Kayakers for Cruisers

Winter 2007

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alex Matthews

If you’re looking for a kayak to carry on your big boat, here are a number that lend themselves to mothershipping. All are 13 feet or less, or fold to make storage aboard easy.

Advanced Elements – AF  www.advancedelements.com
The AdvancedFrameTM is a hybrid of a folding frame kayak and an inflatable kayak. Its bow slices through water like a knife and rivals the trackability of hard-shell kayaks. The stern acts as a skeg, increasing the tracking performance. It uses extremely durable materials and high-end components. There is plenty of on-board storage room for extended trips. It sets up in just a few minutes and is compact enough to take along on a weekend adventure.

BoréalDesign – Ookpik   www.borealdesign.com
The Ookpik is a very stable recreational kayak. It has a large, comfortable cockpit, offering its occupant greater freedom of movement. This kayak is ideally suited for exploring lakes or rivers and for short trips along the coastline.

Delta – Delta 12.10   www.deltakayaks.com
A very capable, fully outfitted, well proportioned smaller sea kayak with excellent initial and secondary stability. Designed to fit a wide range of paddlers wanting a high level of performance in a smaller, lighter package. It has all the features you will find in all Delta’s longer touring sea kayaks, including front and rear hatches and bulkheads for safety and dry storage. Its lightweight yet rugged construction makes it an excellent choice for loading on and off the car, sailboat or motoryacht.

Easy Rider – Cub Scout    www.easyriderkayaks.com
Cub Scout can be paddled kayak or canoe style. It can be rowed like a dinghy, or converted into a rowing trainer with a sliding seat assembly. And when equipped with an Airfoil Sail, it becomes a sporty sailer. Cub Scout is also a great platform for snorkeling and swimming. It floats any way you turn it—on its side, even upside down. A perfect boat for youngsters and all-around family fun!

Eddyline – Skylark   www.eddyline.com
While essentially a recreational kayak in size and fit, the Skylark has been endowed with much more consideration to the features and performance found in a full fledged sea kayak. It has abundant stability and a roomy fit to make the entry level paddler comfortable, yet the efficiency to keep up with longer boats on an easy cruise. At the same time the more experienced paddler will have fun, with added hard chines for carving and Greenland styling for looks.

Lightspeed Kayaks – Fusion   www.lightspeedkayaks.com
The Fusion is the ultimate big boat companion. It’s surprisingly fast for a 12’ kayak as almost all of its length is also waterline length. It is designed with a fine entry and exit which adds to its speed potential and a long, smooth glide. It features a dual channel hull bottom for high stability and great tracking while allowing quick handling. While it makes an excellent kayak for shoreline exploration we’ve also designed in a large cockpit for ease of entry from a swimgrid or deck.

Feathercraft – Kahuna   www.feathercraft.com
Playful and lightweight and best of all, the Kahuna folds out of the way for easy storage. Quick and easy to assemble. Being only 35 lbs, it accelerates quickly and is easy to handle. An upswept bow makes a fine water entry, and the defined keel allows the kayak to track well. A rudder is not necessary, but it is an available option. Optional hatches are also available which will simplify gear loading if you plan multi day trips.

Foldlite – Monarch I    www.foldlite.com
This amazing 19-pound boat carries 250 pounds and has only 26 pieces. No pump needed here and its ease of assembly offers you a variety of modular-designed-hard-shell boats that are changing more than 2000 years of kayak building history. It’s slick, easy to assemble and use. For travel, your Foldlite stores in an 8” x 22” x 33” water-resistant backpack.

Innova – Helios I   www.innovakayak.com
The Helios I is the new single version of the award-winning Helios 380EX inflatable kayak. This 10 foot kayak weighs only 24 lbs, and it comes in its own drybag/backpack. Small enough to be legal carryon airline luggage, the Helios I will fit easily in any boat cockpit locker. Made of two types of rubber coated materials, on the exterior of the hull, a rugged Nitrylon synthetic rubber coated material is used, while on the decks and the interior, Lite-Pack fabric is used to save weight.

Ocean Kayak – Frenzy   www.oceankayak.com
The new Frenzy sit-on-top kayak is an ideal boat for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxing time on the water. The streamlined Frenzy features a spacious, ergonomic seating area with foot wells crafted into the forward deck to help maximize leverage while paddling. It has a built-in keel for superior tracking and an efficient hull shape that allows for fun on flat water and in the surf.

Seaward – Intrigue   www.seawardkayaks.com
Seaward’s Intrigue in ZY-TX thermoform is a cute and fun kayak. The window in the hull is as close to snorkeling as you can get without getting wet! It has a full waterline length and goes well in a straight line, unlike many short kayaks. It has recessed fittings, a hatch, a bulkhead and a large cockpit. At just 39 lbs it is comfortably light, but the ZY-TX plastic is tough and strong with a built in UV protector. Explore the inter tidal zone, or an anchorage, the Intrigue is a great way to get on the water.

Waters Dancing – Lightning   www.watersdancing.com
The Lightning 12 is a very stable boat that tracks and turns beautifully, and has ample storage space. Construction time is 85 to 110 hours depending on whether you build it as a regular kayak or a take-a-part. The Lightning weighs only 32 lbs.