: What can I say, our experiences of NDK are different. Maybe NDK sends all
: their lemons your way rather than mine! Unless we're talking about ideals,
: whether a boat could be considered strong and durable enough relates to
: how it's used and if the boat is able to withstand that use, regardless of
: how well or poorly it's built, it's strong and durable enough.

That's true, but superior materials and construction produce produce a given level of durability without excessive weight.

: Absolutely, the NDK layup could be better and the boats lighter. But based on
: my experiences and on the many that I know who paddle them here on the
: West coast, the NDK layup has worked well and their owners are satisfied.
: IMO, whatever breaks my NDK will break other brands as well.

Sorry, but that's simply untrue. One of the major problems with NDK boats is that their layups are stiff, brittle and do not distribute impact loads well. The result is that a hard impact on an NDK will result in a crack or hole where the same impact on a more resilient layup that distributes stresses over a large area will result in little or no damage. If the impact is severe enough, even a more resilient layup will be damaged, but the failure modes is typically that the resin bond in the layup fails, resulting in a soft spot rather than a hole. The hull still maintains structural integrity and any leakage can be sealed by taping over the damaged area.

: I'm not clear what you mean when you say NDK's are poorly built. If you're
: saying the workmanship is shoddy in a way that effects structural
: integrity ... such as seams split from car topping, cockpit rims pop off
: etc. ... I've seen none of that.

I haven't seen either of those things, but here are some of the things that have been common in NDK boats:

- Missing fiberglass in some areas, such as behind the skeg box. I've seen boats that were nothing but gelcoat in that area.

- Cockpit rims installed so low in the deck that a spray skirt wouldn't fit under them. I've seen several with seriously crooked cockpit rims, some that were cut into the deck twisted and many that are higher on one side than the other.

- Seat breakage is so common that people regard the seats as disposable. You use it until it breaks, then you replace it with something better.

- Leaking bulkheads are very common.

- Cracked hatch rims. This inevitably happens where they rivet them in place, which should not be done with either VCP or Kajak Sport hatch rims, as it causes them to split.

There are more, but you get the point. While any manufacturer can have problems, when the same types of defects are common year after year, it's due to poor quality control, poor construction methods and a lack of concern for the customer, all of which are inexcusable.