OKreally

To sell a non CE approved product that is bound by CE regulations means that the unit being sold does not comply with the law in the European country it is being sold in therefore making it an illegal import. To buy illegally imported goods is a similar offence to purchase of illegally obtained goods - more commonly known as stolen. There are genuine & practical reasons for this as well. Let me give you a couple of examples & I can only relate to our own products. The Humminbird Smartcast unit that is sold in the US works on an entirely different frequency to that used in the UK. The reason being that in the UK that frequency is very close to that used by Air Traffic Control to the degree that it could interfere thus it's illegal to use & therefore to sell. CE approval ensures that this can't happen. Another example - a boat owner bought from someone who advertised themselves as an authorised Humminbird dealer on ebay...when his unit did not configure with his Navionics chart he came to us to find out why. US units are configured for US measurement & would not relate to European. They are also configured so that they won't interfere with other CE approved navigational & radio instruments. The ebay 'dealer' told him tough & disappeared, incidentally! It would be cheaper & easier for us just to produce one style of unit that worked everywhere - due to differing regulations worldwide this is not possible. The units produced with a CE mark are built on seperate production runs to a different & higher standard because they have to be ...this is borne out by the fact that the warranty in the UK is double that in the US. People who have bought US units (& the basic models do work albeit illegally) read the warranty to find that the warranty extends to the US borders so if something does go wrong it needs to be sent back to the US or else be a paid for repair. Sorry if this sounds like doom & gloom - it's not at the hanging end of offences committed & everyone has a choice of whether to comply with the law - it happens every time you get in a car! I only wished to point out that we, as distributor, see the disappointment first hand when things go wrong & whilst ebay has many good points & honest sellers the description bya a customs & excise officer who we deal with on a regular basis of an 'electronic car boot sale' with all that implies is equally apt. Please don't accept an explanation as I described originally - ask for proof. I can guarantee it won't be forthcoming & if you want to let us know the name of the dealer who tried to con you we'll be happy to pass it on to tha aforementioned officer...he has extensive powers! Now it's got long & boring - I hope this answers the question Andrew Johnson Outdoors UK

NB - Be wary of ebay sellers & electronics. For transducers there is not generally a problem but if buying a fish finder ALWAYS ask if it is CE approved & don't be fobbed off with 'it doesn't have to be...or it's no different' . All units HAVE to be CE approved & it's an offence to sell non approved units just as it is an offence to use them. As Humminbird distributor we get a number of calls weekly from people who have been conned in this way. Regards Andrew Johnson Outdoors UK

I don't wish to contradict a generally well researched & comprehensive reply but I have to correct one of the statements below - namely that neoprene is not waterproof & acts like a sponge. I worked for 8 years at Gul selling both dry & all forms of wet suits & can assure you that neoprene is waterproof - the only variable is the form of stitching used. Blind stitching - as used in waders, 'steamer' winter & 3 season suits ensures that the only water that comes in comes through zips (if not dry zips), seepage past seals or up from ankles. The stitching does not penetrate right through the neoprene & the seams are glued. I have worn a 5mm/3mm steamer windsurfing all day THAT FITTED WELL & had 90% of the neoprene dry (a tad sweaty, perhaps!) when I peeled it off. The other forms of stitching are flatlock, mauser & overlock with some variations on these & are designed to let in water when air & water temperature are such that the body is capable of heating it between the insulative layer & works as described. Crushed neoprene is just that...largely for decorative & occasionally flexibility reasons. All that being said I'd use a one or 2 piece drysuit combination for really cold water. The down side being that a wetsuit warms beautifully when p**** in..the drysuit is just disgusting!! Regards Andrew Johnson Outdoors

Guys I am always reluctant to post business matters on an enthusiasts forum but I'd like to try & set out the position of Johnson Outdoors/Ocean Kayak or any of our brands re problems whether immediate or when concerned for the future. I usually try & reply individually to anyone who contacts us with any issues but I'm afraid that these few weeks have been fairly hectic, I have just returned from the Humminbird/Minn Kota/Cannon International dealer meeting in Alabama & have gone straight to the Southampton Boat Show & next week is our annual audit so please forgive the generalised response. Firstly on the issue of thin spots on the boats - I am in contact with the factory in New Zealand who are looking at & testing the boats that are out there. To date we haven't had any actual failures due to these & would certainly institute an instant recall if there were any danger. We continue to monitor the feedback from users including that from forum members worldwide - I welcome the chance to talk re your experiences both bad & good...my email address is to reply to my AN forum address here or directly to adron@johnsonoutdoors.co.uk . The question, I suspect ,is more one of longevity. To this end I stress once again - THERE IS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON OCEAN KAYAK PRODUCTS COVERING DEFECTS IN MATERIAL & MANUFACTURING PROCESS....I don't know what happens after four years & 364 days because if there is a defect it usually shows up fairly quickly & we repair or replace as per the needs of the customer. I say repair because sometimes a simple, professional repair to a fitted out boat is more convenient after some time than a replacement. We stand by our products as I hope our past record will testify. I note with gratitude those people that have posted here after experience of dealing with us or through our dealer network - thank you. For the doubters please accept my word that I am the only employee or representative of Johnson Outdoors that has spoken or can speak for the company, the rest of the posters are speaking as they find both bad & good as I have welcomed above. If you have doubts or reservations please address them to me & I'll do my best to answer them. This principle applies to all Johnson Outdoors products that we handle & all such products worldwide. We pride ourselves on being innovators..certainly we have been first to venture in to many of the kayak angling markets over the ten plus years we have produced angler edition models. One problem about being a leader is that, at times, we find the issues in useage that we have to cure whilst those that follow/copy have that done for them! We will continue to try & set the pace, a vastly experienced team works through from concept to production but sometimes issues arise from day to day use. That's what the warranty is for. I hope that this helps. I will be back in the office as of Monday for a couple of weeks until the Tackle & Gun Show so will be happy to be contacted there. Office number is +44(0)1493 745192, if you don't get through please leave a message & I'll get back later. Email address above. Thanks for reading..I'll go back to being an enthusiast member now!! Andrew Dron Johnson Outdoors UK

Hi - If you are the email address with mention of a gardener in it then please check your hotmail account. I replied this afternoon on receipt of Roger's email & have copied him on it. Please do feel free to contact me by phone if anything is not clear. Hopefully on reading it it will become self-explanatory. The parts you have only require a battery to make them come to life for instant use. For general information - There are two versions of the Elite, only one that we have at the moment & that is because when the boats were ordered some nearly three months ago there was only the one - the fishing ready version was just a concept. The boats take 8-12 weeks on the water so it's not possible to order for the next day. The parts are being flown up by air & will be here in the near future, hopefully next week. It is true that while the Elite is exactly the same price as the Prowler 15 despite the extra features, the fitted version will, not unnaturally, be more expensive...sort of a Ghia as opposed to a GLX perhaps? I am sorry if anything has been confusing - check out the www.johnsonoutdoors.co.nz - It does make it quite clear that the two versions have different prices. Regards Andrew

Scupper Pros are due next week, Elites are ex-stock with more arriving on the same container from NZ. Apologies for private mail...I don't like to sound like I'm advertising on the main site. Mr Everett has promised shark teeth imprints in his new Elite to prove he's lost virginity!! Cheers Andrew (Johnson Outdoors)

I'll try & answer the bits I know about! No - these boats are rotomoulded, not blow moulded. As SDD correctly said a whole lot of cash goes in to R&D & prototyping plus the capital cost of a mould tool is many tens of thousands of dollars & lasts varyingly between 10 & 40000 boats dependent on complexity..they are regularly refurbished during this time. The ovens are generally gas run..check out a recent bill? They also cost a tad more than the average microwave. Would that we could sell the numbers that kiddy playhouses sell in...It's a great sport but the percentage of kayaks sold as compared with play houses is diminutive. Our cheapest model is £249 BTW. You're right to be cynical but the other reason that a lot of boats are similar prices (although do check this a little more carefully) could be that they use similar quantities of the same material bought from the same suppliers & are made in the same style of ovens operated by the same number of people...the savings are in the quantities produced..hence check prices carefully! I've never fished from a play house but it might be good value? Hoping there is some valid information amongst the tongue in cheek reply. Regards Andrew (Johnson Outdoors)

Prowler Elite containers with the main stock quantities will arrive with us tomorrow - had some luck with customs clearance & truck availability for a change!! The first few have already been delivered from the 6 that arrived earlier this week. Regards Andrew Johnson Outdoors (They do look good but then I would say that....!)

Patrick - I have emailed you on your private mail address. Regards Andrew

With respect, Patrick, this is not the case. As with a greenhouse or poly tunnel there will be condensation formed where there is a temperature difference between outside & in. You open the doors of a greenhouse - the condensation disappears...open the hatch on the kayak & it will clear in the same way. Salt does attract dampness & the kayak will smell fresher for the washing out but you'll never dry far up in to the front & rear sections, hence condensation. To minimise this you could try leaving the hatch off &/or the bung undone. On some of the OK boats (US manufacture) we supply the screw in bung with a tiny breather hole to minimise the effect of putting a hot hull in to cold water. I hope this helps explain your problem..your boat is a she so it is glowing..not sweating or perspiring!! Regards Andrew Johnson Outdoors

Mark, a tip on the flapping strap -If you need to go under the roof bar (I do this a lot with a stack of two or three high) wrap the strap around the bar once or twice. Much quieter & you still have some paint left on your roof when you arrive! Cheers Andrew

Very...I live between Yarmouth & Lowestoft. I thought it looked like Fisher's Row down by the old tea gardens. Good to see you starting them young! Cheers Andrew

Is that Oulton Dyke? Some great inlets around there that can easily be accessed by kayak but not much bigger. Regards Andrew

Hope this helps..Try & get a user-friendly buoyancy aid, a lot of them are over foamed at the front to allow swimming on your back - not ideal for kayaking!www.oceankayak.com Sorry - I'm crap at attachments. Follow the link to Kayaking Basics & the re-entry section. Cheers Andrew

The C-Tug is 120kg (approx 250 lbs). You'll be able to carry your catch as well! The makers claim to have tested to 250kg.

The guys are doing it for a good cause (as stated). We (Johnson Outdoors) offered to lend them a Zest 2 as the Malibu XL is, as has been said, a stable & fun platform but not suited to overly long distances...certainly not the 40-50 miles that can be the distance allowing for tidal drift etc,. To their credit these guys declined on the grounds that they already had an XL & would be happier if we contributed towards the cause...which is why a a sunrise Frenzy has been adorning the malls of Kent with a couple of nutters selling tickets to guess the time taken to have a chance of winning - they are very persuasive!! A full size support boat is accompanying them so it should be a safe trip & they've done a lot of coastal training - I did it years ago on a sailboard & it's fine if you pick your day. I've heard rumours of an Irish Sea crossing...have suggested to said nutter (he knows who he is!) that he turns it in to a 'spin for mackerel competition'. Such was the confidence that he reckoned he couldn't paddle with that weight of fish behind!! First person to troll the channel ina kayak?!?

Relax Guys - It's not true! We get them from 3 different factories &, as yet, not one of them has come up with this. If one did there are still two more & we order up to 10 months in advance so it real;ly is not going to happen. Regards Andrew (JO UK)

Nucleus in Clacton - 01255 812146 Collect weekly from distribution centre where there is stock of Predator 111 if that's the one chosen. Good luck!!

Elton - your private mail box is 'full or switched off'. Is it possible to clear it so that I can mail you? Many thanks Andrew

Guys - Forgive my intrusion on to your forum - usually I log on as an enthusiast just to read but I'd like to try to clarify the 'where does it come from' question with reference to the Prowler 13 models. 1) Prowler 13 is made in the US & New Zealand. 2) The US model has been completely remodelled following the problem batch last year. Please bear in mind that the issue affected a few hundred models out of around 60,000+ produced and that there are a great many out there that didn't have any problems. Anyone who has had a problem has been offered a replacement, a loan boat, an upgrade to a 15 at no extra charge or their money back. There may be a few unused boats out there that may still have problems & they will, of course, be covered by the same warranty. If any problems occur the first call should be to the retailer that it was bought from. They'll facilitate the change as soon as is practical. 3) The reason that boats are imported from various factories is that no one factory can keep up with the demand at all times of the year and cope with their domestic demand as well. Currently we are getting boats from both the US & NZ (both hemispheres - seasonally opposite) to try & keep up with demand. 4) The way to tell which comes from where is quite easy...the NZ ones do not have an 'Angler' graphic & the serial number at the stern of the boat states that it is made in New Zealand. There are also American non-angler models without the graphics that can be converted very easily to angler spec as they have all the inserts, flat areas etc to allow home conversion. The extra you pay for is the cost of the flush mount rod holders & the tackle box that come with it. This is the way to vary the colourways that are offered - buy a standard one & convert. 4) Models vary slightly, both the NZ & US are new moulds, both will work exactly the same but there are little differences such as scupper shape/size, extra inserts etc, different rod mounts... at certain times we'll be able to offer a choice, other times we'll be grateful for what we can get so my advice would be to have a second or third choice of colour. Please bear in mind that it takes around two months on the water from New Zealand & about a month from NW America so if it's not on order or on the way it can be a long wait! We have containers booked up to ten months ahead &, dependent on demand & mould use, can alter the content up to about a month in advance. 5) It's the US models that are tank tested. Since the dodgy batch (intermittently faulty computer programme) all models are fitted out then placed in a water tank. A padded hydraulic arm then forces the boat under to deck level while air is pumped through the front drain bung. I think we are the only company that does this. I hope this answers the major questions...as far as we know there are no models from the dodgy batch still out there...if there are then we'll replace them through the dealers. Any boats that have arrived since Xmas will be from the new US moulds or the New Zealand mouldwhich is also new. The next container due this week will be from the US..the next NZ container will be in mid May..I think (it's still their summer down there!!) & then who knows..I'm at the NEC & don't have my container schedules here! Please ask the dealers if you have any questions or issues, that's what they are there for - they'll ask us if they are not sure of the answer. We'd love to talk to everyone but if we did we'd never get the boats out!! Regards Andrew Johnson Outdoors UK