Description

The Kayak 5 makes it easy to power your kayak or canoe trip. It features an incredibly tough solar panel with tie-down corners, and an advanced USB solar battery on a 10′ cable with watertight connections for safe storage in the hatch. This package covers phones, GPS, cameras, & all other USB devices. The ultimate charger for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, boating, or any other marine adventure.

If you’re packing light on your trip, and only need to cover smartphone, camera, GPS, and perhaps AAA batteries for radios or headlamps, this is the solar charger to keep everything running. A high-performance minimalist package.
Be sure to check out our recommended Universal Charger options at the bottom of the page. These will enable this kit to go beyond just USB output, & directly charge your camera battery, AA batteries, and more.
Ready to use right out of the box.

How Much Energy Does This Kit Provide?

This is the key question. Will it cover my needs?
Assuming that you have this lashed to your boat deck all day, here are some reasonable performance estimates for the Kayak 6 at Canadian latitudes (50-60)…
Shoulder Season – Overcast : 7Wh
Shoulder Season – Sunny : 15Wh
Summer Season – Overcast : 10Wh
Summer Season – Sunny : 20Wh
Winter? Skip the solar and pack a larger storage battery

A typical smartphone battery holds 12Wh. GPS units and radios are a little bit more. Tablets are in the 20-30Wh range. A set of 3 AAA rechargeable NiMh batteries for headlamps will need approx 5Wh for full recharge.
Rationing Recommendations…
1. Base your consumption on your solar production, not the solar battery capacity
2. Put key devices in a rotation to top-off regularly – spreads your storage around!
3. Don’t leave devices charging once they are full (actually 95% is full enough)
4. Never let key devices go below 50% SoC (State of Charge)
5. Charge lithium batteries above 5 Celcius ONLY (discharge is OK to -20)
6. Use dry bags! Protect all devices and connectors from water and salt corrosion

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About The Kayak 5 Components

The Kayak 5 Solar Panel…

• Power: 5 Watts
• Type: Monocrystalline with IP67 waterproof rigid ETFE construction
• Manufacturer: Voltaic Systems
• Mounting: Attach straps of bungees to panel corner bumpers
• Advantages:
  – Highest efficiency, providing the most watts per square inch in direct sunlight.
  – Fully encapsulated & waterproof for all-weather use with rigid backing
  – Incredibly tough (oops, we drove over a Voltaic panel, and it still works fine)
  – No aluminum frame makes this light and low-profile
  – 3m (10′) Waterproof connection cable (included)
  – Corners provided for strap or bungee attachment plus bump protection
• Dimensions:
  148 x 223 x 4 mm
  188 grams (6.6oz)

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The Kayak 5 Solar Storage Battery…

• • Capacity : 12,800mAh, 47 Watt Hours
  • USB Output (dual ports) : 5V/2A , 3A max
  • Very low input power threshold is ideal for maximum solar harvest
  • ‘Always On’ mode keeps critical devices powered at all times
  • Universal USB compatibility
  • MicroUSB (Input) : 5-6V/2A
  • USB-C (Input) : 5V/2A
  • Battery Type : Li-Ion Polymer
  • Protection : Short circuit over charge, over discharge, over temperature, under temperature
  • Size and Weight
    • 4.5 x 3.1 x 1.0 in. (11.4 x 7.8 x 2.6 cm)
    • 272g (9.6 oz)
  • A MicroUSB Charging Cable is included

  A Note About The Popular ‘Always On’ Mode…

  This V50 battery features an ‘Always On’ setting. In this mode, the battery will not shut off even if your device is drawing no power. To stop charging your device, double tap the Power Level Button or disconnect from the battery. To resume charging, tap the Power Level Button once.

Total Core Package weight : 530g

Want more energy storage for trips that might get poor weather? Choose the V50 battery option in the order form. Twice the storage for additional security.

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Kayak 5 Kit Included Extras…

• Solar panel corners for strap/bungee attachment and bump protection.
• 10 foot waterproof cable (between panel & battery pack)
• Water resistant thermal pouch for added safety when stowing the battery in your baggage

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Recommended Accessories…

Camera Chargers : We have both dedicated cradles for most camera models, or choose a Universal Charger to cover any variety of camera batteries with a single charger.

USB Port Adaptor : Every once in a while, some mobile device company makes a product that is extra fussy about the USB ports it uses. The battery in this kit plays nice with Apple iPhones & Androids and just about every other USB device imaginable. But if you have problems with your device recognizing USB ports, this Smart Adaptor is a handy accessory.

Lighting : Want a light source as versatile as you are? Check these out.