Our little rant regarding design.
There already exist many fine kayak designs and ideas. But sometimes, it takes a small tweak here or there to convert “fine” to extraordinary. Often a kayak will be produced that wins huge acclaim from expert paddlers only to be too “tender” or out of reach for the average paddler. Being told “you’ll grow into“ your boat only works for some; as many will wish they hadn’t relied upon this advice. That’s why Peregrine has reached out to some of the most experienced instructors and schools in the Great Lakes for critical feedback and suggestions. These pros see more of what goes wrong than of what goes right. In their focused vision, they want to deliver good skills to their clients and the kayak should not stand in the way of learning those skills. So when we sit down with our pro instructor and guide team we really don’t ask how they "feel" the kayak paddles. These pro’s could sit on top of a 2 by 4 and paddle it. We want to learn how YOU did with our kayaks and paddles. Did we make your experience on the water as comfortable and easy as possible? Did you find your Peregrine easy to turn and how was the glide? Our small group of dealers have also been hand-picked not because they sell a ton of kayaks but because they are actively involved with kayaking and will give us guidance. The fact that many US companies failed because they stopped listening is not lost on us.
In short, our products are designed by our customers, they just don't always realize how much input they have!
Is a Peregrine Kayak the right choice for you? You simply won’t know unless you paddle one and that is why our Test Centers have been established. These are not demos where you paddle as many kayaks as possible only to be confused and lose focus on what really matters. At our Test Centers you can take adequate time to evaluate every aspect of our kayaks and not be rushed as someone else needs to plunk their tush down in your kayak. Your Test Center Host will be able to answer your questions and guide you toward the best decision. It may come as a shock to some if your Host actually doesn’t recommend a Peregrine after spending time with you! He may feel there are better options based on your size or skills but in the end, you will still be part of our family and understand our kayaks and philosophy.