Kayak

Nautiraid Grand Raid 550 kayak

Folding Boats

Nautiraid supply the French military with the Grand Raid 550 kayaks for special forces they’re in black as they’re launched usually by submarines and have use cover of night and stealth when making towards their objectives. To lay mines or for the surveillance of enemy movements.

All of Nautiraid’s kayaks, canoes and coracles can be dismantled.

It only takes between 15 and 30 minutes to take a kayak out of its bag and assemble it.

This great feature means transport (in cars and on public transport) and storage (on sailing boats, in apartments, etc.) is much easier.

Nautiraid kayaks offer the same hydrodynamic characteristics as rigid boats while being as practical as an inflatable.

WOODEN FRAME
The wooden frames are all made from French ash wood. The ribs, stem and stern are cut from boat-quality Finnish birch plywood. Ash is used from the start of the building process due to its tension which means it can be bent and return to its original shape.

This wood is used for archery bows and tool handles, and was previously used for tennis rackets and skis. Ash is a fibrous wood that bends well and is hard to break. When it does break, it is not a clean break but a long break, meaning it can be easily repaired with lashing when necessary. Our wood is cut high up in the Alps, then air-dried before being machined.

As such, we think this frame is the most suitable for expedition kayaks because when you are far from civilisation you can always get by with a wooden frame.

Wood floats so a wooden frame helps keep the kayak afloat if it fills with water. The ash parts receive three coats of dipped varnish. The birch plywood parts get four. The Finnish birch plywood we use for ribs is 12mm thick and comprises 9 cross-laminated layers.

This wood’s durability is illustrated by the number of years a wooden frame can be used for. Sometimes we put a new skin on frames that are already 25 years old!

maintenance as they are mostly protected by the skin. When, from time to time, a part needs replacing, it is generally the centre keel or exposed cockpit parts.

A simple light sanding and one or two coats of varnish, and your frame is protected for another few years.

The metal hinges and joints are made from stainless steel and can withstand seawater without corroding.However, we recommend rinsing your boat under fresh water before repacking it.

Always store it in a dry, well ventilated area to avoid mould and rotting. Varnished wood has a particular style that adds charm to the wooden frames.

All Nautiraid single- and two-seater models with wooden frames pack into 2 carry bags (except Raid I 416 – 1 bag).