Smoothy 6'1 Bliss-stick Playboat
Designed by Richard Sage from Bliss-stick and shaped into Production by Matt McCrossan, along with a vast crew who have worked hard behind the scenes producing this new innovative Playboat. The Smoothy is our answer to the Specialist 6'0 that we intended on doing, but as the new boat took its shape , it ended up having a whole new meaning to what we were doing, so the new Smoothy is far from the features of the wicked little Specialist 5'9.
The biggest attack was in the hull which is comparable to the Superrad 180 in width but is longer in length and with more tail rocker, the overall boat is 6'1 which lands it right smack in the middle of the Rad 180 and Rad 185 length.
The nose is where the name Smoothy originates, with nice clean and simple lines. The tail has been nipped in the bud in width.... So really the whole Smoothy is like nothing we have made before, it is a playboat of its own right, and we know that its going to fit and perform to a vast range of paddler sizes, with its near 200 ltr (52 gal )capacity.
The cockpit rim has been lifted to allow for thighbrace comfort and extra leg room, but this extra volume will also act as a built in Freestyle beach ball, for making the huge pops and looping moves.
The New Smoothy is only being offered in its own flavour of selected colors ... what will your flavour be? ..... Apple, Bannana, Orange, Strawberry, Blueberry or Raspberry this new color range is made with a white base and the flavour is flecked in ... giving a natural looking, asceticly pleasing, ass kicking kayak.
Matty laying in the final clean up and sanding of the pattern, days before being sent off to the foundry where they cast the aluminum mold.
From the conception of the plug right through to being able to mold the first kayak takes all of 3 months on average, Creek boats like the Mystic took alot longer.
The mold is heavily sanded and polished, we had 4 amazing workers on the sanding process with approx 200 man hours of pushing sand paper back and forwards, a bit like a Karate kid movie wax on wax off, this was "sand forward " and "sand backward" If you meet up with either Jack, Thomas, Ned or Tom from OPC outdoor centre, be aware when you shake their hands, these boys are now buff with a rough grip.
This is Bliss-stick molder, Andy O'Connell opening the new mold for the very first time, we have to run a dark color practice boat, which helps to test the molds joint line and picks up any grime left on the mold itself. Then we ponder over the result with a few beers and then call it a day and a job well done to the Team...
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Smoothy side profile with noticable changes to the kicked up tail and also the cockpit rim lift.
Widened rails on a lengthy hull
A very Bliss-stick looking tail section
with the width pinned in for more looseness.
A very different look to the front of the kayak.... hence the name Smoothy has come from.
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A good close look up at the new Fleck Smoothy Apple flavour, along with the defined carving rails.
Rear Tail section, with Bliss-stick Mania, new Smoothy Graphic and drain plug recess.
The Hulls tail section, will enable to Smoothy to release .... well smoothly.
Serious carving rails for high performance
Matt McCrossan about to assemble boat number One, after months of anticapation this is the moment of reward and satisfaction.
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Well actually this shot is, all done and dusted the new Smotthy 6'1 ready for action.
Team Bliss-stick paddlers will have the new Smoothy in action this weekend on the Kaituna River, there pictures and feedback will be posted up on the site early next week.
Daylight shot of the new Apple flavour,
Compare this to our original Lime.
This is with Smoothy number two , our Blueberry mix
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A close up view of the new Smoothy fleck. ( blueberry )
We hope you enjoyed the first pictures of the new Bliss-stick Smoothy 6'1 and what ever your flavour Im sure you will begin to see these popping up at playspots all over the World before to long..... just check out for the paddlers having the most fun!