The short (13’) sea kayak “play boat” used to be occupied by the Mariner Coaster kayak, which still has a cult following among coastal play boaters. Teksport Rock Hopper 340R and P&H Hammer tried for that niche, incorporating elements of white water kayak design. Neither are in production any longer. Now we have the Edge Kayaks (Norwegian origin) with it’s 13’ Alnes Ocean kayak pushing into this niche. However, rather than incorporating white water design elements, the Alnes Ocean seem to have taken the lead of Sterling Kayaks design of full size “coastal play” sea kayaks and reduced it to a 13’ package. Based on some the videos I have seen, it may have succeeded (when viewing POV surfing footage, look at foreground or background to assess the amount of turning/carving on a wave by the boat).
Here is the Edge Kayak site and video (one of many):
It looks like a real fun boat, I would be a little hesitant to take a composite boat in rock gardens. I’m not sure what composite boats are going for but $3500 seems in the range, problem is you have to get the boat from Frederickstad ( I guess where they are being built) on the east side of Oslo fjord back to the US. You might be able to recover some of the taxes included in that $3500 price. Maybe act quick before orange hitler decides to punish Norway again. The boat is named after the outer island near Ålesund a very pretty spot with rugged coastline, and a sheltered surf break popular with Norwegians, but not very well known.
Now it makes sense… the name. LOL! I noticed in Edge Kayaks’ video collection is one with Jaime Sharp, a perennial contender at the Hoebuck Hodown seakayak surf comps. So, there is at least one Alnes Ocean in the US! Will have to wait for one of these to show in “used market.” It would be like waiting (and hoping) to see someone post selling a Coaster, as “too twitchy” for the seller’s taste! LOL! (Saw a Sterling Kayak sold recently for about 50% in local area because the kayak was not to the owner’s expectations.)
Interesting, would love to try one.
Hope the 25kg (55lb) is the ‘basic’ version, and that the ‘Advanced Carbon’ is lighter by quite a few lbs.
Not a fan of the compass recess, especially in a non-expedition boat (though I think I may be in the minority here).
I don’t mind the compass recess since it doesn’t add weight. I have actually been out in (“peas soup”) foggy surf sessions that was a bit disorienting. A compass would be reassuring, although one just need to remember the swells are largely heading shoreward and follow/surf that back in. What I would not mind is getting rid of the day hatch and the associated weight (although it may be like the Sterling Kayaks where the day hatch separates and protects the skeel box and cable from wayward cargo).
I noticed a 2024 blog post by Turner/Cherie at Kayak Ways that they were getting two composite Edge kayaks for demoing in the northeast, assuming possibility of Kayak Ways being a US rep. However, I suspect the demand would be severely impacted by the current talk about “reciprocal tarrifs.”
Chances of getting the design out to US paddlers would probably be more likely with the distribution through S&G plans or kit through one of the DIY wooden boat plan and/or kit manufacturers, like CLC.
A related example is Nick Shrade’s Petrel Play designs. Now that Turning Point Boatworks has stopped making composite Petrel Play kayaks, Nick Shrade is renewing the push for distribution of his design through aCLC kit and full series of “follow along” construction videos on YouTube.
Could be a viable route for Edge Kayaks to get rhe Alnes Ocean design out in the US market.
