Owner’s Manual

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kayak anatomy

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EEThank youCONTENTS3 KayakAnatomy

4 Outfitting&Features

5 Transportation

6 Storage

7 Care&Maintenance

8 Safety

9 Accessories

10 Warranty

11 Service&Support

Thank you for choosing Perception. Now it’s time to embark on your adventures in the most dependable kayak on the market. At Perception, our

heritage of quality and innovation is built into every boat.

Kayaking is a fun and exciting way to experience the outdoors, or to enjoy an active means to hang out with friends and family. We hope you make the

most out of the opportunities available both close to home and afar.

With proper care, your Perception kayak will provide years of satisfaction. Most importantly, our kayaks are designed to grow with you, and with

proper knowledge and training there’s no limit to where you’ll end up.

Thisowner’smanualandadditionalinformationisavailableatwww.perceptionkayaks.com.

SIT ON TOPA: Carryhandles

B: Tankwellwithbungee

C: Seatingsystem

D: Footwells

E: Self-bailingscupperholes

F: SkidPlate

SIT INSIDEA: Carryhandles

B: Cargohatches

C: Seatingsystem

D: Safetylines

E: Bungee

F: Footbraces

G: Thighbraces

H: Cockpitcoaming

I: Rudder*

J: Rudderliftlines*

K: Bulkhead*

*Notavailableonallmodels

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transportationoutfitting & features

USING THE RUDDER SySTEM:Somekayakscomewithanoptionalfactoryruddersystemincluded.Aftermarketruddersystemsarealsoavailable.Please contact your local dealer for any questions regarding setup or installation, or visit www.perceptionkayaks.com for video instruction.Onceyourrudderisinstalled,usetheliftline(locatedontherightsideoftheboat,towardtherearofthecockpit)todroptherudderintothewaterbypullingitforward.Tooperatetherudder,usethefootbracepedals.Tomaintainastraightposition,bothpedalsshouldbeevenwitheachother.Tosteerthekayakright,pushtherightpedalawayfromyou.Tosteerthekayakleft,pushtheleftpedalawayfromyou.Allowthepedalthatisnotinusetoautomaticallymovetowardsyouwhentheotherpedalispushed.

SlIDElOCK FOOTBRACES:TheSlidelockfootbracesystemiseasytoaccessfrominsidetheboat.Findtheblackplasticrodthatisonthesideofthecockpitextendingfromthefootbrace.Liftitupandslideforwardorbacksoyourfootisrestingcomfortablyonthefootpegandthereisaslightbendinyourleg.Releasetherodtodropintopositionlockingthefootbrace.

KEEPERS™ FOOTBRACES:Theadjustmentleverislocatedonthebacksideofthefootpedal.Toadjust,squeezetheleverandslidethefootpegtothedesiredlocation.Releasethelevertolockitinplace.

KAJAK SPORT HATCH COvERS:Theindustrystandardinruggedhatches,theKajakSportoffers a reliable, water tight seal from the combinationofadoublesealingdesignandnext-generationmaterialconstruction.

HATCH COvERS:Toremovethecovers,findthetabandpeeloff.Toreplacethecover,hookitunderthehatchrimandpressitonfirmlytheentirewayaround.

ZONE SEATING:Thepaddedseatbackisraisedbypullingdirectlyuptoacomfortableheight,andreleasetolockintoplace.Higherseatbackpositionsarebestforrestingormoreleisurelypaddling.Tolowertheseatback,releasetheclipfromthegroovewhilepushingdownslowlyontheseatbackuntilitreachesthedesiredposition.SomeZoneseatingsystemshaveaforwardandbackadjustmentusingtheratchet-adjustmechanismtotherightwhilesittinginthecockpit.

ZONE DlX SEATING:Thepaddedseatbackadjustsforwardandbackwiththestrapbehindtheseatback.Tightenthebackrestbypullingforwardonthenylonstrapbehindtheseatorloosenitbypushingonthethumbtab.Forgoodrotationwhilepaddlingitshouldn’tbetootight.Thebackrestmayalsoberaisedbypullingthetogglestrapatthefrontoftheseatforwardandthebackrestcanbeloweredbypushingthechromebuttondown.Theleglifterslocatedatthefrontpartoftheseatareadjustedwiththetwostrapstothesidesoftheseat.Pulluptoraiseorpushonthethumbtabtolower.

ZONE EXP:Toadjustthebackbandfit,tightenorloosenthestrapwiththelargerwebbingladderlocksfoundonthebacksideofthestrap.Finetunetheheightadjustmentwiththethreesmallerwebbingstraps.Theadjustablethighpadsfoundonsometouringandseakayakmodelsareadjustedbyremovingthefrontscrewandlooseningthebackscrew.Slidethethighpadforwardorbackandinandouttofindacomfortableposition.Replacethescrewsandtighten.Agoodpositionforthethighpadisacoupleofinchesinfrontofyourkneecaporwhereit’smostcomfortable.

Seatingsystemsvarybymodel.If you need additional assistance on using the adjustment mechanisms, please visit our website at www.perceptionkayaks.com.

ROOF RACKAcrossbarroofrack(“sportsrack”),or“Jcradle”foryourvehicleisthebestmethodoftransportingakayak.Itshouldbelasheddownateachcrossbar,aswellasatthebowandsterntoeachendofthevehicle.Kayakcradlesarerecommendedforboatsbeingtransported“flat”tolessenchancesofdeformationfrombeinglashedtootightlytothebars.Rotomoldedkayakscanbetransportedontheiredgeorupsidedown(hullup)safelyusingkayakstackers.ForAiralitekayakswerecommendthattheybetransportedontheirbottomusingcradlestopreventdeformation.

USING FOAM BlOCK RACKSFoamblockrackscanbeusedfortransportingkayaksifextremecautionispracticedinriggingtheload.Theyshouldbewideenoughforadequatesupport.Theboatsmustbesecurelyattachedtothetopofthevehiclethroughthedoorsorwindowsandattachedsecurelytoboththefrontandbackofthevehicle.Ifthesetiedownpointsatthefrontandbackaren’tavailableonyourvehicle,foamblockracksshouldNOTbeused.

INClEMENT WEATHERIftravelingwheninclementweatheristhreatening,positionthekayakupsidedownifpossible.Akayakheavywithwatercanbecomedangerous.Useaportagecovertosealthecockpitifanupsidedownpositionisnotpossible.Periodicallycheckyourstrapstoensuretheyhavenotstretchedwhilewet.

ROTOMOlDED

ROTOMOlDED

AIRAlITE

IMPORTANT:Alwayscheckyourtiedownriggingoftenasropesandstrapsmayloosenintransport.

KAJAK SPORT HATCH COvERS

DUAl DENSITy HATCH COvERS

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care & maintenancestorageSHORT TERM STORAGEBesuretoemptythekayakofallwater.Thekayakmaybestoredonitssideorinaverticalpositiontemporarily.Storageinthesepositionsforanextendedperiodoftimecouldcauseflatteningordeformationinthesideofthehull.

lONG TERM STORAGEInadditiontoemptyingallwaterout,youshouldcleanthekayakbyrinsingwithfreshwaterespeciallyifthekayakhasbeenusedinsaltwaterorbecomesmuddy.Storeoutofdirectsunlightandindoors,ifpossible.UVexposurecanshortenthelifespanofanykayakandcandegradeitsfinish.Kayakscanbestoredslungontheirsidesviawebstraps,positioned1/3ofthewayalongthehull(asshown).Besuretonotleavestrapsorropestightlywoundaroundthehullforextendedperiodsoftimeasitmaycausedeformation.Yourkayakcanalsobestoredhullup(asshown)onparallelbarswithweightsupportedevenlythroughoutitslength.Forlargecockpit(recreational)boats,positionthebarssothatthecockpitcoamingrestsonthebars.Forsmallercockpitkayaks,positionbarssothattheycontactthedeckbetweenthecockpitandanyhatches.

CAUTION:Donotsuspendyourkayakbyusingthegrabloopsateitherendoftheboat.Thiscancausethehulltodistortovertime.

ROTOMOlDED KAyAK CAREOur“roto”kayaksaremadeofhigh-densitylinearpolyethylene,whichisvirtuallymaintenancefree.Aminimalamountofcareinstorageandtransportingwillhelpthekayakmaintainalike-newconditionformanyyears.Polyethylenewillbecomemoreflexiblewheninwarmconditionssuchasahot,sunnyday.Itispossibleforakayakstrappedtightlytoaroofracktotemporarilydeformattheweightbearingpoints.UseapaddedrigidbarsportrackinadditiontoakayakJcradleorsaddlestodispersetheweight.

AIRAlITE™ KAyAK CAREAiralitekayaksareco-extrudedhigh-impactacrylicoverpremiumimpactABS.Airaliteisthesamematerialusedinwhirpools,spas,andsomemarineparts;strongproofthatit’salong-lastingmaterialthatwillstanduptoanytypeofwater.Thismaterialcreatesakayakthat’slightandstifflikefiberglasswiththedurabilityofplastic.AiraliteTechnologyperfectlymeetstheuniquedemandsputuponthehullanddeck.AiraliteisalsoforumlatedwithadhesivesforadditionalflexibilityandUVresistance.AiralitekayakscanberepairedmuchinthesamewayasfiberglassorKevlarboats.Largecracksorholescanbepatchedwithafiberglasspatchkit,availablefrommostpaddlingormarinestores.BecauseAiralitehasanacrylictoplayer,gougesanddeepscratchescanbefilledwithanycyanoacrylate-typeadhesive,suchasSuperGlueGel.Suchadhesivesdryclear,andwithlightsurfaceworkafterthegluedries,becomealmostinvisible.Itcleansupeasilywithmildsoap.Fortougherspots,tryrubbingalcohol.DonotuseacetoneorothersloventsonAirlaite.

ClEANING Usually,aquickrinseoffreshwaterisallthatisnecessarytokeepyourhullcleanandfunctioningingoodorder.Thisisveryimportantafterpaddlinginsaltwater,especiallyifyourboatisoutfittedwitharuddersystem.Besuretothoroughlyrinsetherudder,ruddercables,andfootbraceswithfreshwatertoremovesaltresidue.Superficialscratchesmayoccur,butcanberemovedorreducedbyuseofamarineboatpolishdesignedforpolyethylenehulls.Sandingoruseofanabrasiverubbingcompoundisnotrecommended.Tokeepyourkayakshiningandminimizethelong-termdegradationcausedbyUVexposure,useanultravioletprotectantsuchas303Protectant.303canalsobeusedlightlyonthetopofthehatchesandontheseatoutfittingandplasticbucklesandstraps,inadditiontothekayakitself.303isavailableatyourlocalPerceptiondealeroronlineatwww.harmonygear.com.

WARNING:Avoiddraggingkayakacrossthegroundtoprolongitslifeandmaintainitslookandperformance.Twopeople,utilizingthecarryinghandles,isthebestwaytotransporttheboat.Alternately,youcantransportusingakayakcart,availableatyourdealer.

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accessoriessafety

Anypersonusingkayaksbuiltand/orsoldbyPerceptionispersonallyresponsiblefordeterminingthattheirabilitiesareequalorsuperiortotheconditionsencounteredandexercisingproperjudgmentinchoiceofwhereandwhentopaddle.Any person using Perception kayaks assumes all risks and takes complete responsibility for any and all damages, or injuries, including death, which may result from use of or participation in Perception kayaks.Consultyourphysicianpriortobeginningyourpaddlesporttraining.

DON’T:• Neverexceedyourabilityandassesshowfarand

howlongyoucanpaddleorswim.

• Neverpaddlealone.

• Neverconsumealcohol,drugs,oranyothersubstancethatmayaffectyourcoordination,judgment,orabilitywhenpaddling.

• Neverpaddleinfloodconditions.

• Neverallowminorstousetheboatwithoutadultsupervision.

• Avoidbracingyourselfinthekayakinsuchawaythatyouhavetoreleaseanyoutfittingtoescape.

• Donotimpairentryorexitaccesstothekayakwheninstallingadditionaloutfitting.

DO:• WearaCoastGuardapprovedpersonalflotation

device(PFD).

• Wearahelmetwhenpaddlingwhitewaterorintheocean.

• Getpaddlesportsinstructionfromalicensedorcertifiedinstructor.

• Dressappropriatelyforweatherconditions;coldwaterand/orweathercanresultinhypothermia.

• Checkyourequipmentpriortoeachuseforsignsofwearorfailure.

• Scoutunfamiliarwaters.Ifnecessary,paddletoshoreandcarryyourboatpastuncertainareas.

• Stayawareofappropriateriverwaterlevels,tidalchanges,dangerouscurrents,andweatherchanges.

• Followmanufacturer’srecommendationsforuseandoutfittingofyourkayak.

• Leaveyourpaddlinglocationandagendawithsomeoneathomebeforedeparting.

• Obtaincertifiedfirstaidandrescuetrainingandcarryfirstaidandrescueequipment.

WARNING:Kayakingcanbehazardouswithpotentialriskofseriousinjuryandevendeath.

OTHER ACCESSORIES:Thereareawidevarietyofaccessoriesdesignedforyourkayaktoenhancetheperformanceandoverallexperience.Notallaccessoriesareavailableforallmodels.

SPRAySKIRTForlongertripsorrougherconditions,asprayskirtiswornbythepaddlertocreateawatertightseal,preventingthecockpitfromfillingupwithwater.

DRy BAGUltra-lightandwater-resistantstorageforanextralevelofprotectionandaccessibilityforgear.

A complete line of our accessories can be found online at www.harmonygear.com.

ESSENTIAlS CHECKlIST:PERSONAl FlOTATION DEvICE (PFD)AUSCGapproved,comfortableandsecurefittingPFDshouldbewornatalltimes.ShorterPFDsareavailablethatareidealforkayakpaddling.

PADDlEChoosingapaddleisalmostasimportantasyourchoiceofboat.Bladeshape,length,weight,andmaterialallofferdifferentexperiences.Onlongertrips,itisstronglyrecommendedthatyouhaveasparepaddlethatcanbeeasilystowedonyourdeck.

SAFETy EqUIPMENTUSCGregulationsrequireanaudiblesignaldevice(ahornorwhistle)tobeusedinallwatercraft.Inaddition,itisrecommendedthatallpaddlerscarryabilgepump(todrainwaterfromthekayak),andapaddlefloat.Besuretosecuretrainingintheoperationofapaddlefloat.

PERSONAl GEARTherearemanyitemsthatyoumaywishtotakewithyouonapaddlingtrip.Yourlocation,lengthofjourney,groupsize,weather,etc.willallplayapartinthis“essentialslist.”

•Drinkingwater•Snacks•Extraclothesinadrybag•Maporchart•First-Aid•Matches•SunprotectionTohelpyoulearnaboutthelogisticsofapaddlingtripandcorrectpaddlingtechniquewestronglyrecommendagoodbeginner-levelpaddlingcoursefromacertifiedinstructor.

59504170 ©2011 Confluence Watersports

Confluence Watersports111 Kayaker WayEasley, SC 29642www.perceptionkayaks.com