TK Watersports

Call our central booking line on 01752 601617

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Call our central booking line on 01752 601617

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HOW OUR KAYAKS ARE MADE

Find out here how our kayaks we use at TK Watersports™ are made. Why not book your kayak hire with us today, just click the MAKE A BOOKING button below.

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How Our Kayaks Are Made

Our very own Darren Evans was enthusiastic when invited to visit Palm Equipment in Clevedon just outside Bristol in South West England. They churn out some spleaded kit all of it highly regarded. Getting the opportunity to see how the boats we use are made was an experience!


Andy Knight started the company with Bob Glee which was then called Palm Glass Fibre Mouldings Ltd. In 1979 and as the name suggests the company focussed on composite kayaks.

I met with John who spent some time showing me around the Palm factory and talking through how the boats are moulded.


Each and every boat at Palm starts of as a box full of carefully weighed out Super Linear High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic grains. This is the same plastic your milk, shower gels or kitchen cleaners come in. In fact, the team at TK Watersports™ and all our friends are currently collecting together old HDPE plastic bottles to be turned into kayaks by Palm. From this point forward the boat has its own unique identity which can be traced right back to the source of the plastic.

The powder is poured into a mould which is then sealed, placed in a rotating oven which cooks the plastic at over 200’c. As the mould rotates and tilts in the oven, the moulten plastic sticks to the inside of the mould forming the new kayak.

From Powder to Kayak

The warehouse plays a key part in the distribution of Palm gear worldwide. At different times of the year the warehouse can be empty or jammed packed. At this time of the year Palm are getting ready to receive containers full of gear ready for the rest of the year.


From the warehouse we went through to the the oven room and the start of the boat building process.

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Each stage of the process is quality controlled and only signed off if the canoe or kayak meets stringent quality guidelines.


As you would expect form the need to use plenty of heat in producing boats it is extremely warm in this area. The timing of the tour was perfect with a freshly moulded Islander Calypso being released from the mould. No sooner is that mould is taken out of the oven, another is placed straight in!

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At each and every stage the quality of the finish is checked. Boats are either scrapped or sold as seconds if anything out of the ordinary is found. All plastic that doesn’t end up in a production boat is chipped and recycled.


Once the freshly baked boats have cooled down they make their way to the building stations. It is here where all of the outfitting is attached to the boat.

All of the outfitting is done at this point, and must be completed with speed as the freshly baked kayak shrinks as it cools.

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The Completed Kayak

Once built up the completed boats are checked and signed off ready to go. Completed boats are then bagged and stored in a huge storage area ready to be shipped. You’ll also find customer boats that require servicing or repair in this area.


The Palm range of paddles have been doing really well since their launch. The paddles are also put together in the factory.


TK Watersports™ are also delighted to have a specially moulded Islander Calypso Sport in our fleet, the only one to be made in a plum colour!

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Now you know why TK Watersports™ makes use of the very best kayaks, buoyancy aids, paddles, cags, seats, spraydecks and other top quality kayaking gear from Palm Equipment. Why not visit their website by clicking the button below to find out more.

Find out more

Copyright © 2014-2021 TK Watersports™ - All Rights Reserved. No unauthorised copying, storing, duplicating or alike of any part of this website is permitted.


TK Watersports™ is the trading style and trademark of TKL Leisure Ltd (who owns the brand) and it’s authorised franchised operators.  -  TKL Leisure Ltd Director - MR. D EVANS

TKL Leisure Ltd is a Company Registered in England and Wales - Company Registration Number 11491621 

TKL Leisure Ltd is a registered data controller sith the Information Commissioners Offive  -  Registration Number ZA794958

Registered Office - Unit 24 Highcroft Industrial Estate, Enterprise Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 0BT 


Web E-Mail address - webmaster@tkwatersports.co.uk   Sales E-Mail Address - sales@tkwatersports.co.uk


TK Watersports™ operates in other locations through Franchisees, who whilst operate under the TK Watersports brand, franchisees are independent of TKL Leisure Ltd.


Islander® and Palm® are Registered Trademarks of Palm Equipment Europe Ltd.  Wavesport® is a Registered Trademark of Gaybo Ltd.   Jetski is a Registered Trademark of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. Sea-doo is a Registered Trademark of BRP Bombardier Recreational Products Inc,

  • HOME
  • DEVON AND CORNWALL - UK
  • SOMERSET - UK
  • Our Fleet of Boats
  • How Our Kayaks Are Made
  • Our Recycling Project
  • Storing Your Paddleboard
  • FAQ’S
  • Hire Tariff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Booking

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TK Watersports reopens on the first Saturday in April 2021

MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO


We’ve come the end of our 2020 season, and it’s time to hibernate for the winter! TK Watersports have been very happy to serve our customers during 2020, which has been a very different year for all of us.

However due to people having home vacations this year, and not travelling abroad, it’s been a record breaking season. I must thank loyal customers and staff, who have helped keep TK Watersports going during these hard times. Yes 2020 has been our busiest year ever!

Our season has ended for 2020, but we will be back the first Saturday in April 2021.

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