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We are Bonafide

It All Started With…

A challenge.  A challenge to design and build something that didn’t seem possible.

Bonafide Kayaks is fairly new with officially announcing the brand late in 2016. The team we have assembled is amongst the most talented and experienced in the paddle sports industry and we are setting our goals high. Our plans are big but our strategy is simple: We will do everything we can to produce the highest quality, most thoughtfully designed, and most carefully engineered fishing kayaks possible. Commitments to manufacturing in the USA, creating jobs, and unparalleled customer service are among our primary objectives.

At Bonafide we are listening, and we will put the end-user first in our designs. We will question conventional thinking, and we will bring forward concepts and products that answer those needs. What we’re doing here at Bonafide is a scientific approach to development. We are allowing data and quantitative measurements to drive our designs and will provide kayaks that are precisely engineered to meet the needs of today’s kayak anglers.

‘16

After countless revisions, months of testing, and letting the data speak for itself, we were able to get the first fully molded Bonafide prototype on the water. At that moment we knew we had captured lightning in a bottle.

Why We Do It

Simply put, we are a group of people who love what we do each and every day. We are paddlers, anglers, entrepreneurs, product designers, engineers, and individuals who enjoy a challenge and being a part of something bigger than ourselves while building a product that brings joy and excitement to the kayak fishing community. Our products aren’t just kayaks they are a vessel used to escape, explore, and for anglers to follow their passion of paddling, fishing, and the outdoors. Our goal is to remain authentic, genuine, and real. Our commitment is to do things differently, in ways that will lead to some of the most innovative products the industry’s ever seen.

Innovation starts where conventional options end. We intend to start this journey at the end of the beaten path and explore different ideas and techniques. In doing so, we will discover things that are not only beneficial to our company but to the industry as a whole.”

The Headquarters

GREENVILLE,
SOUTH CAROLINA

After a long and extremely difficult search, we managed to locate a great manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville and the surrounding areas combine to create an American manufacturing powerhouse drawing such companies as BMW, Michelin, Boeing, and Mercedes Benz to name a few, and now Bonafide Kayaks.

10 Quest Dr.
Greenville, SC 29605

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Meet The Team

Everyone involved here at Bonafide Kayaks is a key player and a crucial piece of the company. From molding to marketing we are enthusiasts who enjoy building products to further our obsession with outdoor sports. Each of us contributes with our own unique set up skills and professional experiences that come together to makeup Bonafide Kayaks.

KELLEY
WOOLSEY

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

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LUTHER CIFERS

CEO

Luther is a self-made entrepreneur with an extensive background in manufacturing and mechanical design. He spent the first decade of his career in the automotive industry, designing machines for manufacturing lines. During this time, Luther developed a strong appreciation for domestic manufacturing and how it can positively impact local communities and the lives of employees. In 2009, Luther founded YakAttack, an industry-leading kayak accessory brand, and in 2016 decided to form Bonafide Kayaks, with a goal of producing the highest quality, most fishable kayaks in the world. Luther currently serves as President of YakAttack and CEO of Bonafide Kayaks.

Innovation starts where conventional options end.”

HANS NUTZ

DESIGN MANAGER

Hans is an Industrial Designer with a Masters in Product Design from Auburn University.  He has over 18 years of experience in product design, design research and product development, and his experience range crosses several sectors including medical/surgical equipment and consumer power tool equipment. In 2011 Hans joined in the paddle sports industry.  A lifetime outdoors enthusiast and kayaker, Hans led a team through the development of several ground breaking angler specific models and accessories.  His achievements include industry recognition as Product of the year 2014 and Kayak of the year 2015 (KACA Awards);  multiple kayak selections as Outside Magazine Gear Guide and Inc. Magazine’s 10 Summer Gadgets and Gizmos. In 2016 Hans joined Luther Cifers, President of YakAttack, and a small start-up group that would become Bonafide Kayaks.  He is currently heading design at Bonafide Kayaks.

If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.” — Ralph Speth

KELLEY WOOLSEY

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

After spending the past 10 years helping build industry giant and Montreal, Quebec-based Pelican International into the largest kayak and SUP supplier in the world, Kelley is happy to be returning to the Greenville, SC area. Prior to Pelican, Kelley headed up marketing and sales for Greenville-based Confluence Watersports (now Confluence Outdoor) as their EVP of Marketing & Sales from 1999 to 2008 and has 10 years of experience as EVP Marketing and Sales at O’neill, Inc. in the Surf Industry prior to that. Kelley was drawn to Bonafide due to the authentic, grassroots culture as well as their family-oriented approach to business.

“I met some of the team at Bonafide, and saw that they lived and truly believed in their message and their culture, and I was eager to become a part of it.  I’m ecstatic about my new role.  I look forward to sharing my excitement and enthusiasm for these brands with our valued customer base and dealer networks!”

 

FELICIA SIMPKINS

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Felicia was born and raised in South Carolina. She is the mother of one adventurous little boy and spends most of her free time with DYI projects.  She has been in the paddle sports industry for more than 13 years and has loved every minute of it. After she left the industry for a year, becoming a part of the Bonafide Team was like returning home.  The connection between every team member is truly like family and the passion that is placed in every inch of these kayaks are immense.

It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

MATT MONTARULI

ENGINEERING MANAGER

Matt is an Engineer with over 8 years’ experience in product design and product development.  Matt graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Engineering and then went on to train as the Engineering Officer of the Watch for Nuclear Submarines.  Following his naval career Matt started in the outdoor industry designing products and parts for kayaks.  Growing up by the water he relished the opportunity to be a part of the kayaking world.  He’s now found a home at Bonafide Kayaks and encourages pushing innovation in the field of kayak fishing.

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Christopher Columbus

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