Struer glides into Australia

Holland’s Tonke Campers isn’t the only European company relying on tall timber to entice outdoor enthusiasts to part with their hard-earned.

Danish timber boat builder Struer has been producing streamlined, wooden kayaks since cabinet makers Sv. Helge Kobberup and Gerhard Sørensen founded the company in 1947.

As one of the world’s oldest performance kayak manufacturers, the company still employs the same skills to craft its beautiful vessels.

"The boats are as stiff as a carbon boat and highly competitive, still coming in under the minimum 12kg sprint weight,” says Justin Hocevar, director of Performance Canoes & Kayaks (PCK), the Australian distributor for Struer products since May this year.

Struer has an impressive competition history, with a number of athletes winning Olympic medals in the company’s boats, including Australia’s Clint Robinson, who picked up gold at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

While still specializing in performance kayaks, Struer branched out into the touring kayak market in 2001 and PCK has a range of touring models available including the Active, Angel and Sea Cruiser, Struer’s first ever sea kayak produced in mahogany veneer and priced at $10,600.

PCK had on display at the National 4x4 & Outdoors Show and Fishing & Boating Expo in Melbourne in early September the latest Struer K1 Power X, which retails for $6900, “about the same price as a carbon fibre equivalent,” said Hocevar.

The most expensive Struer available in Australia is the K2 Force, which costs $12,300. Measuring 650cm long by 41cm wide and weighing 17.5kg, the K2 Force’s patented hull was developed with Force Technology and is claimed to make it three per cent faster than other kayaks under the same power – or worth an extra half a boat length in a 500 metre final.

PCK has a number of demo units and stock available at its Melbourne headquarters.


• Got some RV news or released a new product? Email chris.fincham@carsales.com.au