Kayak review

I’m thinking the name of this kayak should be SWAG, since I pretty much stole the dang thing and without a gun n all. Seriously, $200 for a kayak that sold for $1800 new, IF you could find one stateside. Its a German made boat and, well, German engineering and all. Yes, a stereotype but stereotypes usually have some basis in reality. To whit, what I bought is an early model Prijon Kodiak seakayak. 17′ length with 23″ beam. Serious cargo space and a cockpit that is snug and forgiving at the same time. (A good kayak should fit like a pair of comfy jeans. This one does.)

I got her home thursday evening, spent the rainy day saturday re-installing perimeter lines and setting up the rudder system. I had to make the straps that hold the cables to go into the adjusters/peddles, but that was a simple sewing project. I played around with the seat back and wasn’t horribly impressed at this point. I was thinking that I was going to order a Immersion Research backband. I had one in the Pirouette and it flat rocked, but they are a little on the pricey side. (I’ve told ya all time and again, I am a cheap-ass,,,) I decided to hold off until maiden float, and that was a matter of waiting for weather to break. (Note. No issues with seat back. noted other than a new retainer strap needed. I’ll keep it)

Woke up today to DARK nasty cloud cover that looked like it was trying to decide between thunderhells or white-out snowstorms. My hopes fell through the soles of my feet and I resigned myself to a day of simple domestic duties since, well, its just me; Voodoo and Grumpykat are shitte for getting the house clean. Usually they are counter to such; especially Voo as he loves to get a dustbath before coming in for the night. (Shoulda been named Pigpen,,,)

By the time the churches were letting loose, those nasty clouds had their ass kicked by sunlight overhead and had retreated to the horizons, spoiling for a comeback later this eve. My hopes rose to my knees and started simmering. Maybe I’ll get out and wet yet,,,

Tahellwidit, I’m hitting the lake!!!!

I promise, next time, the camera is going with me. I swear it upon Grizzykats grave!!! And I really wish I had it this time just to show details about what I am getting ready to describe to you.

This boat is SICK!!!! OH. MY. GAWD!!! I fell back in love with kayaking within MINUTES!! Whoever designed this hull frickin NAILED IT. I have always struggled holding a kayak on edge. This one I can lay it on edge, deep enough to get the skirt edges in the water and hold it there with almost no effort. This is critical since the keel on this boat is board straight for almost its whole length. To turn quick and smooth, you have to get on edge to show the rocker of the hull sides. It will turn in the straight, about as fast as steaming freightliner, and even with the rudder down, its sluggish to turn without that edge up. For the 2 hours I was on water, I only had the rudder down twice: once for initial check and the second time when I actually needed the assist. The rudder really does what a rudder should in this case: minor corrections for wind and current. I did need it crossing the lake with around a 10 knot wind off my port bow. She wanted to cock into the wind: with the rudder pushing the bow starboard, I was able to keep paddling for speed, not course correction. A skeg would have been just as effective (maybe more so, but I’m not gonna argue with the end result since I haven’t a skeg in place.) and I was able to hit my point and still have my breath about me. Weathercocking is not a bad thing, its a nature of the boat and the weather neutral boats I have paddled were turds in all other aspects.

Fast. Jeez is this boat fast. Lean in a bit and short stroke the paddle, and this thing takes off like a horse with a bee on its butt. I didn’t take phone, camera or gps (fully expected an unintentional capsize and didn’t want to lose anything) so an actual speed rate will have to wait, but in comparison to my other boats, she is faster than Serena, near equal to Duh!kee and would leave the Viz tossed in a wake pattern, even giving the Viz a 200 yard headstart. Those not familiar with the boats, Duhkee was made for racing and has a narrower hull and equal waterline to Serena and is sharp as a knife on the cutwaters; she slices water with almost no wake. The speed I felt blew me away. Duh!kee is less than half the weight of this boat and at the center hull, this boat is 2″ wider in beam. Duh!k does turn faster, but she is also a rockered hull and she doesn’t edge for squat without pushing a capsize. (Her figure at center is almost round with no defined chines to push back against the water. ) with this boat weighing in at 67# dry (feels like 70+ when approaching the water with it on your shoulder.) and Duh!k being 30 even, I would think the two couldn’t match. Wrong!!! A guy on the shore fishing even made comment that he thought I had a motor under her, as fast as I took off

Rolling: didn’t try it, YET. Reason; no support person, water was cloudy and this is a fishing lake that is notorious for stray fishing line binding up small boats. If I can’t see, I’m not going to risk getting straightjacketed under water by some monofilimant strings. I did set up near a rock and do some hipsnaps, even went so far as full inversion with one hand out on rock. The responsiveness of the thigh hooks (which fit like a pair of jeans on my legs) was effortless. She rolled back upright and not so fast as to pull me over the rest of the way. Not weak, but not aggressive either. I’ll take her to the pool and give her (me) a good work over soon enough.

Synopsis: KEEPER!!! (Now I need to consider selling off a boat that I know isnt going to get used much anymore,,,,😿)