We no Nah prospector

These canoes are the crème de la crème for many paddlers. They are some peoples dream canoe and others would never part from theirs.

Prospector designs are generally well rounded – this statement describes both the performance and the boat shape. They are classed as down river boats which means that if you paddle these down a river, with the right skills you can take on most things you will come up against. They are very load bearing and straight running as well as extremely manoeuvrable. Popular among coaches, and those who like to take on some white water from time to time. Prospectors tend to be a weapon of choice for lots of paddlers who are doing their 5* qualification.

Not only do they paddle brilliantly but they also look traditional. The We no nah prospector has its own design which is slightly shallower sided than some other brands versions this means that it is slightly less affected by wind in open water, but this does result in it being a slightly wetter ride in choppier water, however if you are on white water it tend to be a wet sport anyway.

The 15 is a very popular choice for those who spend much of their time solo. It is slightly wider than the 16, but trust me when I say that it might seem like a strange idea, but it really works! The 16 is a fantastic boat for some solo paddlers, but very often chosen by those who spend much of their time tandem. It is longer and quicker over distances.

You can find more information and buy We-no-Nah prospector at HB Canoes.

A dauntingly close encounter this week involving a kayaker and two humpback whales in California’s Monterey Bay is sure to fall under a believe-it-or-not type of scrutiny. But the encounter was captured by a reputable photographer and authenticated by several sources.

Paul Schraub, a freelance photographer hired as part of a marketing campaign by the Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council, was shooting Tuesday from aboard a small boat when the humpbacks emerged vertically, surface lunge-feeding on small bait fish, directly next to the kayaker (see video report below).

Christina Glynn of the Visitor’s Council told the San Jose Mercury News that the photo shoot was intended to make prospective business visitors aware of the special whale-watching opportunities off the region’s coast. The humpback encounter occurred off Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz County, at the northern edge of Monterey Bay.

source/full story: grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/30833/kayaker+enjoys+amazingly+close+encounter+with+two+humpback+whales/

Old Town Charles River 163 Royalex

Traditional – That is the word that springs to mind when looking at the Charles River for most people. This version of it is made of the lightweight material royalex and is a real bestseller. Being 16’ 3” it is a great size for lots of different applications. Solo tripping with plenty of gear, tandem paddling and camping trips as well as beig large enough to put a 3rd seat in should you need to.

It has a nice hull which feels very solid and inspired confidence on the water, however it is rounded enough to allow for decent manoeuvrability when approaching a bit of moving water, also offering good secondary stability for those who paddle out on estuaries or lochs when the wind whips up some waves. It has the pronounced bow and stern which combined with the tumblehome gives it the traditional look as well as keeping the paddlers slightly more dry in unsteady waters.

Weighing around 28kgs it is extremely easy to car top and carry around, which is important to ensure you get the most use out of the canoe.

This really is a great canoe for those who love exploring. You can review the full spec of Old Town Charles River 163 Royalex at HB Canoes. HB Canoes are the leading stockist of Royalex and other excellent canoes and Kayaks.

Venture Easky 15 – Giving you the edge on the sea

Venture kayaks are insanely popular! The reason for this is that they offer a great range of touring and recreational boats. One of the favourites within the range is the Easky 15. It is a sleek but stable touring boat which will breeze down rivers and across lakes. The other thing that it is great for is getting to grips with open water. It is not uncommon to find a coastal operating centre running a fleet of these as they are just so good at improving your paddling skills on the sea.

This kayak features 2 hatches, a deck pod for storing little bits you need access to on the water, a drop down skeg or rudder depending on your needs, deck bungees, adjustable footrests, the flip top backrest for comfort and a paddle park. It is made to be great for those who purely want an easy going recreational boat with nifty features, those who river tour and would love to start a bit of sea paddling and also those who want a tough sea boat for bay crossings and rock hopping. With a paddler weight range of up to 135kgs, most paddlers will be able to pack enough kit in it for multi day trips wherever they may be paddling.

To find out more please look at this webpage – http://www.hbcanoekayak.co.uk/venture-kayaks-uk/298-easky-15-skeg.html

Pyranha Fusion

The Pyranha Fusion is an unbelievably good kayak. It is designed as a crossover kayak allowing you, the paddler to experience easy river touring as well as some good quality whitewater action. The kayak has a drop down skeg which will aid forward paddling and speed greatly, as without it the fusion is very manoeuvrable.

It comes in 2 specs – River tour and Connect 30. Both of these are extremely good and which you choose depends on what you find more comfortable and what your paddling requirements are. The Connect 30 is the ‘top spec’ which is the same as Pyranha use in their top of the range whitewater boats for flipping, going off waterfalls and such like. It is designed to be very solid but also offer adjustability so that the paddler can get the best level of contact and trim on the boat for comfort and control which is especially useful in full on ‘bubbly water’ conditions. The river tour is less extreme, it still offers the basic things that mean you can still paddle well such as thigh braces and a ratchet to get the backrest where you want it. However the seat is not adjustable due to paddlers using the fusion in a more recreational way do not always need to have that extra level of adjustment. It does feature a nice flip top backrest which can be flipped up so that it is more armchair like for relaxing, or folded down for when lounging around is not part of the plan.

Overall a Pyranha Fusion Kayak is a great boat for those who want one boat to do more. Normally a whitewater kayak is a headache to paddle for any distance, and a touring kayak is pants when it comes to whitewater paddling – this solves that dilemma. It is also another consideration for those who are unsure of what they need or where they will go with their paddling as it will allow the paddler to find out what they like and do it with ease in the Fusion.

To find out more check it out at Hereford and Borders Canoe and Kayaks Website – Rapid Spec – http://www.hbcanoekayak.co.uk/pyranha-kayaks-uk/263-fusion-river-tour.html

Or

Connect 30 Spec – http://www.hbcanoekayak.co.uk/pyranha-kayaks-uk/262-fusion-connect-30-spec.html

The Dagger Axiom Kayak

The Dagger Axiom is a very nice river runner which has been developed to do more than just paddle downstream. It Surfs, plays and runs river very well – which is uncommon for a kayak to do, normally you get one, not the others.

It features a slicey stern, and a fast semi planning hull, giving you the perfect combination of play, surf and speed on what is a very stylish whitewater boat. The roomy cockpit and generous foot room allow a decent set of footwear to fit in comfortably, whilst the adjustable river running outfitting lets you find your perfect mixture of comfort and performance.

For new paddlers looking to buy a first kayak, this may be just the ticket. It is fun and fast, but will let you develop all those essential whitewater skills properly, without coming to the cost of some of those more pricey creekers and without being so basic you will outgrow it.

If you are looking for an all round river boat, in which you can also have a great time anywhere you go – get an Axiom!

To check out more on The Dagger Axiom visit HB Canoes or go directly to The Dagger Axiom page.

Islander Sit on tops have been around for some time now. They have had great success with the Paradise series, Hula and the Strike angler which are very well known across the UK. The growth of sit on top paddling in the UK has meant that there has been a growth in the need for “all rounders” – boats which will do anything a paddler wants them to, surf, travel distances, nip in and out of coves as well as being solid and stable whilst keeping their ease of use. There are a few out there, and this will easily compete against them giving you lucky customers even more to choose from.

The Calypso comes in 2 specs, Basic and Sport which are priced at £299.95 and £399.95 respectively. The sport has 2 hatches and a very nice seat, great for most people who aspire to days out and lots of comfort. The basic comes without these frills – probably very appealing to centres and those who just need something to splash about on.

What makes the Calypso so great? A combination of price, size and design – solid side handles for security and loading, soft touch end handles for comfortable carrying, a pontoon style hull offering reassuring stability, speed and performance as well as a large storage area at the back. See the table below for all the specs and features:

Old Town Discovery 158 Canoe

The Old Town Discovery series of canoes is described as “Tough, rugged, stable and easy to handle” This holds true on all 3 of the models, the 119 – a solo canoe which is compact and makes getting on the water easy when out by oneself. The 169 – a longer canoe which can comfortably seat 3, maybe even 4! But will still handle perfectly with 2 paddlers on an easy day out. Then there is the 158…

the Discovery 158 is a 15ft 8” canoe which has been a best seller for years. It will comfortably sit 2 Adults with a load of kit, or if a snap in seat is used the space can be made to seat a smaller member of the family. The flat hull design keeps the boat very initially stable, meaning that it will inspire confidence in even the most sceptic beginner. It may be best suited to paddling flat waters, lakes, lochs and calm rivers. However it also can navigate some moderate rapid water should you come to it. The Old Town name means many things, some of them being tradition, build quality and reliability, the combination of these will allow you to have a trouble free boat and a decent return on your investment should you ever sell it.

To sum up – the Discovery 158 is a stable easy to paddle tandem canoe which is well suited to camping trips, day trips and learning all the basics on some easy going water and rivers.

Here is the specs:
Lenght – 15′ 8 / 4.8 m

Width – 35.5 / 90.0 cm
Bow Height – 21.5 / 54.6 cm
Depth – 13.5 / 34.2 cm
Weight – 80 lbs / 36.2 kg
Max Load Range – 1,100 – 1,150 lbs /
499 – 521.6 kg

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