Sono qui di seguito riportati interessanti testi sull'origine del progetto "Forti".
In October 2014, Valley anounced the development of the Nordkapp Forti to celebrate 40 years of Nordkapp production.
From their press release - "2015 will be the 40th launch anniversary of undoubtedly the most influential sea kayak ever produced, the Nordkapp! Designed specifically for a 500 mile sea kayak expedition up the Norwegian coast, to the northern most point of Scandinavia, the Nordkapp marked the beginning of sea kayaks being designed specifically for extended recreational sea kayak trips.
Whilst, in these intervening years, the Nordkapp cemented its reputation as the benchmark “Expedition” sea-kayak, there were still some who believed it had, had its day. For the kayak’s 25th anniversary it went through a major face lift, in part this was to make it more user friendly, as it had gained a reputation for being unstable, especially with lighter paddlers or those paddling predominantly unladen. This Nordkapp Jubilee, as it was called, again proved very popular but some traditionalists felt that it had lost some of the originals soul. The release of the LV, some years later, gave back the liveliness those traditionalists felt they were missing but there were still those who missed something intangible, about the original.
In these past few years, whilst archiving some of Valley’s history and recording the evolution of its range, we were able to systematically look at the chronological development of the Nordkapp model. What came to light was quite revealing and has ultimately led us to produce this new 40th anniversary version! "
here. It is interesting to compare the boats.
Nordkapp
Taking Sea Kayak
Design “Back To The Future!”
2015 will be the 40th launch anniversary
of undoubtedly the most influential sea kayak ever produced, the Nordkapp!
Designed specifically for a 500 mile sea kayak expedition up the Norwegian
coast, to the northern most point of Scandinavia, the Nordkapp marked the
beginning of sea kayaks being designed specifically for extended recreational
sea kayak trips.
Whilst, in these intervening years, the
Nordkapp cemented its reputation as the benchmark “Expedition” sea-kayak, there
were still some who believed it had, had its day. For the kayak’s 25th
anniversary it went through a major face lift, in part this was to make it more
user friendly, as it had gained a reputation for being unstable, especially with
lighter paddlers or those paddling predominantly unladen. This Nordkapp
Jubilee, as it was called, again proved very popular but some
traditionalists felt that it had lost some of the originals soul. The release
of the LV, some years later, gave back the liveliness those traditionalists
felt they were missing but there were still those who missed something
intangible, about the original.
In these past few years, whilst archiving
some of Valley’s history and recording the evolution of its range, we were able
to systematically look at the chronological development of the Nordkapp model. What
came to light was quite revealing and has ultimately led us to produce this new
40th anniversary version!
Before starting, we looked at, measured and
paddled the Nordkapp ‘Classic’, effectively the last production version of the
‘HS’ version, supposedly the original version and a model still in production
until relatively recently in Valley’s ‘classic range’. Whilst it was responsive and agile on the
water, both primary and secondary stability were poorer than the current model.
In itself, that wasn’t surprising, given that the ‘Jubilee’ version set out to
improve on the stability of this design. What was apparent, however, was that the
stability was less than would be appropriate, for a kayak designed as a rough
water expedition kayak. At first, we just thought this might be us being unduly
critical or not taking into account, how far designs had advanced over the
years. However, other things weren’t quite ‘right’ the back deck was quite rounded
and high. Surely, this couldn’t be, the low rear decked, easy rolling original
Nordkapp that older paddlers fondly remembered! Then we noticed the hung glass
seat was quite high off the hull. Slowly but surely we started to realise that
the design must have changed noticeably from the original.
In hindsight, the reasons are fairly
obvious. This model was one of the most popular kayaks of all time and had been
in constant production for over thirty years. Over those years many features
had been added or changed; different hatches, deck-line recesses, areas for
fitting compasses added etc. these improvements, coupled with the need to change
moulds, as they became worn-out, had led to countless rounds of: producing a
new plug from the mould, modifying it to add a new feature and then making a
new mould. Even taking the upmost care, the shrinkage in resins meant each
round of this process results in a slight pulling-in of radii and surfaces , this
tends to accentuate all features i.e. over time a slightly rounded rear deck,
becomes more noticeably rounded. The keel ‘V’ becomes more acute. The gunnels
pull-in and show less flare etc. So each incarnation is very slightly different
than the one before, an incremental process repeated again and again, over the
years!
Whilst the changes above were
unintentional, The Jubilee changes were very intentional but again, in
hindsight, many of these were probably only deemed necessary because of those
incremental changes that had crept in unnoticed. In short, the recent Nordkapp
classic or HS as it was originally called, wasn’t the true original Nordkapp design.
Yet it was this mutated design that was used as the basis for the Jubilee and then
the later LV. Given all the change, popular though these new models were, is it
any wonder, some felt it had lost something of its soul.
With the 40th anniversary
approaching, we wanted to do something special but given the above, we equally
wanted to understand what made the very original model such an instant success.
Neither the original blueprints nor the original mould survive today, so the
next best thing would be to track down and paddle the earliest possible example
we could. Earlier this year, following a chance approach, we purchased back, a
Nordkapp from the very earliest mould. Paddling it was a revelation; tracking,
stability and trim on the water, were all felt to be better than either; the
current version or the ‘Classics’ that were recently in production. When viewed
next to the current model, visually the later appeared to have become a
caricature of the original, features had clearly been emphasized; the fish-form
was more pronounced and had moved further forward, the ends thinned more dramatically
in plan-view and there was much more rocker, especially in the bow above the
waterline. In contrast, if you looked beyond the original’s metal hatches and
ocean cockpit, the actual lines were, if anything, more contemporary, cleaner
and more flowing. Just a very ‘sweat’ look.
From that very first paddle, we decided,
the ‘New’ Nordkapp could not be based on the current model but instead would be
based on that very first incarnation. The hull we’ve hardly touched, the deck,
only to incorporate the modern hatch layout and cockpit.
Effectively the Nordkapp Førti, is the kayak that we’d produce today, if
we were given the original blueprints and the original design brief. After all,
the sea hasn’t changed!
Is it better than the
original? No, put simply, it’s just as good as ever!
http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk/nordkapp/art_nordkapp.htm
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=115676
Hi All,
Just thought I would give some information from the horse’s mouth.
The Hull on the new Forti is, as close to the original NordKapp, as humanly possible. The deck layout, hatches, cockpit etc. are obviously based on our newer models BUT deck heights, seat position (i.e. the balance of the kayak) etc. are, again, as close to the original as possible.
By original, I mean the kayaks from the very first mould that were used on the original Nordkapp expedition.
Graham T asked when was the original in production until? In theory, until a couple of years ago but being pedantic, the only originals will be ones from the first mould, taken off the first plug. Every time a change was done, that required a new plug then new mould to be made, incremental and unintentional design changes will have taken place. So when deck recesses were incorporated, rubber hatches, compass recesses etc. i.e. 30 plus years of incremental change. So yes, Nordkapps, sold as HS’s or classics, were the original but with some incremental changes that unintentionally crept in. This will be equally true of any fibreglass kayaks, of any manufacture, that have had revision since their launch.
Douglas Wilcox shows pictures of a very early, no hatches, Nordkapp and comments on its lack of similarity. The Nordkapp was available, with or without hatches originally. Certainly that kayak's hull will be very similar to the new Forti. The ‘Red’ Boat further up in the thread is a HM, again early. HM meaning Hatches Modified i.e. with the hull modified to give the effect of having a fixed skeg. With modern retractable skegs, there is no point having a modified ‘fixed skeg’ hull.
The trouble with trying to draw comparisons form these pictures is; firstly, the deck and what it does or doesn’t have on it, has more visual impact than the hull. Secondly, the angle the image is taken from and the angle of the light (creating shadows) distorts things like the relative length of bow to stern and the shape/flow of the chine area.
I can say without any doubt (because I did it) the new Forti is based on one of the very earliest examples of the Nordkapp. I can say this because the kayak used as the basis for the plug was of the exact same spec. as those used for the Nordkapp expedition i.e. metal hatches, no recessed deck fittings, deckline running through ‘glassed in’ pvc pipe. The same removable ‘tube’ holder behind the paddler etc. All, as per, the detailed spec’s described in the expedition’s official report. Interestingly, by the Cape Horn expedition, a couple of years later, the Nordkapps used, already had some little changes, recessed deck fittings being the most obvious.
Anyone wanting further information or a pdf copy of the Nordkapp expeditions original report can always email us directly at Valley.
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