Fluid Kayaks Team

Ok, let's get down to it straight away: since a few pictures have been out on the web already, I know that probably half of the people reading this article are here to see more pics of our Fluid Babes. After some hesitation I've decided that I'd do an update specifically on that subject some time later. Right now I'd rather have your full attention to introduce the new Fluid toys.

As you may know, the Kanu Messe has become over the past few years a "must" for most companies, and the place and time when new products are unveilled. Celliers Kruger, our fearless leader and designer, has been working his a$$ off over the past few weeks to have everything ready in time for the show. We offered him a well-deserved beer for this achievement, which he declined for a glass of milk. Go figure.

Fluid boats were exposed on the Rokxat booth. Rokxat is the European distributors for Fluid as well as for many other paddling brands, and they've done a fantastic job once more at this tradeshow, making our booth one of the most attractive of the entire show (and now you're thinking about the babes AGAIN - stay focused please).

So what's new for Fluid?

NEW OUTFITTING

First of all, the new outfitting that will equip our entire range from now on, the Mod3. Why Mod3? because as you can see on the pictures below, it is composed of 3 different pieces only.

There are multiple benefits with this new system:

• lighter: less parts, less plastic, less weight
• stronger: no small parts that break easily
• better hull support: oil canning, already rare on our boats, is even less likely to occur
• seat position is extremely easy to adjust (any easier solution on the market? not to my knowledge).
• good comfort and greater "feel" of the boat due to a more ergonomic shape of the seat and hippads

We kept and improved the front plastic pillar as well, for the same reasons we had it in the first place:

• it provides a very convenient "handle" while portaging the boat
• in case of emergency (typically, in a pinning situation), it can be used as a "step" to exit the kayak more easily.

This new outfitting system will equip all of our boats from now.

COMPOSITE BOATS

Another big attraction on the Fluid booth was the new line of composite boats. 2 models will be produced in composite: our surf kayak, the Element, and our freestyle boat the Nemesis. Only the Element could make it to the Kanu Messe in time, but the Nemesis is now ready too and we're working on the last details before shipping it out to dealers.

The Composite Element is available in M size, just as the current plastic version. Isn't it beautiful?!

The model shown at the Kanu Messe was one of the first out of the mold. We noticed the hull was a bit too flexible on this pre-production version. The production version will be improved and stiffer, and will also offer the fins setup. We won't release boats that are not up to our standards in terms of constrution and durability, unlike stories we heard from some of our competitors... ooppss!!!

The Comp Nemesis is available in M as well, and interestingly a S/M version is currently in the making. This size will fit right between our current plastic Small and Medium sizes, and will be the boat of choice for mid-sized paddlers around 60-75 kgs. This is the Medium version, very comparable to the plastic version, with only minor tweaks here and there to make it ideal for a composite construction.

What about the pricetag of these fantastic toys, you may ask? Well, the idea behind the composite boats was to make them accessible. What is the point of building a composite boat if only a handful of people or team paddlers can afford them? We want to see our boats on the water, not only on a fancy booth on a tradeshow or in the delicate hands of our Fluid babes. That's why we worked hard on the pricetag with our providers and distributors, and as a result the Fluid Comp boats will be available at a retail price barely superior to what you'd pay for a plastic boat. Ask your nearest Fluid dealer for a more detailed pricing.

That will be a little bit more expensive than our plastic versions, but we believe that the advantages in terms of performance and weight will be well worth it. To give you an idea of what to expect with those boats, have a look at what the plastic models are already capable of here: Element in Hawaii sur Rhone and Mat Coldebella racking up 1500+ points in the Nemesis.

Our team paddlers are very excited about the Composite boats and I guess the first pics and vids should be available soon enough. The production boats will start shipping this falls to dealers.

SOLO

Our reference creekboat, the Solo, also enjoyed a lifting with a new logo and two new colors, lime green and grey. And from top to bottom, the 3 sizes: small, medium and large.

Check out Val Grollemund in Austria, training for the Sickline race in his fancy new green Solo. Beautiful, isn't it?

NEW BOAT: THE DETOX

Also missing at the Kanu Messe, but coming out of the mold in a couple of weeks is our new creekboat, the DETOX. The Detox, with its lenght, volume, and general forgiveness, is aimed at running rivers and creeks alike. While the Solo remains the boat of choice for the harder stuff, the Detox will spice up your paddling on the class III/IV/V runs with it's playboat hull and rails, making the occasional surf much more enjoyable. The added carving and edging capacity will make for a more enjoyable ride down the river, wheither boofing waterfalls, ferrying or catching eddies along the way. As I said the Medium Detox is being finalized these days. The Small and Large Detox will be next and will be available by the end of the year, so they should reach a dealer near you by february/March next year.

Have a look at the specs:

SMALL DETOX

• Length: 215cm/7’1”
• Width: 62cm/24.5”
• Volume: 235l/52gal
• Weight: 13.5kg/30lbs
• Paddler weight range: 50-85kg/110-190lbs

MEDIUM DETOX

• Length: 230cm/7’6”
• Width: 64cm/25.25”
• Volume: 250l/66gal
• Weight: 15kg/33lbs
• Paddler weight range: 60-95kg/130-210lbs

LARGE DETOX

• Length: 245cm/8”
• Width: 66cm/26”
• Volume: 270l/71gal
• Weight: 15.5kg/34lbs
• Paddler weight range: 70-115kg/180-250lbs

And some CAD drawings to wet your appetite:

And since you've paid good attention to this article, here's a pic of what you came for in the first place: a Fluid Babe ;-)

Thanks to all the Fluid / Rokxat for an awesome show, thanks to Val Grollemund for the pics, and stay tuned for more of the babes!

David Arnaud