While touring kayaks are great for exploring your local waterways, they can be quite a hassle to carry over long distances. It was with this in mind that Pakayak created the Bluefin 14. It's a modular plastic kayak that comes apart into six pieces. Those components nest within one another, and can then be carried like a backpack – albeit a big, heavy one.
Collapsible kayaks in general are, of course, nothing new. Over the years we've seen ones with metal frames and fabric skins, along with models that fold like origami, that can be inflated, and that can be disassembled into a package that fits in the back of a car. The Bluefin 14 is a little different, though, in that it's a hardshell kayak that can actually be carried on the user's back.
In its assembled form, the 55-lb (25-kg) kayak is 14 feet (4.3 m) long, featuring sealed front and rear cargo compartments along with a spray skirt-ready cockpit, just like a regular touring kayak. Once it's taken apart and nested, that length shrinks to 3.5 feet (1 m). It can then be placed in an included shoulder strap-equipped pack for transit and storage.
When it's time to hit the water again, its patented clamping system reportedly allows it to be put together in less than five minutes. And no, it apparently doesn't leak.
Pakayak plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign this June, to raise production funds for the Bluefin 14 – you can sign up for notifications via the company website. The estimated retail price is US$1,695.
If you don't want to wait, and have a partner who could carry half of a kayak on their back, you might want to also check out the existing Klepper Backyak.
Source: Pakayak via Cool Things