This is What a Luxury Kayak Looks Like! | P&H Volan 160 Review
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2023
- The P&H Sea Kayaks Volan 160 is a 16-foot sea kayak made with carbon and kevlar. It is without out a doubt one of the most beautiful kayaks that I've ever touched. The question I want to answer is how good is the Volan and is the P&H Volan worth the hefty price.
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Gear I have tested and recommend:
Paddles:
Aqua-bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece (rec/touring) bit.ly/43KLWQb
Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid 2-piece (Rec/Touring bit.ly/41VdlND
Aqua-bound Shred (whitewater) bit.ly/3L9h04E
PFDs:
NRS Chinook PFD (fishing) bit.ly/3AaGAzS
NRS Zen PFD (whitewater) bit.ly/3odrMxK
NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec) bit.ly/41yCpK0
Dry Gear / Layers:
NRS Flux Dry Top bit.ly/41EvCyC
NRS Riptide Splash Jacket bit.ly/3L9awmd
NRS Axiom Dry Suit bit.ly/3A6RdUj
Shirts:
NRS Silkweight Long-Sleeve Shirt - Mens bit.ly/3KOMegb
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Pants:
NRS Benny Board Shorts bit.ly/41fyAtm
Footwear:
NRS Boundary Boot: bit.ly/3Lb8Clo
NRS Kicker Wetshoe: bit.ly/3H6Sjna
NRS Paddle Wetshoe: bit.ly/3V3cYhx
Astral PFD Sandal bit.ly/41EiFVc
Sunglasses: Wiley X Outdoor Sun Glasses bit.ly/3NtJQKR
Other Paddling Gear:
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NRS Drylander Shock Cord Sprayskirt bit.ly/41g8C9l
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I purchased a P&H Kevlar kayak 20 years ago. Now that I’m 70 I really appreciate that it’s only 42 pounds when I’m putting it on the roof or carrying it to the launch by myself. I believe this is a similar volume and I regularly use it for camping.
That hull design is virtually identical to the Pygmy Boats Murrelet that I built. This is close to the original Inuit sea kayaks that were skin on frame. For me it is the fastest, most comfortable and maneuverable boat in big water. It is interesting how that hull design and low deck keeps coming back in performance boats. The Inuit got it right.
Yep. For anyone who doesn’t want to pay these prices, there’s a better way. Want a boat that performs similarly, will give you pride, and give you hours of entertainment off the water?
Build a skin on frame kayak!
@@nunyabidness3075 Absolutely, and you can get out for well under 48-50 lbs, and far cheaper if you don't count your labor. Cape Falcon kayaks online courses are a great way to get guidance and support through your build. No affiliation. Same as taking a paddling class, if you're new to building, take a building class.
@@nunyabidness3075as if all of the hardware, tools, and workshop space won't add up to even more. I'm sure it's a great option if youre already skilled and have most of the tools
@@gavin-1237 I don’t think the tools actually will add up to very much. Obviously you have to find space, but space to store a boat isn’t much less. Time is a double edged sword. If you find the time building is a leisure activity then it’s a benefit. If, on the other hand, you see it as drudgery, then don’t even start.
I've had my Volan for a little over a year and can confirm his praise of the boat. It does love a little wind and waves and is actually most fun in those conditions. Remarkably stable for a boat this narrow and maneuverable. Gulped hard at the price at the time but have never looked back with regret.
Drool.... Maybe when I'm older and the Virgos get too heavy to lug? I'm still in love with my boat that I found out about here and couldn't imagine not paddling it, so THANKS! I hope you have many many miles of enjoyment with the Volan! Also thanks for making my favorite YT paddling content.
There a long waiting list for the Volan, even in here in the UK. You wont find a better all rounder sea kayak than this one. I've used a Volan at my local club and its a middle age mans sweet dream to paddle. The Virgo is £1500 in the UK and easy to find. It weight in about 8kg more, plastic and almost as good. Easy to fix too. I'd love to see Ken compare and test both.
Man that is a gorgeous kayak, thats the dream right there.
It makes my plastic 16" Perception look clunky but I do love my old kayak.😅
It was what I could afford at the time, it's got great stability when loaded and despite its small size, has seen me through a few 2 week expeditions with some smart packing.
There is definitely something to be said for having a plastic kayak that doesn't make you cringe when you hit rocks! :)
enjoying the series, your breakdown of the boat is well done
Well, colour us flattered! Thanks for the review, Ken!
Does this kayak share its design with Leo?
@@vitogaudiuso7835 no, the designs of the Leo and the Volan differ quite significantly.
@@PHSeaKayaks thanks, for your answer. The nearest test center is 1000 km far from my hometown so the only info i can grab are reviews and pictures from the web.
Great review Ken, that kayak to me looks very much worth its prize. I am struggling at the moment with inflatables where I used to love the hard shells so much. This video really inspired me to focus back on hard shells, the main reason is I hate the lack of speed in these inflatables. Portability is something I would give up in a split second for that. I love packrafts to bits, but after screwing around with so many different inflatable kayaks, I've come to the conclusion that this is my first love I will return to. Thanks and greetz from the Netherlands.
I have paddled two outings now. The Volan is sweet. Very excited about this yak !
I paddle a Current Designs Sisu with a small front hatch like the Volan. I call it the snack hatch. If you do want to fit a water bottle in there, I recommend a collapsable one. Vapur or HydraPack make great ones. I usually put a water bottle in there with some sort of electrolyte drink mix so I can stop and sip that while I'm on the water :).
Hi Ken, I bought the Virgo following your earlier review, just love it! Since then I went for the P&H Aries 150, a little more rocker than the Volan but lighter still at 19kgs, Being a small person and over 70 years of age this just works, carrying to the car is now not a problem. The P&H quality, design, and workmanship are amazing. I always enjoy your honest and valued reviews. David UK.
That's awesome to hear you're loving the Virgo... although it doesn't surprise me! We're doing a family paddling trip today, and I'm throwing my 12 year old daughter in the Virgo because I trust it so much. :).
Hi Ken, I'm new to the hobby, but I just wanted to let you know that I am loving your content! Very well made, the production value is off the roof!
I agree. Only thing I am critical of is all the promotion of products without letting viewers clearly understand that he is sponsored by different produsers. When recommandations is made to buy these products, I tend to think twice of how objective it is. Other than that I like the channel.
This one is on my list to try. Paddle an ndk romany at the moment. Great content, keep up the great work.
Enjoy your kayak Ken! ☮️😊
The P&H Volan is a quiver killer! I kayak guide for a living and have tuns of boats but seem to only grab the Volan everyday.
Thanks for the Review! I'm considering the Volan 160 as one of my "lifetime kayaks" and am eager to try one. Sounds like it is a real blast! It is worth noting that if you custom order from P&H, in addition to picking the colours, then you can work with them to do things like a custom front bulkhead position (more gear space in front hatch!) and getting rid of the small day hatch (and maybe even the bigger rear one too?) if that is your preference. If it is going to be a lifetime kayak, choices like these are important and maybe worth spending a bit more...
Love that kayak!
I have a Current Designs Squamish 15/8 with a skeg.
It is fiberglass and was 3K new....its 20 yrs old now.
I find its the perfect size. British style are my favorite.
That size is the sweet spot....I understand the price 😮💨
I love my Virgo but I really want either the Aries 155 or the Volan 160. My dream boats. I may have to sell something first lol. Thanks for the great review Ken!
Guernsey UK. I have a Volan 16 top of the range 20kg, red deck with white hull. It is fantastic, and when I retract the skeg it turns amazingly. It is very stable, comfortable and reasonably fast. I do stay away from rocks however, I also have a P & H Virgo 14.5 ft which is fine for going close to rocks.
What a great combo of boats!
Love my Cetus. I am sure this one is great as well.
Nice choice. I have had a couple of used composite kayaks. My Current Designs Solstice GTS was a little too small for my body and a little to hard to turn so I sold it. My Current designs Kestral was just to fragile for the rocky rivers I paddle so I replaced it with an Epic V7. I've yet to replace the Current Designs Solstice but I'm looking a nice used Carbon Kevlar Capella 169. One thing about used composite boats is that they really hold their value. New composite boats hold there value to or even appreciate if you keep them long enough.
They are such beautiful kayaks. I'm after one - seen quite a few out on Anglesey and they really suit the conditions there. Olly Sanders did a really good review of it. Not sure of that red colour scheme though!
Nice choice, P&H made good stable boats. Impressive weight for the dimensions, would be a treat to carry.
For those shocked by the price, you traditionally get most, or all of the purchase price back when you sell it. Use 404 or a similar religiously, do repairs on deep gouges. Store it out of the sun, etc.
Modern composites are wonderful.
What is 404?
@@mairnealachamu It’s a cleaner and protectant line of products. The protectant is basically sun screen for your boat (car or plane).
@@nunyabidness3075I am familiar with 303 Protectant. Don’t know about 404
Never considered getting something along with my Cetus HV, but this would be an awesome option.
What a "Dream Boat"! Referring to the Volan of course 😁 I think I would be too stressed out landing that boat on those pink granite islands in Georgian Bay 😀
Nice boat Ken. I juyt got my Virgo earlier this year and was surfing it 2-2.5m waves earlier this afternoon. P&H kayaks are amazing.
Very nice! Can't wait to hit some surf again... It's too far away from where I live in Ontario. I do have amazing whitewater though. I just tested a different sea kayak in the rapids a couple of days ago, and people looked at me like I was crazy. :)
@@PaddleTV Was it on the Ottawa river? I want to paddle it with my Virgo.
Awesome to see you in Knoxville!
I was blown away by Knoxville! What a cool, outdoors-loving city! Did some mountain biking while I was there too, and couldn't believe the trail system!
@@PaddleTV TN has done a very nice job with their state parks
I could see how much you enjoyed it by your smile peddling it. :-)
Watch Ken try to seriously review this without gushing. 😂😅😊 The crush is on!
Ha! :)
where do you keep all of your kayaks and paddleboards. i would have no clue where to put all of them.
That is a sweet looking kayak
feature Delta kayaks out of BC....and try the Greenland paddle by GearLab in the states. Amazing carbon paddles....takes half the energy to paddle for hours.
I recently did videos with both a Delta kayak and a Greenland paddle! You must be a mind reader! :)
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Petrel Play 14’ kayak.
It's certainly a very pretty boat. I think I'd have preferred a bluff stern for some extra water line and the option to very solidly mount a rudder box. Sure, you can do other rudder mount options with it, I just think it's extra strong & light weight if it supports a longer pin. If the pin is short, you need a thicker heavier mount, rather than 2mm sheet SS pintails.
I have a 70s built 17'6" Geoff Barker designed Sea Wasp (fibre glass), which is probably a bit too much volume for my smaller frame these days, it's more of a rounded hull but about the same beam over all. I can maintain 8 kmph for several hours, but have had it up to 10kmph in a sprint before I'm done. I am 65 though so can't expect too much these days. In some ways I think the Volan would suit me better, but the Sea Wasp was just much more affordable on the 2nd hand market.
For a lot of people, the shorter length will be faster. What a lot of people don't get is that at displacement speeds, the majority of the drag is just skin friction. So all other things being equivalent, the shorter boat will have less surface area and therefor less drag than a longer boat at the same speed. However as a boat approached it's hull speed, wave making drag rises sharply & becomes the speed limiting factor for low power craft like canoes & kayaks. Wave making speed is a function of length. the longer the hull, the faster it can go before reaching it's hull speed limit. However, the longer boat will require more power from the paddler at any speed below hull speed. This means that the more limited a paddlers power is, the shorter their optimum performance hull will be. So 16 foot would generally be the best choice for a smaller, more slightly built paddler who can't & is not likely to develop the power to reach a longer kayaks potential top cruising speed. Someone who is large, powerful and has high endurance at high loads will be able to exploit the potential of a longer hull & that may well be their best choice.
Just listened to the Paddling the Blue podcast featuring Douglas Wilcox of world fame to sea kayakers. His reviews helped with the development of the Volan and its his fav boat!!
Very cool to hear! I can appreciate why! :)
I would love it if you included metric measurements when you show the specs
Nice boat from one of the premier UK builders, it would be nice to see a comparison with some of the others such as Valley's Nordkapps and the ultra modern Taran from Rockpool
I prefer the Valley Nordkapp. I love this kayak.
Take a course, or several! I learned more in my first 2 hour class than I did in the previous 2 years of "just paddling". And learn to roll early. You don't HAVE to learn to roll, but being able to saves so much trouble when you inevitably will capsize. Rolling is not black magic or the pinnacle of kayaking skills, but a basic skill IMO. It is also a gateway to improving other skills like edging because you know you can recover if you capsize. Nice looking kayak.
good description of the value of the roll. Now that I have my roll down I'm able to push myself harder with other skills because the consequence of a flip is simply a wet upper body and not a swim.
Yep learn to roll and have a bombproof self rescue in case you miss the roll.
Great review, Ken. I’m looking for a lightweight sea kayak in the 16 to 17 foot range. Best candidate so far is the Eddyline Fathom. How does the Volan compare with the Fathom?
The people commenting on your kayak- yes that’s something they would do in my neck of the woods in the K-town area. I bet that was too much fun.
Very nice kayak !
I've seen your review of the Canadian made Swift cruiser canoe but have you ever tried any Swift kayaks ?!
I just put a hefty down-payment on a Swift Saranac I5 LC (large cockpit) with skeg that is supposed to ready by approximately mid to late July, it's not technically a "sea kayak" & I don't intend to use it as such (mostly paddling on my local lake, Lake Simcoe), but it is only 24inches wide with soft chines, very sublte rocker & kevlar fusion at only 40lbs, they are very beautifully well made boats as well & I can't wait to get it !
I haven't tried a Swift Kayak yet. Hopefully at some point I'll get the chance. From what I know, I think you're going to be very happy!
Can tell by the lack of wake that it is slick in the water. Nice watercraft.
As with any review of a composite boat they never mention the danger s of using them in shallow water or around rocks , this limits the use of them alot
This is 2023, not 1970. The only real danger is scratches. That boat is stupid solid. Most of them that get really damaged do so out of the water.
@@nunyabidness3075 lol not sure what experience you have but that is absolutely wrong . I do alot of sea kayaking and be around coastline where there are rocks and not ONE kayaker will bring their composite boats out on these trips because of the dangers . Many have learnt from previous experiences
@@shaneshankly4518 I don’t think most users of touring kayaks are going to be around conditions where the boat is likely to get a break in the hull. I cannot speak to your location because you did not, nor have not mentioned it. I think the problem I have with your OP is it’s complete generality. Perhaps you should review it. I use composite boats around shallow water and rocks all summer every summer. The local outfitters rent them to novices here, and in places I have traveled to as well. They aren’t running scams to charge for repairs, either.
Companies now make white water canoes out of composites for a reason. It works.
No, if you’re wanting to surf on waves where you are likely to get dropped several feet onto rocks, and you don’t do your own composite repairs, you might want a boat you can repair yourself or afford to replace. I’d suggest most people buy boats to use in water, not as cushions for bouncing their bodies off of rocks. I’ve seen those videos.
Bottom line here is that your comment was so general as to be false.
I used to sell composite aircraft, and put up with this sort of thing for years before 2008 came along and ruined a once great industry trying its best to recover from the FAA and many other government institutions trying to kill it. The company I represented, Diamond Aircraft, was sold to the ChiComs. We could not outsell Cessna who still sells the death trap spam cans they designed over half a century ago. Our planes have now been proven over time to be less than half as likely to be in a fatal accident.
I wonder how many lives are being tallied up yearly because people consistently spread the false arguments about the quality and safety of our aircraft. Cessna STILL sells the same basic training plane today, and is still number one in flight training aircraft. They have, somewhat unsuccessfully, tried to become a composite plane manufacturer.
@@shaneshankly4518 i and the people I paddle with certainly take our composite boats into rock gardens. Deep deep deep into them.
Sure you don’t bash into things recklessly, but modern construction means they can take a lot of punishment. Search in YT “This is the Sea NZ” and watch those surf landings onto rocky shores in composite boats and they can handle it.
I used to be pretty scared of getting damage, but am planning a circumnavigation of Tasmania. Southern Ocean swells mean you are going to have to get through rocks. I need to know what it can handle. Been taking my pretty expensive composite boat in very close to see what it can take. One rock interaction where I could feel the hull deforming as I washed onto a rock shelf left a 4 inch scratch in the gel coat but did not expose the fibres.
As one of the designers said to me when I asked his thoughts of taking that boat into rocks. “That’s what we designed and built them for”
nice boat... Bot I like more vertical sterm and bow for expedition kayak
Hi Ken, Did you find the contoured seat comfortable? Almost everyone I put in the Volan dislikes the seat as it is angled so aggressively forward at the back of the seat and it seems that particularly with the Volan as opposed to the other P and H kayaks (like the Virgo), I can't seem to crank the backband forward enough to not have the sloping seat really bother me at the tailbone. I know they have a (performance) flatter seat option, not sure what the purpose of the rise at the back of the standard seat is? Would love to hear your thoughts.
would loved to paddle one. If only I could have the 158 width and the 160 length I would be in sight unseen!!
6k kayaks deserve at least a decent torso rotation 😅. It would be nice to see the kayak under the conditions for which it was developed 😉.
Agreed! I need to get this kayak into some ROUGH STUFF!
@@PaddleTV I'm curious, it seems to me that if the boat can handle ocean waves it wouldn't have problems with class III WW as long as you miss the rocks. I'm wondering if anyone has done the Grand Canyon or other major rivers with big rapids in a boat like the Volan.
@@joshinfwtx4506James Manke has done the GC in a sea kayak, I am pretty sure he used a Greenland paddle as well.
I want to know when they make an 18 footer!
This is a high rocker, HARD chine kayak almost the entire waterline length, for turning easily in rough water. Skeg or not, it is not a real touring kayak, but a play sea kayak designed for rough surf and rocky shorelines. For this style of kayak, it is quite wide, with most in class being 21.5 to 22.5 incher wide. It competes with Tiderace and Greenland designs from Current Designs, or from Valley. Your whitewater river background is showing here.
Yeah, my first thought when he was talking about how narrow it is, and then said it was 23" wide, I was all "Yeeesh, that's a barge compared to my 16'6" long, 21" wide kayak," LOL!
Douglas Wilcox of worldwide sea adventuring fame has “replaced”all his sea kayaks with the Volan.
It’s always a compromise with boats, this one covers a lot of bases.
FYI- I picked my Volan 160 up today. What a beautiful piece of art. I’m so stoked. Kevlar Carbon 42 lbs perfect for this 63 year old man. Keep an eye on my channel. I’ll be showing my Volan soon, madden voyage tomorrow.
Hey Ken, how would you compare the Volan to the PH Ares?? Does the 1/2 - 1ft length make a difference??
I haven't tried the Ares yet... but good question. My guess is that the Ares is even a fair bit more maneuverable/playful than the Volan, because it's a little shorter and it seems to have even more rocker. I look forward to finding out firsthand!
Watching this as a European: the only measurement I can make sense of is the money. So I just trust the rest of what you say
Bet thw Volan would be great on the Great Lakes.
Curious of what kayaks you have in your fleet ken
I think the question might be - what kayaks don't I have in my fleet! :) I'm spoiled rotten in that way.
4 grand is too much. I have a 13' Ocean Kayak that's gotten too heavy for me to lug around. Im looking for a touring kayak that a sit on top. If I found one with a small opening and I'd need to widen both length and width but cutting into it. How much would this throw off the tracking?
He's showing us probably one of the most beautiful kayaks known to man, and here I am paddling a $100 inflatable kayak. I'm going to paddle at night so no one can see me I'm so ashamed😪
Why is it shame to paddle a 100 dollar inflatable kayak?! Most important thing is that you find your joy and as long as you're using it I asume you're enjoying.
No reason to feel ashamed, just be sure to paddle in conditions that match your kayak and skill level.
Paddle with 45 to 60 of your friends, each in a $100 inflatable, and I bet you'll have more fun than you would in this :)
Don't forget a light .. I guess a cheap one? 😅.
Feeling a bit envious should never lead to shame.... Enjoy your time on the water and all the money you save.
@@6yjjk Yep, watching folks on the water, the cheaper the kayak the more fun people seem to have.
Would be nice to see boats like these tested in waters with a bit more fun and purpose
I agree... and I look forward to doing just that!
Do you feel like your legs are pretty flat? I sat in a 160 and felt a bit tight. Im curious how the 162 will compare.
I didn't feel that my legs were flat, and I'm pretty tall at 6'2"
BKC MPK12 Modular Kayak - Paddle & Seat do a review..
Just wondering, did this Kayak Company gift you with this for your raving review?
It comes with a few great features - the greatly decreased weight and the skeg slider -, but the finish is not stellar (2:49, 3:31) and the interior does look cheap (no one will know, right?). Definitely, made for those who want a seemingly good flashy boat for the price of what to them might be peanuts.
That's a fantastic Kayak but there's no way I'd take it into a rock garden. I'll take a chunky plastic thing but no way would I risk that.
Wow! as always super realistic and cool, friendly.... Videos
Would it be completely wrong to compare this model with the P+H Dolphin?
Hmmmmmm...??? your opinion would much interested.
Thanks for your comments I love them and always look forward to new ones.
:-)
Greetings from Switzerland
Phil
Hi Phil. That's a good question. I've never tried the Delphin, but I do know it's a playful kayak. There are probably some real similarities. Hope to be able to compare them soon!
The Aries is much more comparable to the Delphin... they are almost the same shape. The Aries is basically a composite Delphin. Or you could say that the Delphin is a basically plastic Aries :)
Luxury kayak: Valley Nordkapp!
I agree, it’s a lifetime kayak. Takes a lifetime to save the $6000.00 they cost !
😂 So true. Maybe Elon can loan us underling’s the lute🤪
The Volin is a Hard Chined -not soft-design…similar to the CD Caribou kayak.
I hate a day hatch-- almost impossible to get anything out of it while you are on the water and it kills vital storage space right behind the seat. That's where I pack my sleeping bag!
I'm really mixed on them... my personal boat doesn't have a day hatch and I can pack all the biggest, heaviest items like fuel and water as close to the centre of the boat as possible which I think ideal, and my back hatch can swallow a TON of gear. That being said, I recently had a rental with a day hatch and really liked having a fairly large spot to dump loose items that I like having fast access to like lunch, first aid, rain jacket, sunscreen, etc.
@@matte-d349 That's what the cockpit 'front' hatch is for-- love that little hatch right in front of me!
Compared to high end mountain bikes, that's a cheap price.
Haha I’ve got friends who are keen cyclists and they cannot believe how little difference in price there is between elite and moderate sea kayaks. Or what we call high price!
A boat like that screams to be handled with a greenland paddle. There are abilities that cannot be unlocked with a Euro paddle.
Ok so get a prenuptial
Ha! Good point.
That's a lot of money for extruded plastic pieces.
Sorry Ken you don't do unbiased review s 😂😅 you do sponsored reviews 😅
You have any real basis for that accusation?
Ken reviews products available for the American market. If he had to buy all the products himself then he'd be down about 1/2 million pounds for a channel with less than 150,000 subscribers.
Yeah, no response. I suspect this is just more of the usual counterproductive whining from the actually non working class who get upset seeing prices they cannot afford. The more a company can sell its products for, the more it can pay for labor. People who can do good composite work make good money. Why whine about high priced goods instead of figuring out how to get in on the deal?
Oh yeah, that would take some work.
Shane tell me you voted for trump without telling me you voted for trump
@@JoeFiddle-ls5jh god help your little mind 🙏 sorry I am Irish and wise enough to never ever vote with the understanding how they all answer to the same masters . It truly is a pity Americans didn't have the intelligence to take a look at themselves and society 🙄🙄
Why? Even if your net worth is in excess of a million dollars, why would anyone spend 6 THOUSAND DOLLARS…hell, even 2 thousand dollars on stuff for a hobby most don’t even spend 12 hours per year doing. Are you in the olympics?Trying to set a marine speed record? Absolutely love spending hard earned money as frivolously as possible? SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS and it doesn’t have a motor, doesn’t clean your house or make meals for you or keep the rain/snow off your head and the only reaction you’ll get from other aquatic hobbyists is, “Holy crap, John, look at that…I can’t believe somebody was actually sucker enough to spend that much for something slower than our kayaks and we only spent $500 used for ours (high five)”. Companies, people and ‘yt influencers’ are getting so ridiculous I’m embarrassed to be in the same species.
I couldn't disagree more. I work hard to earn money so that I can enjoy life - not save money. The joy I get from paddling (and other outdoor activities) is immense, and great equipment only enhances the experience. I'm happy to spend hard-earned money on great gear. Is a $6000 kayak for everyone?? Absolutely not. But I'm sorry to tell you that a $500 kayak isn't for everyone as well!
Rudders are for posers. Real kayakers turn on edge.
Hi! Nice review. 6'4" 185lbs here finding this boat pretty tippy and hot to handle. I come from a Stellar S14 G2 and wanted something a little bit faster because am very fit, train a lot and am maxing that boat out but didn't want to give up much stability. Surfski obviously off the table yikes tried it a couple times all I did was flip. As you can guess my balance is absolutely terrible despite doing a lot of core work and functional training. Been paddling 20 years and only flipped once (when I didn't paddle a ski) but I always veered to very stable boats and I don't want to start going for swims! I like the lower weight for carrying and before selling my Volan any suggestion to modify the boat maybe fashioning internal racks on the bottom to put extra weight to improve stability?
Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend modifying the boat. You might be able to gain some stability, but it will likely come at a heavy cost in paddling performance. It sounds like you could use a touring kayak in the 24" - 26" width range. I tested a Delta 15.5GT very recently, and it offered a really nice balance of stability and comfort. It's 25" wide, I believe.
Thanks for reply. I currently also have an S14 G2 that I mostly enjoy but am so fit that I out-paddled that one. How many paddlers have you met that are more athlete than boat? It is pretty fast, can cruise at well over 6mph as long as I don't have to turn. Garmin/Whoop pretty much back this up with speed and heart rate data. Looking for faster boat than the S14 G2 (kayak) but hate to give up especially that much initial stability any ideas?@@PaddleTV