ORU KAYAK OK-BAY Folding Kayak Manual

ORU KAYAK OK-BAY Folding Kayak

WARNING

All persons using this kayak must read, understand and follow all instructions. Failure to do so may result in serious injury or death. Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference and provide it to anyone using this kayak.

Welcome to the Oru Kayak community

We’re a new company dedicated to making the outdoors more accessible. We’ve designed Oru Kayaks to fold up quickly, easily, and almost magically—so you can take them everywhere. Our journey started when I moved into a studio apartment, and my kayak just wouldn’t fit. Inspired by an article about origami, I started wondering: what if a boat could fold up like a piece of paper? After years of design, prototyping, folding paper models, and product testing with novices and pro kayakers alike, we’re very proud of the final product. Your new Oru Kayak is a sturdy, durable watercraft that handles incredibly well. This manual includes tips on how to get the most out of your kayak, from paddling techniques toproper care and maintenance.We look forward to hearing about your adventures!Happy paddling!Anton Willis and the Oru Kayak team

Product Specifications

The design of the Oru Kayak is all about simplicity. A single sheet of double-layered plastic forms the hull and deck of the assembled kayak and transforms into the box. Internal bulkheads and a rigid floorboard add strength. Seam channels and deck buckles create a structural, watertight seal along the deck ridge. A rigid coaming reinforces the cockpit and fits a spray skirt. The adjustable seat and footrest let you paddle in comfort. All of the loose parts, as well as other paddling necessities, fit into the Oru Kayak box.

MATERIALS and CONSTRUCTION

Double-walled 5 mm poly- propylene hull and deck with UV inhibitors
Double-walled 10 mm polypropylene seat and bulkheads (NOTE: bulkheads are for structural rigidity ONLY and are not watertight)
ABS plastic trim and structural components
EPDM and neoprene rubber gaskets and fairings
Nylon and stainless steel fasteners

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

Assembled/BAY ST

Length 12’ 3” (373 Cm)
Width 25” (64 Cm)
In case
- Length 33” (81 Cm)
- Width 14” (36 Cm)
- Height 29” (74 Cm)
Weight 26 lbs (11.8 Kg)
Capacity 300 Lbs (136 Kg)

structural, watertight seal along the deck ridge. A rigid coaming reinforces the cockpit and fits a spray skirt. The adjustable seat and footrest let you paddle in comfort. All of the loose parts, as well as other paddling necessities, fit into the Oru Kayak box.

WARNING

DO NOT exceed your boat’s capacity under any circumstances. Doing so will adversely affect the kayak’s handling and reduce its stability, which will increase the chance of capsizing or swamping. Make sure loads aredistributed as evenly as possible, with heavier itemson the bottom andlighter ones on top.

Safety Warnings

WARNING: Kayaking can be physically demanding and dangerous. Use of this product and participation in the sport of kayaking involve inherent risks of serious injury or death. Kayaking is fun and challenging but involves inherent risks of serious injury or death. To reduce these risks, users of this product must follow the warnings and instructions provided in this manual and in the warning printed on the Oru Kayak and use common sense. Users of this product agree by their use of this kayak to accept the inherent risks involved in this paddlesport activity and agree to follow all instructions, cautions, and warnings carefully before and while using this kayak.

To reduce these risks follow these rules:

Consult and abide by all US Coast Guard regulations and state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances regarding boating, equipment, and boating safety.
Prepare a float plan and let friends or relatives know where you plan to go and when you plan to return.
Obtain certified first aid and rescue training.

USE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

Always use a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD such as the Oru PFD). Read the PFD manufacturer’s instructions and familiarize yourself with how the PFD should be worn.

Dress appropriately for your weather conditions: cold weather and/or cold water can result in hypothermia. Wear a wetsuit or drysuit if necessary.
Carry an approved helmet and wear it when necessary.
Carry first aid equipment and understand how to use it.
Use Oru Float Bags when necessary or when paddling on open water.
Carry an audible signal device, such as a horn or whistle. If possible, attach the device to your PFD.
If additional outfitting is attached to this kayak, use compatible accessories only.
Make sure that all equipment and baggage are stowed securely and do not impede your safe exit from the kayak.

WHEN YOU PADDLE

NEVER paddle alone. It is best to have someone with you in case of an emergency or accident.
DO NOT exceed the kayak’s maximum load capacity, which includes the weight of the passenger and any onboard equipment and provisions.
Avoid hazardous conditions, such as flooding, tidal changes, large waves, fast-moving currents, and high surf.
Never allow minors to use this kayak without adult supervision.
Never use or consume alcohol, drugs, or any other substance that may affect your coordination, judgment, or ability to operate this kayak safely.
Never exceed your ability. Honestly assess your physical strength, endurance, and paddling skills.
Scout unfamiliar waters; remove your kayak from the water and carry it to avoid unsafe conditions.
Read this entire Owner’s Manual for additional safety information.

Assembly and Disassembly

See the Assembly Guide that comes with each model of Oru Kayak.

WARNING: Strictly follow the Assembly Guide included with your Oru Kayak. If the Oru Kayak is not assembled correctly, it can lose its structural integrity and collapse.

Proper Care and Storage

CARE AND MAINTENANCE: With care and maintenance, your Oru Kayak will last for years. To ensure this, follow these tips:

Inspect your kayak before each use to make sure it is not damaged, and that all screws are tight.
Rinse off your kayak with clean, fresh water after each use, especially after paddling in saltwater.
Make sure water does not collect inside the kayak case after use.
Some water may collect inside the plastic corrugations. To let it escape, flip the unfolded kayak upside down to let it drain out.
For additional cleaning, use a general-purpose cleaning spray with a soft, non-abrasive rag or sponge.
In case of serious damage or punctures, email us at [email protected]. Please include photos of the issue and your HIN number for faster resolution.

STORAGE: Store your Oru Kayak in its box form, indoors, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause plastics to discolor or become brittle.

Transporting Your Oru Kayak

The Oru Kayak is compact and light. Take advantage of this by lifting rather than dragging it, to avoid scratching the bottom of the kayak.

Carry the box with the shoulder strap for short trips. For longer trips, use the custom-designed backpack, the Oru Pack.
DO NOT carry your Oru Kayak on top of a car or trailer. If transporting in a car, fold it into its box form and stash it inside.
The kayak can also be carried as an assembled boat by using the carrying handles located on either end of the kayak.
The best way to fly with your Oru Kayak is to pack it in the Oru Pack and check it in. Airlines measure luggage as length + width + height, so the Oru Kayak is 74”. Most often airlines do not charge an additional baggage fee for the Oru Kayak, but some airlines may.

Recommended Usage

The Oru Kayak is designed to be used ONLY in sheltered waters, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. It is NOT designed for fast-moving water, rough water, or large surf. The Oru Kayak is a recreational kayak and does not have waterproof bulkheads. If it capsizes, the entire kayak will fill with water andcan sink.

Whenever possible, enter the Oru Kayak from a dock or a place where the kayak is floating in the water. If beach landings or launches are required, choose a location with smooth sand or mud to minimize abrasion.
Use water displacement devices such as the Oru Float Bags if you are paddling on open water.
DO NOT scrape or drag the kayak, especially on sharp surfaces.
DO NOT use or fold your Oru Kayak in air temperatures below freezing (32°F/0°C). The kayak’s plastic hull can become brittle and crack at temperatures below freezing.

Gear List

The following is a list of required or useful items that can be found at www.orukayak.com, your local kayak shop, or through other online retailers.

REQUIRED GEAR

PFD (personal flotation device) (i.e., a life jacket). This must be US Coast Guard approved (or approved by the relevant agency in other countries), such as the Oru PFD, and must be worn at all times while kayaking.
Paddle. Kayaks use a double-bladed paddle like the Oru Paddle or Oru Carbon Paddle.
A horn or whistle. US Coast Guard regulations require an audible signal device to be used in all watercraft. Attach the device to your PFD.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GEAR

First aid kit
Phone or another communication device. Devices not made for marine use should be kept in a waterproof drybag.
Appropriate clothing, depending on weather and conditions. Always be aware of hypothermia risks and bring extra clothing.
– For short trips and casual paddling, wear thermal clothing made of synthetic fabrics or wool.
– For longer trips and more rigorous paddling, you may need a wetsuit or drysuit.
Oru Float Bags, especially for open water paddling
Oru Spray Skirt, especially if you will be paddling in waves
Bailing sponge
Bilge pump
Helmet
Self-rescue device (obtain appropriate training)
Food and plenty of drinking water
Maps and compass
Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, etc.)

Kayaking 101 and Troubleshooting

All users of this kayak should obtain qualified instruction to learn proper paddling techniques, water safety, and first aid before using this kayak. This manual is not intended to provide complete training on all aspects of kayaking. The following tips, however, are provided to get you started. For more detailed information, visit http://tinyurl.com/OruKayaking101

ENTERING & EXITING A KAYAK
For all methods of entry and exit, be aware of water and weather conditions; nothing will knock you off balance like an unexpected wave. Different types of entries are described below. To exit the kayak, perform the entry steps in reverse. From a high dock or boat:

Float the kayak alongside the dock.
Sit down on the dock.
Place your paddle nearby so you can reach it once you are in the kayak.
Place both feet in the kayak.
With both hands on the dock, lower yourself into the kayak. Hold on to the dock to maintain stability; keep your center of gravity low as you enter the kayak. Slide into a sitting position. DO NOT stand up in the kayak at any point.

From a low dock or platform:

Float the kayak alongside the dock.
Place the paddle across both sides of the coaming, just behind the backrest.
Sit down on the dock next to the boat, in front of the paddle.
Place one hand on the paddle and the coaming, and grip them together tightly.
Place the palm of your other hand on the paddle, near your buttocks (do not grab the paddle; you will smash your fingers).
Swing your legs into the kayak.
Holding on to the cockpit and paddle shaft, place weight on your hand (and the paddle) on the dock.
Lower yourself into the seat. The end of the paddle braced against the dock will keep the kayak stable and prevent it from drifting as you enter.

From a beach

Make sure the kayak is floating in a few inches of water.
Straddle the kayak over the cockpit.
Sit on the coaming just behind the seat, with your hands on the cockpit handles.
Swing your legs into the boat, one at a time (try to clean the sand or dirt off your feet in the process).
Lower yourself into the seat.
Start paddling.

SITTING IN A KAYAK
The proper sitting position will keep you comfortable for hours of paddling and also will help you better control the boat.

Sit in the kayak upright, with your back against the seatback.
Adjust the footrest so that your feet rest on them, with your ankles in a neutral position.
Your knees should be comfortably bent, and your legs should be splayed apart with your knees pressed against the underside of the hull adjacent to the cockpit.

PADDLING A KAYAK
Paddling a kayak is fairly intuitive, but a few tips will make your experience more efficient, fun, and relaxing.

How to choose a paddle

Recommended paddle sizes may vary based on the paddle shape and type, as well as your personal preference. This table offers rules of thumb:

YOUR HEIGHT
- 5’0” – 5’5”
- 5’5” – 6’2”
- 6’2” plus 225 – 240 cm
RECOMMENDED PADDLE LENGTH
- 215 – 220 cm
- 220 – 230 cm

On some kayak paddles, the blades are in the same plane. On others, the blades are offset, to cut more efficiently through wind and water; these are called feathered paddles. Many paddles, including the Oru Paddle, can be set in either a feathered or unfeathered position.

Hold the paddle securely in front of you with your hands on the shaft about elbow-width apart.
Raise the paddle above your head and balance the paddle shaft on your head. Re-position your hands so that your elbows are at right angles.
Keep your hands in this position and rotate the paddle to just below shoulder height.
This position will allow you to rotate your torso while you paddle. This will let you paddle faster, longer, and more efficiently. It will also protect you from shoulder fatigue or injury.
If you’re using an unfeathered paddle, your knuckles should be aligned with the paddle blades.
If you’re using a feathered paddle, the knuckles of your dominant hand should align with the corresponding paddle blade. With each stroke, you’ll rotate the paddle so that the blade enters the water at a right angle.
Whichever paddle you choose, you will use the same grip and positioning for all strokes.1. Hold the paddle securely in front of you with your hands on the shaft about elbow-width apart.
Raise the paddle above your head and balance the paddle shaft on your head. Re-position your hands so that your elbows are at right angles.
Keep your hands in this position and rotate the paddle to just below shoulder height.
This position will allow you to rotate your torso while you paddle. This will let you paddle faster, longer, and more efficiently. It will also protect you from shoulder fatigue or injury.
If you’re using an unfeathered paddle, your knuckles should be aligned with the paddle blades.
If you’re using a feathered paddle, the knuckles of your dominant hand should align with the corresponding paddle blade. With each stroke, you’ll rotate the paddle so that the blade enters the water at a right angle.
Whichever paddle you choose, you will use the same grip and positioning for all strokes.

How to paddle
For all strokes, maintain an upright posture, with the footrest and seat back adjusted as described on page 8.

Forward stroke

Start with the paddle oriented as described above.
Rotate to your left at the torso, and then place two-thirds of the paddle blade in the water; imagine you’re stabbing the water.
Rotate your torso toward your right with the paddle in the water. Repeat on the opposite side, alternating strokes on the right and left.
You want to use both hands equally
- to push with one hand while you pull with the other.

Reverse stroke
To stop, slow down, or move backward, do the same stroke in reverse. There is no need to flip the paddle backward.

WARNING

Kayakers, especially beginners and novices, can be particularly vulnerable to adverse weather and water conditions. Because of their lightweight and limited speed, kayaks can be especially sensitive to wind, waves, and current. Always be aware of your paddling abilities, the water/weather conditions, and the limitations of your kayak, and use common sense and good judgment for your own safety. Always practice new strokes in calm, shallow water.

MANEUVERING A KAYAK

Rudder turn

Once you have forward momentum, place your paddle in the water just behind your hip.
The resistance and torsion will cause your boat to rotate around the side the paddle is on.

Sweep-stroke turn

Place the paddle in the water near the bow (front).
Then make a large arc-shaped motion toward the stern (back).
The sweep stroke can be done in a forward or reverse manner.
To turn the boat in a circle, do a forward sweep stroke on one side and a reverse sweep stroke on the other side.

RESCUES

We recommend that you seek professional instruction before using your kayak in open water. Open-water rescues are tricky and technical.

We highly recommend the use of float bags. These enable the kayak to float with the coaming above water level, even after a full capsize. You can then fully bail out the kayak, making all rescues much easier.
ALWAYS WEAR A PFD AND NEVER KAYAK ALONE! Open water rescues are much easier and safer with multiple paddlers available to assist.

The wet exit
If your kayak flips while you are in it and you cannot perform an Eskimo roll, you will have to exit the cockpit and enter the water:

Remain calm.
Lean forward, bringing your head closer to the deck of the kayak. This will protect your head from impacts (remember, you will be upside down if your kayak has flipped).
If you are wearing a spray skirt, feel along the coaming to the front of the cockpit, where the release toggle is located.
Pull-on the toggle to disengage the spray skirt.
Follow the coaming back and place your hands on the cockpit handles.
Push yourself out of the kayak, as if you’re taking off a pair of jeans.

NOTICE: After a wet exit, you will be swimming next to a kayak full of water. Don’t panic! There are ways to get back into your kayak from the water. But, it helps to have friends and experience—don’t go out into open water without them!

The T rescue (performed with a partner)

Your paddling partner or partners will come to assist you.
Make sure the kayak is upside down in the water.
Your partner will pull the kayak onto the front deck of their kayak, and drain the water from your kayak by rocking it back and forth.
Your partner will flip your kayak right side up and slide it back into the water, placing it alongside their boat, stern-to-bow.
While your partner holds the coaming to stabilize your kayak, you will climb onto the back deck of your kayak, then pivot your feet into your cockpit.
You will then roll towards the rescue boat, sliding your feet and bottom into your kayak.
Even after your partners have emptied the boat, there will likely be water in the kayak. Use a sponge or pump to empty and dry the kayak.

NOTICE: If no one is available to assist you, the reentry technique is more complicated and should be taught by an experienced instructor.

Limited Warranty

Oru Kayak, Inc. warrants this product to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of its original purchase. If a problem occurs, you must contact Oru Kayak in a timely manner by email at [email protected], and obtain a Return Authorization Number. Please include photos for faster resolution. Once a Return Authorization Number is obtained, you must promptly ship the product, postage prepaid, to Oru Kayak, Inc. for inspection and warranty consideration, to the return address that will be provided. Any product that is covered by this warranty and that is found in the reasonable judgment of Oru Kayak, Inc. to be defective in materials or workmanship will be repaired or replaced at Oru Kayak’s option. All covered repairs or replacement products will be made at no charge during the warranty period and within a reasonable period of time.

This warranty does NOT cover

Products used for commercial or rental purposes; normal wear and tear, including punctures, cuts, and abrasions sustained in normal use; damage caused by accident, neglect, or misuse; damage caused by improper storage maintenance, or handling; damage caused by extreme weather or environmental conditions, including white water conditions products that have been structurally altered or modified; damage caused while the product is in possession of a freight carrier or party other than Oru Kayak; cosmetic wear, abrasion, or damage caused by excessive UV exposure; and products determined to have been used for any activity other than an activity that is intended or customary for the product. Activating your warranty The warranty registration form should be completed online (go to www.orukayak.com/pages/warranty) within thirty days of original purchase or receipt of the product to be activated. It is suggested that you keep your sales receipt should it be required in the future for proof of purchase.

LIMITATION AND DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES

To the extent permitted by applicable laws:

Oru Kayak does NOT make any implied warranty of merchantability as to any product or part, whether or not the product or part is covered by any express warranty herein;
Oru Kayak does NOT make any implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, and there are no warranties that extend beyond the description on the face hereof;
In those jurisdictions where the implied warranties may not be disclaimed, any implied warranty is limited in duration to the duration of the express warranty described in the warranty statement. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

NO LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

The repair and replacement remedies described in this warranty are the owner’s sole and exclusive remedy. In no event shall Oru Kayak be liable for any incidental, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.

Your Kayak’s Information

For activating your warranty, you will need the place of purchase, date of receipt, and the Hull Identification Number (HIN). The HIN is your kayak’s unique ID. It is located on the outside of the kayak hull on the back right. If you are having trouble finding it, watch a video at http://tinyurl.com/findHIN

For your own records:
PLACE OF PURCHASE: ___________________________________________________________________
DATE OF RECEIPT: ______________________________________________________________________

We’re eager to hear about your Oru Kayak adventures! Keep up with events and updates, and share your own journeys, stories, and photographs:

Facebook www.facebook.com/orukayak
Twitter @orukayak
Instagram @orukayak #orukayak
Oru Kayak, Inc. Emeryville, CA www.orukayak.com [email protected]

ORU KAYAK OK-BAY Folding Kayak Manual