BWCA Royalex is gone Boundary Waters Gear Forum

Chat Rooms (0 Chatting) | Search | Login/Join

* BWCA is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Gear Forum

Royalex is gone

Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

awbrown

08/07/2013 04:21PM

Just read an article that says Poly One, the one and only maker of Royalex, is stopping production of the material and shutting down the factory. This is bad news for white water canoeist's.

I set a goal of losing 10 lbs. this year. I only have 15 left to lose.

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

OldFingers57

08/07/2013 04:26PM

I just read that article too and was discussing it with my wife. Maybe some one will win the Powerball lottery and keep the plant open.

"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

ozarkpaddler

08/07/2013 04:53PM

Hmmmm, too many manufacturers use royalex in canoes. I can't imagine that some company won't pick up and continue?

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

DanCooke

08/07/2013 04:57PM

I doubt there is enough usage of roylex in canoes to keep the factory working enough days to make it worthwhile.

Dan Cooke

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

maxxbhp

08/07/2013 05:17PM

When I read this I was devastated, but in reality there will be some suitable downriver material, and you don't carry that type of canoe very much anyway. My Rogue weighs 69 lbs, if it weighed 78 it wouldn't make much difference. I think the main repurcussion will be that quite a few popular hulls are offered in Royalex at a savings of 1000 bucks vs kevlar. This is America, if there's a viable way to make a few bucks, someone will figure it out.

"...And the days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, .......well, I have really good days". Ray Wiley Hubbard

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

bwcamjh

08/07/2013 08:56PM

Wow, have a link?,,,too bad must not be selling enough of the stuff,,,sure don't want a abs plastic canoe,,,,will have to look more at carbon unobtainium miracle weave layover fiber epoxy resin something or other canoes,,,,,and tell the kids that college is on their own dime.......already do have an aluminum, carbon, and 2 royalex canoes and mostly do use the royalex canoes the most...at least lately...

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Cedarboy

08/07/2013 10:43PM

This may put some builders in a bind, such as Nova Craft and Esquif, that's mostly what they use. They have started using composites but not much from what I see.
CB

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

yellowcanoe

08/08/2013 06:13AM

link

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

ozarkpaddler

08/08/2013 10:25AM

Well, I hope they choke on their profits. I know folks who worked at the local Spartech plant. Polyone bought them out and "Streamlined" the workforce. Now, a year or so later, MORE Americans are out of a job so a few folks can get richer. We're not talking about a company doing this because it was "Hurting." American "Greed" at it's worst.
Polyone Greed

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

HowardSprague

08/08/2013 11:37AM

Was it unprofitable, or did it just not meet whatever their standard was for an internal rate of return? Hopefully someone can still take over manufacturing Royalex and make a profit.

"Enjoy every sandwich"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

ozarkpaddler

08/08/2013 12:18PM

quote HowardSprague: "Was it unprofitable, or did it just not meet whatever their standard was for an internal rate of return? Hopefully someone can still take over manufacturing Royalex and make a profit. "

They're profitable, just greedy and want more:
Polyone Profits

I only have a couple royalex boats and don't have any plans to buy another. I worry about the canoe companies. Companies like Novacraft and Mohawk, for example. Most of their boats are royalex. We've lost a LOT of canoe companies since the '80's. Our choices may get even smaller now?

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Sierra1

08/08/2013 12:48PM

I would think that someone would pick up the Royalex line. One of the problems is that the longer the product is off the market the harder it is to reintroduce it to the users; they will have moved on to other choices. So the canoe makers who have relied on Royalex will be looking for the next option and may come up with something better. We'll have to wait and see.

Watch out for that rock!!!........ Oooo.... That's going to leave a mark...

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Frederic

08/08/2013 01:37PM

This is a catastrophy. I believe in Royalex. This is the only material up to now from which you can make a canoe survive wrapping.

It is quite impossible to turn a Native into a Frenchman but it is really easy to turn a Frenchman into a native - Marie de l'Incarnation

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

PINETREE

08/08/2013 03:17PM

Canoes like Old Town are big in royallex. Does that mean my Penobscot going up in value. Bought my penobscot 17 royalflex for about $750.00 in 1991 now they sell for $1595-1695.00.

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

thebotanyguy

08/08/2013 03:34PM

If I had to make a guess, and this is pure speculation, I would say that you will probably see this company move manufacturing of Royalex off-shore. Perhaps "Made in China"?

"Said one of these men, long past seventy years of age: 'I could carry, paddle, walk and sing with any man I ever saw. I have been twenty-four years a canoe man, and forty-one years in service; no portage was ever too long for me. Fifty songs could I sing. I have saved the lives of ten voyageurs. Have had twelve wives and six running dogs. I spent all my money in pleasure. Were I young again, I should spend my life the same way over. There is no life so happy as a voyageur's life!'"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Frederic

08/09/2013 08:23AM

Swift canoe pointed out on their Facebook page out that they are not sourcing Royalex from Poly One... So Canoeroot magazine was a bit too quick claiming Royalex is dead.

It is quite impossible to turn a Native into a Frenchman but it is really easy to turn a Frenchman into a native - Marie de l'Incarnation

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

PINETREE

08/09/2013 05:45PM

This was in April:
Nova Craft announced today that since Spartech the makers of Royalex were acquired by Polyone the cost of royalex will go up substantially. The cost per canoe is expected to rise by $200-$300Cdn.

Print Top Bottom Previous Next