The Swiss-designed Boner Kayak's name doesn't translate over so well to English, but that's okay because slick design is a universal language. The kayak breaks down into three pieces that nest together and fit easily into the trunk – or even backseat – of a car. It's not the first kayak we've seen with such a modular design, but its birchwood-and-fiberglass construction makes it the most appealing.
We've seen a few modular kayak designs, including the Point65 Tequila! and Klepper Backyak. The Boner Kayak's aesthetic wood deck creates a richer, more classic look than those other designs. That deck is affixed to a fiberglass hull.
The 11.5-foot (3.5-m) Boner Boat breaks down into three pieces, and the bow and stern sections nest inside the mid-section to create a 4.1-foot (1.25 m) package that's considerably easier to transport. The included wheel secures to the bottom of the packed kayak, allowing the paddler to roll the 49-lb (22 kg) boat right to water's edge. The three pieces take about five minutes to put together via the proprietary tool-free hardware.
The kayak measures 25 in wide and 14.5 in high (64 cm, 37 cm). It has a payload of 264 lb (120 kg) and offers 55 liters of front and 75 liters of rear storage.
The Boner Kayak retails for CHF 3,450 (US$3,550), and if you happen to find yourself in Eastern Switzerland, designer Hans Boner offers test rides on local waterbodies like Lake Zurich and Lake Constance.