Produktutveckling av kajak för ungdomsverksamhet

Abstract

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.