by Ben Martin
Recently, Outdoor Action Ontario was able to test an innovative and easy-to-use Kayak and Canoe trolley (cart,) the C-TUG. Designed and built in New Zealand under the RAILBLAZA brand, the product is a low-cost tool to make transporting your boat a bit easier, and should fit all kayaks and canoes.
According to the official Company release:
“the C-TUG is made of non-corroding engineering polymers, with stainless steel reinforced axles, this trolley is designed for all terrains to allow you to launch in places you never dreamed of.”
Of course, canoeing and kayaking in Ontario means dealing with a variety of terrain, and given that most companies tend to “oversell” the versatility of their products, OAO was quite eager to test out the C-TUG and see how it stands up to our own outdoor adventures.
Out of the box, the C-TUG was relatively easy to put together. It only has a few interlocking parts, which means you can also break it down for stowing in your kayak between portages or traveling to and from your put-in points.
The Test Location was a long, windy Cottage path from the driveway to the dock at the waterfront. Overall, approximately 125 meters. The test products we carried were two Ocean Kayak Trident 13 angling kayaks. The Trident 13’s weight is below 70 pounds but for testing purposes, we loaded up with additional gear to hit the 85-90 pound mark.
Experienced kayakers and canoers will routinely travel with upwards of 50-60 pounds of gear on overnight expeditions, and after testing it seems reasonable to suggest the C-TUG could handle the additional weight without too much effort from the person doing the pulling. OAO will be conducting further tests with more weight later this season.
As claimed, it was easy to put the product together, and also quite easy to fit it around the kayak for pulling once it was assembled. Within a couple of minutes, the C-TUG was assembled and snugly fit around the first kayak to be transported to the water.
The first thing that was noticed is the C-TUG handles quite well, pulling along the rough terrain quite smoothly. Bumps were not too noticeable as generally it was very easy to pull the kayaks. Both walking and a light run were employed with the Trolley, and in both cases the C-TUG held up to the task.
Carrying rods without protective rod socks is not advised, but OAO wanted to test the smoothness of pulling the Kayak on the C-TUG with gear inside, and what impact it may have on rods stowed in the kayak. It was actually quite smooth, however we had to ensure that for the running test uphill, we removed the rods (just in case…)
Even at a brisk jog up an uneven hill, the C-TUG trolley handled fairly well. At no point did the kayak feel uneven or that it may come off the C-TUG, so it was relatively easy to get it from point A to B and back again. I would suggest that rods could be stowed on the C-TUG while pulling a kayak or canoe uphill; however I would only do so with a proper “rod sock” on the rods and would possibly strap them down as well for added security.
One of the things I will say stands out for the C-TUG is that it is easy to break the trolley down into individual pieces for easy stowing in your Kayak or Canoe. It is small enough that even while assembled, it should fit easily in your vehicle.
It is made of lightweight plastic, but is heavy duty enough to hold up to the rigours of transporting a boat on rough terrain. Its large tires are very heavy-duty, and seem to hold up well in grass, on rock, in mud and sand, as well as other ground conditions.
Overall, the C-TUG was easy to use and OAO will continue to put it to the test this summer as we adventure across Ontario.
Although many boaters will prefer to simply lift and carry their kayak or canoe, there is a segment of users who would appreciate the ease of using this trolley, as well as the energy you can save from utilizing it when you go out on your next outing – energy you can put into more paddling time.
Smaller people and youth may enjoy this product, as lifting a 13 foot long kayak over their head can be difficult for some. Pulling a canoe or kayak on a C-TUG would be much easier for a smaller person, so there could definitely be a larger market than expected in Ontario and across Canada for the C-TUG, especially with the amount of people now into kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding and canoeing.
To purchase this product, visit: C-TUG
For more information on the C-TUG and other RAILBLAZA products, visit here: https://www.railblaza.com/