck for three (3) years from date of original purchase of the kayak. Parts, accessories, and outfitting are warranted for a period of one (1) year against material or manufacturing defects from the date of purchase. Perception kayaks sold as “2nd Quality” as indicated on the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO), Confluence Watersports provides this limited warranty for one (1) year for the hull and deck and one (1) year for parts, accessories, and outfitting. This limited warranty is only valid with the purchase of a Perception kayak from an authorized Perception dealer. This warranty is non-transferable. How to Choose the Best Kayak - Copied From Current Designs Kayak Website. CDKAYAK.COMRecreational Recreational kayaks are perfect for small lakes and slow rivers where nimble handling wins over speed and load carrying capacity. Our recreational kayaks are designed for first time paddlers who want to experience the magic of kayaking. They are also great for more seasoned outdoor enthusiasts who like to combine their on water pleasures with other pursuits such as bird watching, fishing, and photography. These kayaks are stable, maneuverable, user friendly, and have easy entry cockpits that fit almost anybody comfortably. -Calm/Flat Water -Short and Wide -Stable -Maneuverable -Big Cockpit -Easy Handling Transitional Transitional kayaks bridge the gap between the recreational and touring categories, combining the best elements from both. Like recreational designs, they are short and somewhat wide. They favor stability on calm waters and easy turning over speed. And while their cockpits are a bit smaller than recreational cockpits, they are still quite roomy for easy access. Like our touring models, they have an upturned bow to help cut through and deflect waves should rough conditions arise. They also include thigh braces for more efficient paddling and control. -Calm/Intermediate Water -Medium Size -Easy Handling -Step Up Design -Encourage Skill Development Performance Touring- North American Style Originally designed for open ocean coastal regions, these kayaks are more forgiving than both the British and Greenland styles. Added width and depth improves storage capacity and makes them very comfortable. New paddlers will find these kayaks easier to become accustomed to. They are more efficient, faster and have better tracking than recreation or transitional models. North American style kayaks have foot controlled rudders for added maneuverability and tracking. -All Water -High Capacity -Seat Backs -Rudders Performance Touring- British Style Developed to conquer high-winds and confused seas, British style kayaks are a moderate form of performance touring kayak. All British style kayaks feature back-bands, which make them good for lay backs, and a skeg, which aids in tracking in wind and waves. Some British style kayaks favor more experienced paddlers. -All Water -Day Hatches -Back Bands -Skegs Performance Touring-Greenland Style First developed for water-based big game hunting, Greenland style kayaks maintain the distinctive features that emulate the traditional bone and skin kayaks. Greenland designs utilize hard chines, where flattened sections of the hull are joined by sharp transitions. The hard chine bottom gives these kayaks high initial stability and is conducive to riding surf. The low decks are less effected by wind. They're highly capable in rough waters and quite maneuverable. -All Water -Hard Chines -Back Bands -Skegs Specialty Designed for highly specific uses, these designs are less versatile but are ideal for paddlers with specialized needs. Once you've picked a category read about kayak design to help further narrow down your choices. Kayak Design -- about the basics The impact of dimensions and shapes on performance and fit. A well-designed touring kayak can work well in a wide variety of situations. Slight changes in dimensions and shapes will make similar models favor different performance characteristics, paddlers of different stature, and paddling comfort. A basic understanding of design aspects and their impact, will help you choose the best kayak for your needs. Length A longer waterline results in a smoother transition and a faster boat. In moving through the water, the hull must separate the water at the bow, allowing it to return to the stern as smoothly as possible. A shorter waterline results in a less streamlined passage through the water, but the hull will be more maneuverable. Given two kayaks of the same width, a longer kayak will have a bigger "footprint" on the water. Besides more efficiency, a longer kayak will have more stability and load carrying capacity. Width Width is a key component of good fit. Given the same length, a wide kayak will be more stable than a narrow one. Conversely, a narrow craft is usually faster than a wide one, but will compromise some stability. A wider kayak will provide more stability for both heavier paddlers and tall paddlers with a higher center of gravity. A wider kayak will also enable a paddler to splay their legs out more (creating a very stable tripod effect). How much of this is needed will depend on a paddler's stature and their paddling experience. Depth This is another key component of fit. A deeper hull will be roomier for paddlers with larger legs, and increases load carrying ability. It also improves secondary stability by having more volume to help support a paddler while the kayak is on edge. A shallower hull will be less effected by wind, but will carry less, and may be too shallow to comfortably fit some paddlers. Rocker The degree of curvature in the hull from the bow to the stern along the keel line defines the amount of rocker in a kayak. Longer kayaks usually have more rocker to help support the weight of the paddler when the kayak is halfway between wave crests. This improves the ability to maneuver the kayak, especially in rough water. While more rocker increases maneuverability, it also reduces the amount of waterline in the water, creating a less efficient hull. A kayak with little or no rocker will track very well, but can be more difficult to maneuver. We carefully control rocker to deliver the right combination of maneuverability, speed and seaworthiness appropriate for each kayak's purpose. Cross Section The cross section determines the initial feel of the kayak. A round hull is extremely fast but very unstable while a flat hull is initially stable but significantly slower. We've chosen the most appropriate shapes for the ideal combination of tracking, speed, agility and seaworthiness for the kayaks intended use. "V" hulls: Many of our kayaks have a "V" hull with slightly flared sides. The "V" shape gives structural rigidity to the hull, improves tracking, has a lively feel and delivers very comfortable stability. Our "V" bottom hulls include the Kestrel and Solstice families, the Whistler, Pachena DX, Breeze, Oracle GTS and Squamish. Shallow arch hulls: Some of our designs have a shallow arch bottom. These have slightly better initial stability. Our kayaks that have this include the Gulfstream, Rumour, and Stratus 18. Combinations: Some hulls are fairly complex and have different shapes blended carefully together. The Rumour, for example, has a shallow arch in the middle that transitions to a "V" towards the stern. Chine A feature of the cross section, this is the transition area where the bottom of the hull meets the side of the hull. Soft Chine: This is typically found on kayaks 23" or more wide. Their width and volume designed into the sides gives them excellent secondary (or final) stability. The majority of kayaks that we build have a soft chine. Hard Chine: A hard chine kayak has a well defined edge where the hull bottom meets the sides. This increases the initial stability. Wider kayaks seldom need a hard chine, so most touring kayaks that have this feature are narrower, typically 22" or less. Our Caribou, Suka, Rumour, and Raven all have hard chines. Cockpit Style There are a variety of cockpit styles used. Their dimensions and shapes are tailored to the purpose of each kayak, and the comfort of the paddler from the first-timer, to the expert. Open Cockpit: The Kestrel OC's feature our largest open cockpits. These are very easy to get in and out of, and give a feeling of being almost completely free from the boat. Open cockpits have enough space to put a cooler or gear between your legs for easy access. Recreational Cockpit: These are long enough so you can easily stand on the floor in front of the seat and simply sit down. They are un-restrictive and many new paddlers appreciate their roominess and versatility. Our Kestrels have 37" or longer recreational cockpits. Keyhole Cockpit: A keyhole cockpit blends the openness of a recreational cockpit and the integrated thigh braces of a touring cockpit. The result is an easy to enter and exit cockpit that offers performance, fit, and solid connectivity to the kayak. Touring Cockpit: Typical touring cockpits are somewhat small to help resist imploding of the spray skirt if hit by a very large wave in extremely rough water. They usually include built-in thigh braces on the cockpit rim to maximize control when edging and rolling. Most of our kayaks are designed for touring so they have this type of cockpit. They range from 29" to 35" long, depending on the model. Ocean Cockpit: These are much smaller than a touring cockpit. In some cases these are nearly round, giving a very snug fit. To get into this cockpit you slide in with both legs simultaneously. These cockpits are so small that thigh braces are irrelevant Š your thighs brace against the inside of the deck. These are a trademark of the most true-to-form Greenland style kayaks. Ocean cockpits are very resistant to rough water and weather conditions. The drawback is that they limit some paddler's ability to get into the kayak, and make some people nervous about the ease of a wet exit. Swede Form vs. Fish Form Current Designs kayaks range from Swede form (widest behind the cockpit) to fish form (more body forward of the cockpit). Swede Form has a cleaner, longer, and more slender entry, giving efficient touring speeds and maneuverability. In shorter lengths, as in our Kestrel series, these kayaks are very responsive and track well. Longer kayaks with this feature have amazing acceleration. Because of the narrow bow, some kayaks might punch through a steep wave, rather than ride over it. Fish Form kayaks may have a slightly blunter entry but will have a more slender exit through the water. The bows typically have more flare and are usually more buoyant than others. In our shorter kayaks, such as the Breeze and Whistler, this enables them to be excellent surf zone kayaks. Longer kayaks benefit from this feature in large following seas. A good "fit" improves performance and comfort. When choosing a kayak, a common phrase you'll hear is "you don't sit in a kayak, you wear it." Like your favorite pair of jeans, a kayak that fits right will provide you with the comfort and control you desire. We list maximum load weights for each of our models, but don't publish recommended paddler sizes due to differences in physical proportions and paddling experience, The best way to find a kayak that's the right size for you is to get in and try it. Kayak Construction Current Designs touring kayaks are produced by either vacuum-bagged composite lamination or rotational molding. Both of these methods provides unique benefits that influence factors including weight, strength, durability, and price. Vacuum-bagged composite lamination Vacuum-bagged composite lamination is the technology that Current Designs chose over twenty years ago for its superior properties. Originally developed by the aerospace industry to manufacture ultra-light, superbly strong components, Current Designs has been refining that same process ever since to deliver the lightest, strongest, and most durable kayaks available. Today we are the recognized industry leader in this field. Vacuum-bagged composite lamination uses high pressures to eliminate any excess resin that would otherwise add weight and reduce strength of the finished kayak. This process also enables us to use specialized targeted reinforcements that offer superior structural benefits and to design in additional strength without adding substantial weight. The result of our composite laminate construction is a kayak that is light-weight, extraordinarily tough and highly-durable. The exquisite finish of our vacuum-bagged composite kayaks gave rise to our tag line, "A work of art, made for life." We offer three laminates -- fiberglass, Kevlar® and composite hybrid for some models. Each material offers unique benefits to the discriminating paddler. Fiberglass laminate Our vacuum-bagged fiberglass laminate is a notch above most other fiberglass products on the market. Vacuum-bagging allows us to select and place reinforcing materials to provide the optimal strength and stiffness properties without adding unnecessary weight. The result is a superbly crafted composite kayak that's impeccably finished inside and out. Kevlar® laminate We use genuine Dupont Kevlar® in our kayaks. You'll notice the lightness of our Kevlar® kayaks the first time you pick one up. You'll also appreciate its easy lift on and off the car and its intimate responsiveness on the water. Kevlar® is an optional layup for our Performance Touring models. Composite Hybrid laminate Our composite Kestrel and Vision families are made from a fiberglass and polyaramid (a generic for of Kevlar®) laminate for ultimate stiffness. This Hybrid layup makes these boats more cost efficient yet still light weight. Rotational molding Rotational molding uses high temperature to melt polyethylene powder in a closed rotating metal mold to produce a complete kayak hull and deck in a fraction of the time required for other construction methods. Our rotomolded polyethylene models offer paddlers the ability to enjoy many of the unique benefits of our designs at a economical price. We've taken rotomolding to the next level with our own high-tech process controls to produce the lightest possible rotomolded kayaks. We use linear high density polyethylene in all of our rotomolded models to maximize stiffness without sacrificing impact strength. Our polyethylene maintains its integrity over a broad temperature range and has added stabilizers giving it increased protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. |
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