Seeing my Kids Again

Hard to believe it has been 21 years since I designed my first production kayak. The Hop on Top 16’ hit the market at the perfect time. In the 1990s there was huge growth in the kayak industry, and the big boys were stuck in their marketing team ruts. This opened the door for me to come out with a boat for the people. Sure sit inside kayaks are what the Eskimo used and what the so call “pure British” type boats push for rough conditions. Well I was not and am still not convinced that sit inside kayaks are what most people want. So I designed what “I” wanted to paddle, and designing that way has never failed me.

Next came the 18’ Hop on Top, 12’ Hop on Top, and 12 more designs I did for Heritage Kayaks who eventually bought Hop on Top and then hired me to run the company as president/designer. All of these kayaks were designed for the beginner to high-end paddler to use every day, and each filled a specific gap in the market.

So when I was headed to the best for a windsurfing session and saw four of my Expedition 17’ kayaks a few weeks ago on the local beach made me smile. I went over right away and was pleased to see how well they held up, and very happy that they are being used and enjoyed. The last time I saw four Expedition 17’ kayaks together was in 2001 at the factory.

In the picture you can see the couple that owned all four kayaks walking down to find out who was inspecting their boats so closely. “Can I help you?”

“Hi, I am Paul, the father of these four kids.” Didn’t that get a funny look? Then I explained I was the designer, and they told me about their adventures with the kayaks. They first purchased two so they could paddle together, then purchased two more so they could take friends out too. They repeated something I hear all the time about my designs: “There’s nothing else like these on the market now, when are you going to design more?” They were psyched when I said I was again designing kayaks, SUP, and small boats.

It always warms my heart when I see people truly enjoying my designs. That afternoon the windsurfing was great, and I left the beach with a smile about the small world of boats and design.