Unplugged Seakayak
Unplugged is great for exploring the possibilities of sea kayaking. It responds perfectly and makes maneuvering easy. It is the perfect choice for tours and classes.
Unplugged overview
Length and width
A perfect balance of speed and stability
With medium length and width Unplugged gives you just the right balance between speed and stability.
Want to know why size matters?
Height measurements
Low wind sensitivity and easy paddling
With its low front and rear deck Unplugged tracks amazingly well even in windy conditions. The low profile also gives you a kayak where you can paddle unobstructed and really hone your skill set.
Why is keeping a low profile so important?
Material and weight
Lightweight yet strong
Unplugged is a 3-layer PE kayak. The 3 layer structure provides a sturdy, strong and rigid kayak and reduces weight.
Get nerdy about the materials
Cockpit size and shape
Easy access and firm control
The medium sized keyhole cockpit and relatively wide front enables optimal paddling technique and makes it easy to get in and out. The thigh braces are padded and carefully placed giving you full control when maneuvering your Unplugged.
Learn about the basics of control
Hull shape and rocker
Easy maneuverability
Unplugged is easy to maneuver thanks to the hull shape and rocker (the curvature from bow to stern). Unplugged has a so-called shallow-V hull and medium rocker giving it a good balance between tracking and maneuverability.
What is shallow-V and rocker?
Hatches, compartments, lines & bungees
Plenty room for a weekend trip
The round hatches have a nice fit to keep water out – and yes they come in color! Unplugged can easily carry enough gear if you are up for more than just a single day on water. Deck lines and bungees are carefully placed and bulkheads are sealed from both sides.
Extras
Make it your own
Unplugged allows you to choose extras based on your needs. Add a lock to secure your kayak or a rescue system helping you get back in your kayak in case you capsize. It is also possible to add an extra storage compartment in front of the cockpit with space for snacks and other stuff you need easy access to. Unplugged comes with a skeg as standard, but if you prefer a rudder Unplugged is prepared for this.
Skeg system
No hassle skeg control
Unplugged has a cord controlled skeg system. The handle is placed at the hip making it easy to reach and ensures that it will not be a bother for those with long legs. The Unplugged skeg system are from Kajak Sport which is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of kayak parts.
Size guide
Unplugged is available in two sizes
Unplugged comes in sizes Regular and Large.
Regular: 160-185 cm up to appr. 90 kg.
Large: 170-210 cm from 90 kg and up.
Become a DesignKayaks dealer
DesignKayaks is a Danish sea kayak brand: Stunning colors, exceptional performance. Unmatched value for money for you and your customers. Our model range consists of three models designed to meet different demands. They apply to everyone from new paddlers, exercise and touring paddlers all the way to instructors, technique and surf aficionados.
Our factory
Passion seeps through every step of the process when we make our sea kayaks. Our factory is located in the city of George in South Africa and with our modern roto moulding techniques we produce our high quality 3-layer PE sea kayaks in a well engineered and computer controlled environment.
Meet the people behind DesignKayaks
We have put a lot of thought, care and love into the design of our kayaks. And it all comes from years of experience and “getting our hands wet”. Søren Telling is the man behind the boat design and Hanne Telling – with her many years of experience from LEGO is the woman behind our unique business and colour concept.
We are paddlers
And we love to share our knowledge
Customizable
Configure hull, line, bungee and hatch colors
Danish Design
Designed at our offices and waters of Denmark
Value for money
Uncompromizing quality
at a great price
Choose the Right Size
Just like any other sports equipment a kayak needs to fit you size. If it is too small it will feel uncomfortable if it is too big you will have a hard time maneuvering it.
For a kayak to have a good fit you should feel comfortable in the seat. The thigh braces must have a firm grib on your thigh and the footrests must be possible to adjust to fit the length of your legs.
You weight is also important. If you are to heavy or light for the kayak it will impact the performance of the kayak because it is either to low or high in the water. For that reason you should also consider how you will be using your kayak. If your plan is to often go on multi-day trips and bring lots of gear you need to calculate the extra weight of your gear into your choice of kayak.
Length
Speed and length (A) are tightly connected. The longer the kayak the more energy can be built up between paddle strokes. And that increases both speed and tracking. A longer kayak is therefore better suited to long stretches of straight ahead paddling and longer trips in general. A short kayak on the other hand is much easier to maneuver, which is also a great advantage in bigger waves. So what is a short and a long kayak? It is not set in stone, but as a rule of thumb you can use these measures:
< 480 cm: Short
480-515 cm: Average
> 515 cm: Long
Waterline
A sea kayak has two lengths. One is the full length as stated in the product specifications (A) – the other, and at least as important length, is that of the waterline (B). The waterline is defined by how much of the hull is submerged in water when paddling.
A sea kayak has a rocker meaning that the front and rear curves upward from the center. And that is why the full length is never actually in the water. The exact length of the waterline is not a constant – but dependant on the weight of the paddler and how much gear is stored in the compartments.
Width
To put it short: A narrow kayak is faster than a wide one but might challenge the balance a bit more. If you are new to kayaking the thought of a wide kayak might appeal the most to you, but with just a few hours of paddling you will have found your balance and at that point you will want to trade that initial safe feeling to some more speed. Like with length there are no complete answer list, but most sea kayaks are between 50-60 cm in width and can be categorized like this:
50-53 cm: Narrow
54-56 cm: Average
57-60 cm: Wide
The Height of a Kayak
While there is often put a lot of attention to the length and width of a kayak the height is often disregarded, but a few extra centimeters height makes a big difference. When talking about height it is especially the height of the front deck (A) and rear deck (B) that are in focus.
First of all the lower the kayak the less sensitive to wind it is. Therefore a low kayak makes it easier to track and keep a straight direction – which, especially for new paddlers, can be challenging. But that is not the only reason why a low profile is a plus.
A Low Rear Deck for Easier Rescue
If you capsize and need to reenter your kayak, you’ll have to pull yourself up on the rear deck of the kayak. Every inch you need to overcome is going to cost you strain. At first glance it might not seem that important, but when floating in the sea next to your kayak, the difference between a high and a low rear deck will become very clear indeed.
A Low Front Deck Improves Stability
A low center of gravity when paddling gives better stability and balance. A kayak with a high front deck will force your arms up when paddling and that is not good for balance. Also it makes it much more difficult to hone your paddling technique to the best possible level.
Material Matters
The by far most used material for kayaks are plastic and fiberglass. Both materials has it's pros and cons and for both plastic and fiberglass they come in many different qualities.
When looking for a kayak you will most likely have to choose between 1-layer PE (plastic), 3-layer PE (plastic) or fiberglass.
The table below shows the pro and cons of the different materials. If you want to deep dive into materials and how to avoid poor quality your can read much more in DesignKayaks material guide
Weight
The weight of a sea kayak depends on production methods and the size of the kayak. Most sea kayaks in PE (Plastic) weigh between 24-28 kg.
Cockpit Size
The first time you jump into a sea kayak, a big and spacious cockpit might feel the safest. In reality it leaves you with very little control. It is only when your feet, hips and thighs are in close contact with the kayak that you can really master it. That is also the reason why the cockpit has thigh braces.
Maneuvering
Close contact allows you to use your body to the fullest when maneuvering – for example by edging the kayak. As a new paddler edging may feel out of reach, difficult and unsafe. But with very little practice you will soon be able to use edging and start to feel a completely different flow when paddling. If you are already a fan of waves, rolling and playing, close contact is the absolute key to a great experience.
Hull Shape
To determine the hull shape of a kayak you need to look at the area just underneath the cockpit. The hull shape has a huge impact on both speed and stability.
A completely flat hull (G) profile is very stable but takes away speed. A sea kayak with a round hull profile (E) is fast but feels more alive until it reaches speed and water pressure helps add stability. A v-shaped hull profile (F) will, for new paddlers, feel quite unstable. But since the v-shape also allows for speed, a flattened v-shape (a so-called shallow v) is a great compromise between stability and speed.
The Rocker
The rocker is the way the front and rear end of a sea kayak sweeps upward from the center – giving it a banana-like shape. This gives the sea kayak better maneuverability and balance. A kayak with much rocker is good for waves where you need to maneuver, but if you want a fast kayak that tracks well you should look for less rocker.
Skeg What and Why?
The skeg is a blade stored in a slot in the hull close to the stern. By using a slider by the cockpit the blade can be submerged into the water. A skeg helps you track when wind is blowing from the side and from behind.
Skeg or Rudder
An alternative to the skeg is a rudder. They are both lowered into the water to prevent the kayak from turning into the wind. If you prefer one or the other is a matter of taste.
A rudder is controlled via your foot braces. That means that with a rudder installed your foot braces become moving parts that give way when pushed. A skeg is a retractable device controlled by pulling or releasing a cord. That leaves your foot braces immovable and a solid contact point – and thereby gives you more control over your kayak.
Hatches, bungees and more
One thing are the dimensions of a kayak, but what about all the components - the hatches, the bungees, lines? What are the purpose and what should you pay attention to?
Deck Lines and Bungees
The lines fitted along the deck’s outer rim are called deck lines. They are used to grab and handle the kayak in rescue situations and therefore need to be tightly fitted. The fit should be just so that it is possible to get your hand underneath and a tight secure grip. The little ball mounted on the front deck line makes it easier to secure your paddle in situations where you need both hands free.
The elastics – or bungees – fitted across the front and rear deck are used to keep stuff such as a bilge pump, a paddle float or a map secured to your kayak, but avoid putting too much on your deck since it will impact wind sensitivity and stability.
Hatches and Compartments
In a sea kayak the compartments are big enough for you to store luggage and gear for longer trips. The compartments also ensure buoyancy if you capsize. That's why it is important always to make sure that your hatches have a nice, snug and watertight fit. It is also important that the bulkheads of the kayak are grouted from both sides ensuring a 100% watertight seal.
Daybox
Add extra storage space. The daybox can be added to the kayak just in front of the cockpit for easy access when you are on the water.
Rescue System
Make a self rescue easier. With two simple straps mounted just behind the cockpit your paddle is easily secured for a self-resuce.
Lock fitting
With a lock fitting you can easily secure your kayak with any wire lock.
Rudder and Compass
All our kayaks comes with skeg as standard, but if you prefer a kayak with rudder both Unplugged and Endless are prepaired for rudder.
Endless has an extra option allowing to add a compass in front of the kayak. Please note that the compass is not applicable to Unplugged and Awesome.
