Racing kayak speed
In an ICF style racing kayak I maintain 10.5 km/h or 6.5 mph for hours and enjoy the ride. I think the effort pretty much matches the effort it takes to go 8 km/h(5 mph) in my Inuk seakayak. The Inuk is a so-called (old school) fast sea kayak.
I paddle +5 days a week.
Icemans Right,no such thing
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 5:51 AM EST –
as a truly fast plastic sea kayak or even a race kayak for that matter.
From Sea Kayaking Frequently Asked Questions.
Paddling speed depends on many factors, including, but not limited to paddling technique, paddler strength and endurance, sea conditions, hull form, and hull load. As a general rule of thumb, an average kayaker of moderate experience and moderate strength, paddling in a calm sea in a standard plastic 17 foot long, 24 inch beam (wide) kayak without much cargo, can sustain a speed of 3 knots (roughly 3.5 miles per hour) for long stretches of time. This is a brisk, yet comfortable walking pace.
the speed record for a human powered watercraft is not a canoe or a kayak but a hydro foil at just under 20 mph.
Prijon Barracuda…
…but it is not a boat for the faint of heart.
Agree
Barracuda over Kodiak for speed.
Forget Sprint Speed
I figure my top speed to be the best I can average for 10 to 15 miles. Not in a sprint as you won’t find many 100 yard dashes in kayak racing.
fun in the bay
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 9:41 AM EST –
the boat you want depends on your skill level and what you want to do.
For going fast in the bay nothing beats a surfski (long skinny sit on top with rudder). If capsize you just climb back on the boat cannot get water logged. There are open water sit in racing boats but by their very nature are tippy and require a solid roll. If you miss you are screwed getting back in with rentry roll is option but then your boat is full of water and pumping out without recapsing is very unlikley.
Down side of ski is not great for winter as you are exposed however it gives a good sense of water temp and what it takes to be safe.
Unfortunatley there is quite a learning curve with tippy boats. The hi end boats may be to tippy and if you get too stable a boat you may out grow it.
A good boat would be the mako xt (see http://www.ventursport.com or http://www.oceanpaddlesports.com )
It would be a good idea to try or see these boats before buying often times you can get one used. Unfortunatley major kayak manufacutres do not make them. Also could look at cobra eliminator .
Would recomend that you got to a local race to check out different boats. There are series of races in Hampton roads are as well as maryland area that have lots of boats to see and try. Most racers are trying to grow the sport and are more than happy to you let you try to get another convert. I live in Va off of the bay. Feel free to email if any of this appeals to you (open invite to all)
eugene
more links
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 9:41 AM EST –
http://www.kayapro.com see vampire under kayakpro boat or nelo boats but they are sit ins which have the whole water log deal
http://www.westsideboatshop.com/ lots of boats here to but again the whole water log if you miss a roll but again lots of people race these boats
http://www.cobrakayaks.com/kayaks.html the eliminator may be a fun boat but if you are serious you will out grow it but you have too find out how serious you are about paddling fast. There is one at the york town kayak store www.paddleva.com.
eugene
Wow!
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 10:37 AM EST –
Just when I thought I have seen enough boats.
Does anyone own one of these?
Found a K1 Sprint Racing kayak for sale here:
http://toronto.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=25&subAreaID=0&query=kayak&catAbbreviation=boa&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max
www.huki.com
Need I say more for wet wild fun!!
I love my S1-R and I am a beginner kayaker. Lots to grow into, but stable enough for the adventurous!
Kyle
what i see at the races
westside boatshop thunderbolt, epic endurance, qcc 700 in that order around here. k 1 and surfskis are faster and require another level of skill… not plastic. there was a serious paddler no longer with us who said the dagger cortez is a fast plastic touring kayak. you can build a pygmy coho or clc pax 18 or 20 for about $1000, they’re pretty fast
As rroberts krousman and swordfish
– Last Updated: Jun-22-06 5:43 PM EST –
and yanoer say, here's my take on the Prijons I own.
www.wildnet.com
http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=486202
http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=489718
The Barracuda is fast, but unstable in chop. In choppy soup, you will likely spend more time correcting your stroke and bracing than you would in forward propulsion (at least that is my experience, you can see my review on Pnet reviews). But it is a very fast plastic kayak, rated better than most composite sea kayaks (yes, it has been field tested, see other thread). Very efficient and streamlined for flatwater.
The Bay though, being rough water and sometimes unexpectedly so, is best as krousman says with the Kodiak. Better stability, still great speed. Based on personally owning both boats (I only got the Kodiak a month ago though--my Pnet review will follow after I have used it all summer), I think the Kodiak is likely, oh I don;t know, maybe 85%-90% as fast as the Cuda.
I use the Cuda for flatwater on calm days for speedy ride, adn the Kodiak for wind and slop.
Good luck.
O.K. Sprinter as well …
Cobra Eliminator is fun.
Barracuda definately faster than Kodiak
on flat water. Cooldoctor1 and I tested them one after the other a couple weeks ago on flat water and the Barracuda was definately easier to get up to speed and easier to maintain speed than the Kodiak. It just seemed like less effort to keep it moving along.
I have no idea how they would complare in bumpy conditions.
Listen here, whippersnapper!
You just stick with your mangroves and swamps and leave the big water to us yanks.
Oh
Don’t forget yer Seabond Gramps! NM
different perspectives
the prijons are sea kayaks and should be able to handle significant wind and waves. If you have a system that works for you and you are happy than that is cool, if you are looking to improve your paddling skills than you should be able to paddle barracuda in all conditions with practice. My first sea kayak was a kodiak and originally I found that in wind and waves I was bracing more than using good forward technique, with time and experience that changed. I sold that boat and now use surf ski in wind/waves and icf k1 in flat.
It all depends on what you want out of paddling but it seems as though you may be setting your self expectations lo if a 21 inch wide sea kayak is too tippy for use in the rough and only used in flat water. However if this floats your boat cool but there is a whole other world out there of boats and skills that I would encourage all to explore within their physical/mental abilities.
eugene
Futura II
Take a look at a Futura II surf ski. It is fast and far more stable than you may think. I moved up from a Seda Revenge to a Futura II and never had problems staying upright. It is also extremely easy to climb back on if you capsize. They aren’t cheap but if you want speed, light weight and stability it is hard to beat.
Thanks, sonny
– Last Updated: Jun-23-06 3:39 PM EST –
BTW, boats I've paddled on the bay: CD Solstice, CD Rumour, CD Caribou, CD Extreme, WS Tempest 170, Necky Looksha IV, Necky Chatham 18, Necky Chatham 17, Perception Shadow.
The only reason I like the Extreme for the bay is because I don't have a VCP Rapier yet.
Based on your criteria…
I would buy a Prijon Barracuda or Kodiak.
MDM