New Gear: 2009

Spring 2009

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

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Current Designs Isle

There shouldn’t be much mystery which island Current Designs had in mind when they named this new super-sized Greenlander – one of nine new boats by the CD crew for 2009. The Isle is made for the larger paddler with performance in mind and the benefits of a hard shallow-V chine. It is available in both fiberglass and Kevlar. www.cdkayak.com

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Werner Paddles

Werner expands its line of paddles for 2009 with the high-angle and high-value Tybee. It comes with fiberglass reinforced injection molded nylon blades and a carbon blend shaft. Great for recreational paddlers who prefer a high angle style of paddling, it weighs in at just 907 grams (32 ounces) at 210 cm. The blade length is 43 cm, the width 18.25 and the surface area 608 square cm. Length options range from 205 to 230 cm. The pricing: suggested retail at $130. www.werner.com

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Solo Rescue Assist

In the build a better mousetrap category, U.S. Navy engineer Phil Dang has added some refinements to his Solo Rescue Assist worth noting. If you're not familiar with Solo Rescue Assist, it reverses the concept of the traditional paddle float by using a counterbalance and the weight of water.
Essentially, a collapsing metal pole is capped by a vinyl bucket. Set up much like a paddle float in reverse, the bucket fills with water, and the counterbalance force created is enough that you can pull yourself up the outside of the boat and re-enter from the water. Coupled with an optional ladder system, it can help injured or potentially disabled paddlers to get back into the cockpit. And even for those mobile, the system is a leg up. Step up, keep your weight on the outside of the kayak, step in, sit down. The only trick is to keep your weight on the opposite end of the counterbalance. This is the reverse principle to the paddle float, where you enter from the same side as the float.
Dang's most recent touch to the contraption is a modified end cap that allows attachment of the counter-balance to any kayak with an eye pad located in the appropriate location forward of the cockpit. The counterbalance also has great applications for stability for fishing, resting and photography – anywhere you require balance. The force the bucket creates is virtually untippable. One on each side: a phenomenally stable outrigger system. www.solo-rescue-assist.com

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Pakboats XL line

With the new XTs, Pakboats is aiming for a new class of folding kayak: fast with over-all exceptional paddling performance. The XTs feature a new, stiff frame structure for longer, more efficient hulls with consistent rocker and a multi-chine cross-section for better performance. The moderate depth of the hulls minimizes wind effects and gets the gunwales out of the way of your hands for comfortable paddling. A 15-foot solo and 16-foot solo/double may seem short for this class of kayak, but with their steep stems, they have waterline lengths of kayaks that are at least a foot longer. Pakboats has years of experience with removable decks – enough to know the system works. Because the deck support is built into the deck itself, the hull is completely unobstructed, making the XTs extremely easy to load. With separate decks available for one or two paddlers, the XT-16 is among the most versatile high-performance kayak on the market. www.pakboats.com

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North Water PaddleBritches

Undies for your paddles? Yes! North Water's new PaddleBritches allows kayakers to store a spare paddle within easy reach. If you’re a fisherman you can also secure the end of your fishing rod on a handy adjustable reflective loop. You can then tuck your primary paddle into the loop while reeling in that big one.
www.northwater.com