NDK kayaks are well designed. Individual boats may or may not be well
built. Some dealers turn back boats that arrive with incorrect customizations or shoddy workmanship. Word is that they are better than they were in the early days.
I ordered an Explorer LV with no footrails but front BH placed closer to the cockpit because I am small. The boat arrived with the BH placed FARTHER FORWARD instead
. The dealer offered to make Nigel take it back and send a replacement but I took it, figuring the next boat would have something else screwy. At least it was basically sound, but man it had an
ugly, crude opening for the coaming rim attachment area
. Oh, I think they had drilled one BH but not all, so I drilled the others myself.
A couple years later they started making the Pilgrim Expedition. There were none in the entire US to demo, but I had used a regular Pilgrim for a week at Body Boat Blade, and I really liked it. So I ordered the Expedition version, knowing there was a 6-month wait to get it. Turned out to be a one-year wait instead! Anyway, that boat was finished nicely, and I had ordered it stock plus keel strip to avoid customization mistakes. They might have not drilled one of the bulkheads, but since the day hatch sometimes gets a little bit of water inside after lots of rolling, I suspect the hole where the skeg cable passes from cockpit to dayhatch is not sealed well...or maybe not at all!
Addendum: When I wrote that the PEX was finished nicely, I do not mean perfectly! The stern tip had a gap in the trim strip that I fixed. Still looks crude there but it is holding up after 7 years of use. I take care when handling my boat, but as with any kayak that actually gets used, it has scratches and scuffs all over.