It is a three-ply expedition-grade polyurethane material. It is one of the strongest materials that is possible to use in this application, and TRAK is the only company to construct kayaks with this robust, custom formulation. The TRAK 2.0 skin is welded using radio frequency and hot air welding technology without requiring any gluing or sewing. The keel comes with 3 layers of built-in protection. No keel strips required.
The result is an outer shell that is tough as nails, requires minimal maintenance, and is expected to last for decades of paddling in the toughest environments. It can be paddled along rocky shores, in coastal environments, and on lakes, rivers and oceans.
The frame has been engineered to be light weight and rigid, with colour-coding and a simplicity in its design to optimize the ease of set-up. It is constructed from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum. It has the same properties as used in the Boeing 777. The entire frame is treated (colour-anodized) to withstand salt and corrosion. We also pre-apply a coating of Inox MX5 to make it ultra corrosion-resistant.
One of the key innovations achieved with TRAK 2.0 is the improved rigidity and lighter weight components in the frame. The cross ribs are constructed from a composite structure made from carbon fibre. These new composite ribs offer great weight savings while increasing stiffness for a more consistent performance on the water.
Over the course of more than 2 years, we worked with a few engineering organizations and key suppliers to design our carbon fibre cross-rib technology. The result is a High Modulus Carbon fibre (HMC) construction of the rib which improves the integrity of the kayak, optimizing the energy transfer from each paddle stroke while achieving our goals in reducing weight, and transportability.
Our patented hydraulic tensioning system connects the bow and stern frame sections and adds tension to the skin, making the kayak highly rigid and eliminating drag. Continuing to pump the jacks will actually change the shape of the kayak, adapting its performance for paddling in surf and other dynamic conditions. With the kayak in a flatter configuration, it optimizes its effectiveness for longer touring and covering distance with speed and excellent tracking. This not-so-secret weapon makes the TRAK 2.0 an extremely versatile kayak.
The basic idea behind any hydraulic system is very simple: force that is applied at one point is transmitted to another point using an incompressible fluid. Our hydraulic jacks are self-contained pistons and work the same as other hydraulic equipment. The hydraulic jacks put pressure from the frame to the skin, creating tension and rigidity, and are used to alter the shape of the hull.