Am looking for Belizians / resort owners / tour operators who would want to own a small fleet of "glass bottom" kayaks to rent out for reef excursions. These kayaks have a transparent bottom which offers a crystal clear window to the reef below. Would be very popular for anyone who wants to paddle the reef and see what's down there...
I can be reached at
[email protected] kayak info
The last person who tried this found out that it is a very dangerous enterprise due to people being supine on a piece of plastic which has a height of 12 inches above the water(including the kayaker)-the speed boats etc. just cannot see these kayaks-IMO a major disaster waiting to happen-CRUNCH
Pedro,
Never had a problem with the many hundreds now in the Keys, the Caymans, and Hawaii. These boat are red, yellow and orange and made to be visible on the surface and made to view the ocean below. And we are the first to build such a boat !!
They look a lot better than the ones I was talking about-how much?
They might be a nice addition to Pedros Pond.
The 2 seater Caribe versions rigged out with 2 seats and 2 paddles would be about $1000 each delivered to Belize City including duty to the government for 4 or more boats at a time. That's about the same price they sell for retail in the states at canoe/kayak dealers. People who rent them out in the Keys and Caymans pay for them in a few weeks. These are high quality enduring boats with windows to the reef below.
Kayaker
kayak web page
...are these Lexan??? If so, how do you keep 'em from getting all scratched if they come in contact with something abrasive, like sand???
This is not ballistic grade Lexan, but close. You can scratch the bottom if you try but the bottom is slightly concave so only the sides actually touch the bottom when the boat is flat on the ground. Obviously you wouldn't want to drag the boat across the sand. It's better to just lift it. The big 12' 2 person Caribe only weighs 63 pounds and has carrying handles on bow and stern. What scratches do occur on the bottom side of the hull disappear when wet.
The top side can be cleaned with polish that takes scratches out, but you would want to avoid the obvious things like walking all over sand on the transparent bottom. It's a specialy boat that does require a little consideration for its uniqueness, but not much. After years of wear, the lexan can be easily and quickly replaced for $200. The thought engineers put into this boat is something you find out with use !
Order me an invisible kayak for Pedro1!!
I think this sounds like a great idea. we have an inflatable with a lexan bottom that has been used by many for years with great results. Unfortunately, the "inflatable" part is its Achilles heel. The kayak idea sounds more durable.
Where can you buy these things in the states?
To find one in the states, just go to
http://www.clearkayak.com and email Andy. He or I will get one to you. Plus, I'll have one in Ambergris the last 2 weeks of February if you want a beautiful ride on the reef.
I have acouple of Stearns Inflatable Kayaks in San Pedro. The problems are that the "inflatable" is highly influenced with the winds and being so low in the water, one can not see much under water, even with crystal clear waters.