Blog

Read what Wavelength Magazine had to say in their Winter 2010 issue:

Kayak craze is hooking bay anglers http://t.co/N9kZ1Y5 via @sfgate

It's official! We have our plane tickets bought and hotel room booked...we are going to Canoecopia (March 11-13, 2011)!

Check out our Holiday E-Card by visiting... http://community.icontact.com/p/sealectdesigns/newsletters/2010/posts/happy-holidays-from-sea-lect-designs

Check out our November e-newsletter at http://community.icontact.com/p/sealectdesigns/newsletters/2010/posts/sea-lect-designs-newsletter-november-20102

Do you want to support a great cause but can't think how to do it? Well, check out the Northern Forest Canoe Trail 2010 Online Auction! The auction will run from November 3 (8 am) to December 3(10 pm), 2010 and all auction proceeds - your bids - go directly to support the mission programs and operations of the NFCT.

Check out our e-newsletter for October!
http://community.icontact.com/p/sealectdesigns/newsletters/2010/posts/sea-lect-designs-newsletter-october-20104

We are thinking about putting together a deck rigging kit, what do you think we should use as fasteners? Rivets or screws? If we do use screws, should we use regular nuts or well nuts? What do you think would be best?

Kanumesse 2010 marked my return to the place where exactly one year ago David Hadden of Freedom Hawk Kayaks introduced me to Matt Poischbeg (who I now proudly call my boss). Arriving to display our assortment of products in the booth of our new European Distributor, System X, Nick Mallabar and Matty Nicholas were perfect hosts (conspicuously absent and missed however was Ant Perkins, who recently became a proud father of hi s second child. Congrats Ant!).

Our display of hardware and accessories turned into quite the hit, and dealers continue to see the value of our spinner display as they recognize that our distinct merchandising materials offer a solution to easily sell repair parts and accessories.

It was amusing! Every time I spoke with a retailer, I would explain how all our little bits and pieces are usually hidden behind the register (or in the back of the store in some pile or box that represents a repair area). One-by-one they would look quizzically at me and ask if I had been in their shop. Each agreed their's a nuisance to sell these parts… but there’s definitely a demand. Unanimously, they saw how moving the parts out of the tackle box, and onto the showroom, made complete sense; and they loved the wide variety of parts we carry and the ease of ordering from one sou rce offers. Following our success in the USA and Australia, I left Germany knowing our approach is universally appreciated.

As for Kanumesse as a whole…it’s turned into a truly impressive display. All the major players in the Paddlesports Industry from around the world were represented, and there was a wealth of performance touring kayaks to be found. Every vendor proudly displayed their wares, and the atmosphere was very upbeat. Horst Fursattel and his staff are to be commended for putting on a top shelf show…and if you have a chance, I can attest that early October in 2011 would be a great time to be in Germany!

Check out our e-newsletter for September!
http://community.icontact.com/p/sealectdesigns/newsletters/2010/posts/sea-lect-designs-newsletter-september-20103

I just purchased my ticket to Germany to attend Kanumesse from October 5-7^th - if you're in Germany (or on your way there like me) make sure to say 'hi'! You can make an appointment to talk to me by sending a note to ryan@sealectdesigns.com, or just stop on by (I'll be at booth #N-142 with System X).

We have been so busy around here developing products and taking new orders that it just hit me ... Kanumesse is only about a month away! Looking forward to catching up with many old friends in Nuremberg (that's in Germany folks)!

Check out our e-newsletter for August!
http://community.icontact.com/p/sealectdesigns/newsletters/2010/posts/sea-lect-designs-newsletter-august-2010

I just wanted to take a moment to thank our friends old and new for making Outdoor Retailer so successful. I know I speak for all of us at SEA-LECT Designs when I say we are excited to pursue all the opportunities that have been presented to us. 2011 looks to be an exciting year and I expect to see some creative new outfitting on our customers boats this comming year.

This is the fourth year for Marsha and I to do the show. It's a nice father, daughter bonding experience which we both enjoy very much. I am looking forward to continue this family tradition. I love you Marsha!

Yet another day of being busy. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan it's all about Ryan. Is there anyone who does not know him? No seriously. We had good contacts through out the day and the hardware center is very well received. The positive attitude in the paddlesports section is bringing many people our way. With the colorful booth people are stopping to see what we do. Last day tomorrow, lets hope for another successful day!

The highlight of the summer for me is finally happening. Our first two days have been busy and we received good product feedback from Retailers and OEM's alike. Ryan is reconnecting with many of his old friends from his days at Werner Paddle. All of them are happy to see him and are exited about him being involved in our Program. Our booth location is awesome this year. We are in the midst of the paddle sport industry section and right infront of the paddlers lounge. They serve free expresso all day long. Please visit us at the show and pick up SEA-LECT Designs t-shirt. Our booth number is 35096. Thanks, Matt.

The second day or OR is going just as well as the first - we're talking to more-and-more dealers looking to carry SEA-LECT Designs products in their shops! We are also loving our location too...right next to the Paddle Zone, which for those of you not here is where industry advocates, athletes, retailers and brands come together for events and seminars. Got a chance to see parts of Freya Hoffmeister, representing Kokatat, talk about her "Race around Australia." Yes, she kayaked around Australia. WOW! Way to go!

Things are crackin' here in Salt Lake! Rutabaga just dropped by to honor us with their 2010 Accessory Manufacturer of the Year Award for turning their problem of hardware into a quick and easy way to provide their customers with repair parts and accessories! Thank you Rutabaga for thinking of us! We're also having a great reception to our brand new Spinner Program...it is a one-stop turnstyle of our best selling product, and if you're at the show, you really should stop by and check it out (and if you aren't in the SLC, more info is coming soon to our webpage)! We are at booth #35096, right next to Immersion Research. I wonder what Day 2 has in store?

SEALECT Designs / Sea-Dog footbraces as well as SEALECT Designs hatches were mentioned in two Sea Kayaker boat reviews this month.

Attached is a product update from our friends at Clamcleat.

Our friend Tom Watson has written a very informative article for Paddling.net about many of the pieces of hardware we offer to outfit your kayak. It and many more of his articles can be found at: http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?495

A little footnote from our friend Wayne Horodowich. He was busy last weekend!

Wayne Horodowich, well known kayak instructor and founder of University of Sea Kayaking, recently contacted us to inquire about the SEA-LECT Design rudder control footbraces for his Solstice GT. Wayne was seeking a rudder control footbrace that would give him a more solid footing while paddling. His boat came with sliding braces that did not give him the support he needed. After closely reviewing the braces we had to offer he agreed the SEA-LECT Designs braces with their solid brace, easy adjustment and gas pedal rudder operation were just what he was looking for. Wayne, Jeremy Mauck and I commenced to install a new pair of SEA-LECT Designs footbraces in to his boat. Enclosed are a couple of photos of Wayne and the foot braces during the installation.

Collinsville Canoe & Kayaks jumped in with both feet and set up their new SEA-LECT Designs spinner display. John and Mellissa of Collinsville Canoe & Kayak both see the value in providing their customers with the selection and service SEA-LECT Designs offers. By offering the wide variety of products SEA-LECT Designs carries they reaffirm in their customers mind that Collinsville Canoe and Kayak is the specialty paddlesports retailer that can be counted on for maintaining their boat.

Is it to early to think about Outdoor Retailer. I don't think so. We are at that time of year where the seconds seem to tick a little quicker and before you know it OR will be here! Our booth is number 35096 and we are in a great location just across the isle from Paddlers Lounge. 

We have revised our catalog and pricelist. This corrected a few errors we found and improved the information we are supplying. Of course our goal is to make sure the information we are supplying is correct and up to date. Please down load this from our "Dealer Login". If you hav forgot your password give us a call and we can get it for you.

We are excited to announce the completion of our new drip ring. Yet another addition to the SeaLect Designs line. In celebration of this new addition we are making a limited time offer of a free pair to our customers and industry professionals. 

We are excited to bring you some updates on Outdoor Retailer 
Summer Market 2010 that will positively impact your business at the show and beyond.  Paddle industry leaders have collaborated on features, programs and events that we’re confident will add excitement and increase the strength of the Paddlesports business community at OR Summer Market.

The hard work is coming together. Product is being packaged and we are getting ready for the boating season.

Kudzu makes kits for 'Skin on Frame" boats. They have a great little footbrace mount to help the mounting of the footbraces to their kit.

The first really big show of the year is now only a month away. We're going and are now officially listed on the vendor list.

Gearing up and getting ready

Written by: Lee Hart for Snews

Here it is. Our first SEA-LECT Designs box heading out the door. Not a huge box. Samples to our friend Jim Ramey at Tsunami Sales and  Marketing. But as in all great journeys one must start with that first step. For us this was a significant one. I was giddy with excitement as the box was packed with care and sent down the rollers to the shipping cart and on to the UPS truck.  The rest of our product packaging will be arrivng soon. When that happens we will be introducing our merchandising programs. I look forward to getting you set up with a great selection of SEA-LECT designs products that solve problems, improve performance and add to the bottom line.