C-Forum

Just talking to a friend about boats and he asked why the Spark is only available in camouflage. Anybody know why?

The Spark is made of Royalite and not royalex. Royalite, I believe is offered in less colors than royalex, the sheets are spec'd in a certain way and most likely instead of offering different colors and having to spec multiple colors they use only camo, probably got the best deal, to keep cost reasonable, especially in a market that is not huge as we all know. This is partially a guess, maybe someone that is closer with Esquif might have the exact answer.
B

cbcboat wrote:The Spark is made of Royalite and not royalex. Royalite, I believe is offered in less colors than royalex, the sheets are spec'd in a certain way and most likely instead of offering different colors and having to spec multiple colors they use only camo, probably got the best deal, to keep cost reasonable, especially in a market that is not huge as we all know. This is partially a guess, maybe someone that is closer with Esquif might have the exact answer.
B

That sounds pretty much like what Eli told me some time back.

Why the heck didn't they pick red? Everybody *knows* that is the fastest color! Or was it that camo was the closest approximation to Kaz's splatter color scheme available?

My friend was thinking that the color scheme might impede sales, but I disagree - I think people that want a Spark would buy it regardless of the color.

The Spark is at heart a racing canoe. The camo pattern on the Royalite was slightly faster than non patterened sheeting (less drag for some reason). At least that's what I was told many moons ago when the Spark just came out.

I heard the same story that Eric did, just can't remember where/when. But that may be a TOG brain thing.

But Eric, you once told me that glass smooth boats coasted better than rough boats. Is there something to the slightly-rough theory after all??

A camo Spark is smooth. In fact I believe it has less texture than regular Royalex which is slightly bubbly.

Quick way to test the theory of smooth for speed. Take a smooth boat, go paddle it with a GPS and mark your speed. Run 60 grit sandpaper over the hull, retest with GPS. Say "oh crap" when the roughed up boat is slower

Only at very fast speeds (in excess of normal paddlecraft) will a rough skin prove an advantage. It will break up the surface tension and let the boat skim past easier. At paddling speeds it will increase surface tension since we're not plysically strong enough to exceed the theoretical hull speed of the craft.

Sbroam, you win. You are correct about the splatter pattern.
JKaz

I would say the Spark color could have some impact on sales.
Me personally I would like one after test driving one recently but I'm not wild about the camo. Since I have 2 other boats on my wish list the Spark has dropped to 3rd place. I was hoping by the time I'm ready to buy one the color might be different.

Natalie

Kaz - thanks, you can ship that new Spark to Lexington, SC...

Natalie - I think we could fix that color problem with 2-3 cans of the krylon plastic paint! But you already have a hot Millbrook racer?!

Why Camo, because it's faster, the acrylic film vulcanized over the Royalite provide a far better glide then the porous Royalite, it's is also harder to scratch. The Spark project was and still a non compromise slalom canoe. We had in mind creating the fastest plastic slalom canoe. At some point a manufacturer got to remind what is the essence of a project
Thank's

Jacques Chasse
Esquif canoes

The boat's width and stability also make it a good choice for hunting ducks.


Actually, I was razzing a paddling colleague about the color. He told me that the camoflauge had one advantage: "When I'm off in the tumblebrush, the locals don't see me as a yuppie kayaker. Instead, I'm one of them."

sbroam wrote:Why the heck didn't they pick red? Everybody *knows* that is the fastest color!

Yellow boats are WAY faster than red boats.

Scott,

I was thinking that I want to save the Ignitor for racing and get the Spark for those runs where I don't want to abuse the race boat. It would also give me the option of another class at Nationals.

I also have a Makao Jr. and a Prowler on my wish list.

Hmmm, so many boats, not enough money to buy toys with.

Natalie