Produktutveckling av kajak för ungdomsverksamhet
Typ
Examensarbete på kandidatnivå
Program
Publicerad
2020
Författare
Byström, Fredrik
Lindahl, Annie
Linde, Ludvig
Longnell, Fredrik
Skötte, Anna
Sundberg, Anna
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
A project resulting in the design of a new kayak has been concluded. The created
kayak is designed specifically for usage in kayak clubs by beginner youths for
flatwater paddling. Problems exist with the current kayaks clubs use for this purpose,
mainly relating to the cost and ease of use, which contribute to an increased
difficulty in the recruitment of new club members.
An investigation was launched to specify problems and opportunities surrounding
the usage of flatwater kayaks under the aforementioned circumstances. To this end,
interviews were conducted with key figures within local kayak clubs and experts
within fields relating to kayaks. These interviews were supplemented with market
research, including a survey aimed at kayak users. This investigation identified clear
problems with the usage of kayaks with the main ones being: difficulties reseating
after the user has capsized, difficulties emptying a water-filled kayak and damages
associated with the rudder.
No clear way was identified to reduce the cost of traditional flatwater kayaks without
negatively affecting kayak functions or worsening kayak performance. The root cause
for this is that flatwater kayaks aimed at beginners are in general already simplified
and downscaled to the base fundamentals of what defines a flatwater kayak. In
addition, current production technology and the relatively low scale of production
of these kayaks further limit the possibilities of reducing the cost.
The project resulted in a kayak design similar to that of a surfski kayak. A surfski is
a kayak with a closed hull and no discrete seat, primarily used in warmer climates
and for paddling in the ocean. The designed kayak solves many of the problems
that have arisen in traditional kayaks and has the potential for a lower production
cost if the scale of production increases. The designed kayak differs in some ways
from a pure surfski kayak. The main difference is the inclusion of a discrete seat,
allowing beginners to use the same technique in the developed surfski-like kayak as
they would in a traditional flatwater kayak.