Choosing a Current Designs Kayak
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A confident paddler can effortlessly roll on edge and smoothly recover from any amount of lean—or from being upside down. Current Designs Kayak has followed that simple philosophy since its founding in British Columbia in the late 1970s. Those earliest kayaks by Brian Henry were made for experiencing the wonder and beauty of the big waters of the west coast, cruising for days and camping out on remote shorelines. Your Current Designs kayak is made to be a work of art- beautiful, inspiring- and made for life- safety and reliability, relaxation and connection, and joy. All 4 of the kayaks I have owned feel like they have a pretty nice glide at a touring pace.
I have the Solstice High…
But they have a lower profile than the North American boats, and thus are better suited to windy conditions and rougher waters. The Greenland style kayaks are the Caribou, Isle, Rumour, and Suke models. These boats are the the polar opposite of the North American style, as they have low profile decks, and are much narrower.
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Featuring a large recreational cockpit, this boat allows for easy entry and exit. Our new Revolution Seating System and plenty of leg room make for an extremely comfortable ride. Men, women, and children alike, everybody in the family will love paddling the Kestrel 120.
I have owned the Solstice GT…
Transitional kayaks in Current Designs’ lineup bridge the gap between recreational and touring kayaks. These boats fit in the popular “day touring” category, borrowing elements from dedicated touring kayaks, packaged in the size of recreational kayaks. The flagship Vision series is available in five different sizes and a tandem model to suit paddlers of every size. Sanborn Canoe Company is excited to announce the purchase of Current Designs Kayaks. The Equinox line (GTS and GT, following the same sizing recommendations as the Solstice) is a shorter 16’ in length. Still long enough to provide a smooth glide through the water, it gives up some extra space for gear.
Current Designs advertises that the Solstice GT can keep up with anything in the water. Yes, any boat with a 24" beam. It won't keep up with a Brit boat with a 21" beam, but in general I agree with their speed claim. The GT is surprisingly slippery and efficient, and I have no complaints about speed.
I bought a Kevlar GT after…
Touring Kayak Review: Current Designs Equinox GT - Paddling Magazine
Touring Kayak Review: Current Designs Equinox GT.
Posted: Sun, 28 Feb 2021 16:52:08 GMT [source]
Our comprehensive Paddling Buyer’s Guide is a great place to start your research. Touring kayaks are typically recognizable by their sleek longer waterlines, and abundant space for extra gear if needed. Current Designs began with touring in mind, building kayaks for extended trips on the waters around Vancouver Island, so we offer a handful of kayaks that meet these needs really well. We’re going to broadly break down the types of kayaking you might do, and what kayak will best meet your needs.
In contrast, touring kayaks are designed to float even when swamped to facilitate open-water rescues (an important skill you will want to learn in a kayaking course). These designs blend features from Greenland-style kayaks, as well as British and North American-style boats. Of these, 2 models make excellent options for touring, the 16’ Sisu and 17’ Prana. Regarding that age-old tradeoff, speed versus maneuverability, the CD design team clearly prefers to beat the playboaters to the campsite.
This is perfect for paddlers who want to spend several days on a trip. It’s also great for day paddlers wanting more speed in a day touring boat. The stability and rudder also make it handy for photography. We like the fit and layout of the cockpit and the positioning of the rear bulkhead close to the seat to maximize day hatch space. The front deck and simple, effective moulded-in thigh braces are high enough for large paddlers without sacrificing performance fit. Discriminating bottoms are well supported by an elongated seat and plush, fully adjustable back rest.
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I young friend who paddled with us this summer commented that, as I entered a small It is as responsive as the Explorer and my wife’s Ellesmere when edged and with the correct stroke. The other definition of turn, could be simply turning the kayak around in a circle. I can do a 360 degree turn in a combination of four or five bow and stern sweeps, with the boat on edge and loaded. The fit and finish are superb in what I have viewed and seen. The foot pedal bolts are glassed in rather than the "thru hull" screws that some use and the gelcoat/ glass job is perfect and beautiful. The only issue I had with the finish is normal wear on the rear deck where I keep my spare paddle, it has some scuffing from my long trips and light scratches around the scuffs, but that is to be expected.
Purchasing a used Craigslist kayak is a great way to get started with paddling, especially if you want a low-cost trial period to make sure you like kayaking before making a larger investment in a new boat. Searching Craigslist for kayaks for sale is also a great option for experienced paddlers who want to try out a new style of paddling or type of boat for cheap. For bigger water, you can also step up to the Karla 15’3” or Sisu 16’ Danish-style kayaks, or the Equinox GT or GTS 16’ kayak.
We're still getting an amazing real-time custom builder made for our website, so for now you should contact us to get a personalized mockup of your dream kayak. It may take a bit of patience and perseverance to find the right one, but through online classifieds like Kijiji or Craigslist, Current Designs kayaks can be found. Sea kayaks are a niche item, and looking on special-interest pages or Facebook groups, such as a regional paddling club, may quicken the search. These dedicated groups are frequented by avid paddlers, so the kayaks will likely be in better condition.
On my trip I had about 20 Lbs of equipment stowed and it did seem to provide a more calm stable ride than when empty, which makes sense, the boat is designed for long tour cargo weights. I cannot roll, so I use wet exit reentry and this boat is great for that. In the conditions I go out in I can easily climb back onto the back deck and crawl back into the cockpit, just like a big paddleboard.
It is slimmer and sleeker than the Solstice or Equinox models, offering excellent speed in the water, while its lines make great maneuverability on edge. The Prana is great for paddlers seeking a more active experience. Added hatches (day hatch behind, whiskey hatch in front), give you convenient dry storage space when the weather really takes a turn for the worse. It’s available in both a Standard volume and Low-Volume options, the latter perfect for smaller paddlers and those looking for a tighter Greenland-style experience. The comfort of the seat is very good for long paddling days.
The Sisu is going to be noticeably more playful than that, but the most maneuverable and playful of all will be the 15’3” Karla. Shorter than the Sisu and still a bit wider, it is built for maximum maneuverability, and the hull shape makes it very predictable regardless of which direction the waves are taking you. It still features the added hatches of the other Danish models, making it a great day paddling kayak as well. Like the others, the Karla is available in a Standard Volume for medium and larger paddlers, as well as a Low volume version, for small and medium paddlers. Available in 3 sizes (GTS for small to medium paddlers, GT for medium to large paddlers, and Titan for Large and XL paddlers).
I’ve seen 20-year-old Current Designs kayaks that look brand new because they’ve been stored carefully and never dragged up a beach. Fiberglass boats seem to better stand the test of time, but plastic kayaks that are stored indoors can be an equally good buy. The mistake of buying your kayak on Craigslist but not looking into what else you need to be safe on the water could have grave consequences. Safety on the water starts with a properly-fitted, Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD). A paddling PFD offers both floatation and enough mobility to move your arms and rotate your torso to paddle efficiently.
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