This is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE A _ _!!! them. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! Instead of obsessing about danger, focus on stacking the odds in your favor. Overall I am quite impressed with it. For a 150-lb paddler like me, the plastic version is Wilderness Systems Kayaks | USA & Canada | The Undisputed Leader in Premium Kayaks Wilderness Systems Wilderness Systems Dagger Dagger Perception Perception Mad River Mad River Adventure Technology Adventure Technology Boardworks Boardworks Facebook - Kayaks Twitter - Kayaks YouTube - Kayaks Instagram - Kayaks 2021 - 2022 Lineup Very nice rudder assembly and comfortable adjustable seat. C urrent Designs kayaks emerged from the wilderness of Vancouver Island in the late 1970s with stable, high-storage sea kayaks suited for multi-day coastal travel. more-or-less indefinitely. Impex sea kayaks are more suitable for intermediate and advanced paddlers, and exclusively use skegs. The Phase3 seat is probably the Gold Standard for comfort and adjustability. Your kayak and paddle can take you to all sorts of incredible places. We enjoy using this paddle on extended tours as it does not cause our arms to tire, unlike some of the heavier models tested. Fast, efficient and straight tracking. Key Takeaways Wilderness Systems Tempest 180 Fiberglass Kayak with Skeg 0.0 0 Reviews Item #736649 Red/White This product is not available. The front hatch seems completely watertight. I am 6' 210 lbs. By entering your email, you agree to receive automated marketing messages from REI. While a foot longer than the craft it replaced, it is no faster. Very stable in my opinion primary and secondary. The Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 has a performance hull with outfitting to match and a volume thats hard to find in a boat of its type. The flip side of this is that the kayak will always return to its correct shape when it cools down! Also note that WS used three glops of rubber/cement to secure the bottom to the hull, and none of them held so the seat slid side to side. Yuk. I like this boat so much that I built my skin boat to the same measurements! This fouled my right hand when paddling. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. It's meant to take weight. Where the Tempest radically departs from its Old World roots is the realm of comfort. This 14' is faster than any plastic 16' or 17' that I've paddled. well as ocean -- an incredible all arounder if you can fit. It is really built for the slender paddler. If you are searching for a particular model, size, or color, you may not find it immediately. Florissant, MO. As other reviewers have pointd out, 94 pounds is way too heavy for a kayak, especially if one plans to transport it car-top. This rigidity makes the kayak faster and more responsive. You no longer have to rely on having a second set of hands around if you want to adjust or dismantle your kayak paddle. It's a hot rod, very fast and responsive. We recently purchased a Northstar, assuming an upgrade from a year-old Perception Carolina II. The rudder, cables, hatches, etc are still as good as new. Under other brands, these may be categorized as Ocean Play kayaks, great for surfing, rolling and rough water. Handles waves well, floats like a cork. It doesn't seem to have aged much at all and appears to be nearly indestructible considering how much abuse we put it through. The blades of the Pungo Glass are fiberglass, and the shaft is 50% carbon, 50% fiberglass, giving it an overall lightweight feel. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. IT does have a small cupholder or "day storage" compartment behind but pretty much handles and paddles very much like the Northstar. Now if I could only figure out how to install teflon landing pads at these sitesyou know what that first scratch is like!! After the glass work was all done, it could easily be a 10 depending on your wants. What the Hawk does not do well is surf. Best Overall: Wilderness Systems Alpha Angler Carbon. We feel very safe in this kayak in all conditions. I LOVE THIS BOAT!!! Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Coaming - The rear coaming makes putting a sprayskirt on a real chore as there is very little clearance, hence don't use skirts with good sized bungees as they won't go on. A beautiful, light boat. These stable kayaks range between 10 and 14 feet. All trademarks property of their respective owners That came out to taking long, slow strokes, instead of the short, choppy ones we're taught here. If youre seeking a good variety of lightweight sit-on-top and sit-inside recreational kayaks, or a dedicated fishing kayak, look to Eddyline. The ALPHA Angler series features a powerful and aggressive blade designed to deliver higher speeds on the water. It ride pretty high in the water. The seat is one of the most comfortable around and the middle compartment has a removable picnic basket. To save even more weight (albeit a few onces) I had them clear coat the finish versus gel coated color. Search in all categories, rather than specifically recreation, as sometimes kayaks are listed underboats. Read Northstar reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Check out a few other kayak recommendations below or explore all kayaks to find the perfect one for you! CL. Still a fast and fun ride, even new kayakers bond with it when they see how fast they can come up to speed even with lousy form. I have had my glass Arctic Hawk for over ten years now. (1st time) I also rerigged the deck bungees "Greenland style", added carved caribou toggles, protective deck tape, and other little niceties. Amazon.com : Wilderness Systems Origin Recreation/Touring Kayak Paddle |Fiberglass/Nylon Blade | Carbon Blend Shaft (205-225cm), Blue/Black (8070225) : Sports & Outdoors Sports & Outdoors Sports Water Sports Kayaking Paddles $127.99 & FREE Returns FREE delivery Saturday, August 6 Or fastest delivery Thursday, August 4. The 15- to 17-foot length and efficient hull shapes mean Danish-style kayaks are also well-suited to day or multi-day touring. Current Designs focuses on sit-inside touring kayaks. These dedicated groups are frequented by avid paddlers, so the kayaks will likely be in better condition. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. We nevertheless have a wait time for new orders, and our phone lines have seen an influx of calls. We will continue to work non-stop to get you out on the water as soon as possible. The Wilderness Systems Pungo Kayak Paddle is lightweight and sturdy. A second drawback is the heavy spray my wife receives in the front seat when punching into chop. in Kevlar, 42 in glass. We have not experienced any heat related warping of the plastic hull, and based on other reviewers comments have taken great care to ensure our Northstar is well supported in transit & storage. North American-style kayaks are more forgiving than both the British and Danish styles. It is amazingly fast, tracks like a arrow and stable, turns on a dime. One of them, the somewhat smaller Sparrow Hawk, is also licensed to Wilderness Systems and would be a better choice for a smaller paddler. Ninety-five lbs. and I can load mine on top of our truck by myself. I work as an instructor in plymouth ma. These boats are ideal for someone who wants a lightweight kayak that is easier to load on and off a vehicle or carry to the launch. As for handling, it certainly does everything that I need, and until I "learn" more, I am completely satisfied. Pack light and simple, I taken extended trips in my boats. This was my first touring kayak. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. I love carving turns in it: the hard chine hull is easy to get on edge, and the secondary stability lets me crank it over confidently, even when I do sculling braces with only my head above water. I use it exclusively in winter, photographing seals and ice bergs. It is made from puncture-resistant, heavy-duty PVC vinyl that's three-layers thick. harshly as well. Join once, enjoy forever. The arctic hawk turns immensly better when at speed, so the first time people try and turn it theyre' often frustrated. Shopping for a used Current Designskayak? Beyond the model you are looking for, try more generic ones like sea kayak or Current Designs touring kayak. No padding on the thigh hooks, none inside the boat. I also use a standard two-wheeled kayak dolly for moving it to the water. Read Sealution Pro reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. Build quality of the seats, hatches and rudder has been excellent as has the durability of everything holding up. I drilled holes to move the seat forward about 2", and then could reach the foot pedals. Great boat. Sea kayaks are a niche item, and looking on special-interest pages or Facebook groups, such as a regional paddling club, may quicken the search. Hobie mirage outback kayak. Fine American kayak manufacturers exist throughout the U.S., and kayaks are made by companies such as Perception, Wilderness Systems, Dagger Kayaks, Old Town Canoes + Kayaks, Otter, Osprey, and Jackson Kayak. Current Designs kayaks are widely available across North America at specialty outdoor and paddlesports shops. During blind testing, kayakers were unable to tell the Pungo apart from a standard one-piece as it just feels solid. Add a 3 foot skeg tapering from zero to 1.5 inches at the stern and the boat changes its whole personality for the better. White over white with black rigging Wilderness Sealution in Kevlar w/ rudder. The main difference is that the Polaris is a bit shorter as it lacks the center storage compartment. But with outdoor recreation booming, and delays in supply chains impacting kayak availability, where can you find a used Current Designs kayak? I've noticed a few slight hardware quality problems on Wilderness System boats, but not enough to compromise their overall design quality, safety and fun. Read reviews for the Tchaika Pro by Wilderness Systems as submitted by your fellow paddlers. They can keep you informed on lead times for boats and have insight on what is coming down the pipeline. Some testers noted that when the paddle is extended, the lever on the shaft can get in the way of the paddler's hands, as it is not as low profile as we would have liked. Add Tempest 170 Kayak to Compare Related Expert Advice articles. We're the ones still smiling! With a high floatation pfd I find that I do not end up completely upside down, a fact that makes the renter and roll easier. The storage is amazing, there's lots of room with a huge bow and even bigger stern compartment; there's also a central compartment as well. The Wilderness System Pungo Glass is a quality performance paddle with the added benefit of being exceptionally easy to adjust. Although we did not feel that it impacted performance, it did impact some testers' comfort levels during extending touring journeys. Anglers who use different seat positions will appreciate the built-in adjustability (240cm to 260 . Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. The Sealution Pro is a kayak brought to you by Wilderness Systems. We have gone on paddles of a few hours, and maybe 8-10 miles so far. Some other kayaks just seem to take more effort, and hence risk of RSI. A joy to paddle with little wind. O'Fallon, MO. Ditto for weathercocking. This content was made possible with the support of OntarioCreates. Wilderness Systems offers the Pungo in a Glass or Carbon construction, both are versatile and lightweight paddle. Contacting Current Designs with the registration number on the inside of the hull will also provide a definitive I.D. It is lighter though and I love the hull design! Aside from the fact that it is a hard shell boat and wide enough for the modern build, it is very like some historical Greenland boats. An adult paddler and an enthusiastic child can keep up with most solo boats. I use Thule racks and pads. Evolutions of these early Current Designs kayaks include the Solstice and Equinox, two classic designs that are still availabletoday. The flagship Vision series is available in five different sizes and a tandem model to suit paddlers of every size. The boat always feels very stable and seaworthy, and although it tracks very well (I rarely use the rudder except in crosswinds and following seas) it also turns easily, much better than a lot of 16-17 ft boats I've tried. I paddle a Kevlar Sealution, and love its predictability and seaworthiness, particularly with a load in heavy weather. The low-profile, backband seating makes it easier for experienced paddlers to perform a roll in these boats. Don't be put off by that rating, I am brutal. We have done hundreds of miles in it and it has been always a solid performer. Did I say it's a beast? This is our first kayak. daytrip, fun, sea kayak that is capable of handling the normal conditions found in the open sea. Wilderness now makes a replacement for the Northstar called the Polaris which is very similar and we bought one as the kids are old enough to paddle now, one parent in back with one kid in front, but still waiting on it. I have also taken it to Nova Scotia where I've been out in the open ocean. Read Sealution Pro reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. I have paddled the Daggers, Perceptions, Necky which make nice boats but I still prefer the poly Sealution over the other Necky poly's. and have had to had 9oz glass tape to the undersides of the decks around the cockpit to stiffen it up, but the build is other wise very good. Or any kayak, for that matter? Even when the paddle shaft was extended to its full length, the paddle continues to feel reliably secure and strong. Wilderness Systems flagship touring kayak, the Tempest, is a British-style kayak, comparable to the Current Designs Sirocco. Remove 1 or more items before adding another item to compare. As to the outfitting and seat, I cut the entire seat out, built a "very nice" foam seat and back, did knee, thigh, hip braces in foam, took out the footpegs and put in fitted foam bulkhead and put in a vertical pillar of foam behind the seat to stiffen the rear deck. A rudder is perfect for paddlers who want extra boat control and the ability to steer using their feet. Beautiful, fast, comfortable boat. It's extremely stable: we've never even come close to capsizing, even in the rough chop that one encounters off the coast of Maine. As a medium-sized business, when so many others are struggling, we are grateful that our primary challenge is to do more rather than less, and we thank you for your interest and support. To get a 10 out of 10, it would weigh 50 lbs, still be as strong as an ox, and load itself onto our car on command. but in the real world. this is an excellent value and a great tandem kayak choice for novice or expert alike. But, I adjusted my stroke to a lower silhouette and quickly dried. It's been fifteen years and the love affair is still going strong! Inspiring paddlesports participation through quality coverage of the people, places, adventures, boats and gear, trends and events that make paddling something you'll do for the rest of your life. beautifully and is well constructed. We are producing kayaks as fast as we safely can and shipping kayaks to dealers daily. It doesn't quite make it into the ultralight category, unlike the full-carbon version that is also available from Wilderness Systems. I have owned this boat for about 8 years, though I am still pretty much a beginner (it was my first). These kayaks are designed for extended trips in coastal waters; they are high-capacity and comfortable for long days in the seat. The purchase of two new Northstars on different continents is a tangible indication of our respect for this craft. The downside is often poor comfort, sometimes less than stellar workmanship and heavy weight. Understanding what kind of kayaking you want to do, and where you want to do it, will help you choose the best kayak for your paddling aspirations. She quick in the water. Wilderness Systems Pedal driven kayak brands Brooklyn Kayak Company Feelfree Kayaks Hobie Hurricane Kayaks Jackson Adventures Native Watercraft NuCanoe Ocean Kayak Old Town Canoes and Kayaks Pelican Perception Kayaks Santa Cruz Kayaks Vibe Kayaks Viking Kayaks Wilderness Systems Sit-on-top kayak brands 3 Waters Kayaks Advanced Elements Aire I have paddled a Sealution II poly through the 1000 Islands on the St Lawrence River for 4 seasons. Seat and Outfitting - The seat is one of those "all inclusive plastic bottom and back" seats that does not allow laybacks. The downside to this is you expend more energy moving through the rough stuff. We nevertheless have a wait time for new orders, and our phone lines have seen an influx of calls. Solid performing boat with an equally solid construction. These boats have far more rocker (the amount of upsweep from the center of the kayak to its ends) than all of the other kayaks in the Current Designs fleet, making them supremely maneuverable and rough-water capable in the hands of more experienced paddlers. Wow!! It is very fast and has exiptional tracking. It gave me more room for my feet and easier turning as well as slightly more speed I believe. Likewise, the shallow V hulls and rounded chines (where the sides of the kayak meet the bottom) provide stability in rough waters but will feel less stable than North American-style or Transitional kayaks for beginner paddlers. Fiberglass boats seem to better stand the test of time, but plastic kayaks that are stored indoors can be an equally good buy. The other night, [I had the dust cover off in preparation for the next day's outing]I happened to walk into the room and was a little startled by the sheer presence of the boat. Still wondering if Current Designs kayaks are right for you? I've got some lifting issues and this one in Kevlar comes out to 34#, yep 34. Kayaks Lifetime Triton Angler Kayak With New High Back Seats Rod mounts and Paddles $420 Each. for sale. Read reviews for the Northstar by Wilderness Systems as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All Impex kayaks are constructed using Kevlar fusion materials, compared to Current Designs range of materials. It's very seaworthy, certainly more seaworthy than my paddling skills, even in spots when the wind and waves are up and I'm totally pooped. So if I love this boat why the 7? This can be particularly annoying (and even a bit painful) if your hands slip on the shaft. Well that's the only bad thing or drawback, everything else about this design is extremely impressive. $220. They are more sleek and lower volume than North American-style touring boats, with narrow, upturned bows to cut through waves. When out of the water, it is stored on edge on three bean bag pillows with a pair of nylon straps from the ceiling carrying a little weight at the ends. Sized from 12 to 15 feet, they favor stability on calm waters and easy turning over speed. I am 6 240lbs, my girlfriend is 52 and (well lets not go there) but needless to say we both love the speed & stability that the Northstar provides and we can both easily slide in & out of the 20 inch wide cockpit. No doubt about it, we swear by 'em! Moving the seat up also allows me to lock in to the non-adjustable thigh hooks. Almost rolls itself. Searching for retired demos or rentals is another way to get your hands on a used Current Designs kayak. At 5'8" and heavier than I want to be it is a tight fit getting in and out. Old Town Castine 130 kayak. Investing in the Pungo Glass will give you a versatile and reliable paddle that will be a solid performer for seasons to come. I bought a plastic Sealution II last summer and am in it almost constantly. Evolutions of these early Current Designs kayaks include the Solstice and Equinox, two classic designs that are still available today. Not sure why so many people find the 94 lbs. I recently paddled with a friend (admittedly in better shape then I) in a heavy soft chine boat (Epic with rudder). With the pandemic paddlesports boom putting used kayaks in such short supply, quality used kayaks are a rare find. For my purposes (lazy summer afternoons spent paddling on a placid lake with my wife), it works wonderfully. However, this is preferable to the solid water that we have experienced in other designs. One is the position of the rudder lowering mechanism. I continue to find it fun and exciting, and am nowhere near its equal yet. When your fingers are cold, striking the deck fitting can be really painful. She's a tight entry but a very nice snug fit. The kayak tracks nicely and turns on a dime. I put my nephew in it and he struggled for about 15 minutes, and then get the primary stability under control. another year with the Hawk has passed, I really got a chance to show her speed in the great river race on the norht river in mass. What theyve created is an appealing combination of Brit boat design with the high volume and plush outfitting of the North American tradition. Despite being suitable for beginner kayakers, the performance of this paddle is not compromised and would suit expert paddlers as well. Regarding the weathercocking problem - 1) if it's sitting too high in the water, I could see that happening. We picked up our old Northstar from a neighbor that was moving out of state and did not have the ability to bring the boat with him. I tried out multiple boats and this one was the certainly the tops. I love the aesthetics of greenland designs, and the fact that I'm paddling a kayak that's very close to a native kayak. Current Designs offers more touring designs in the 15- to 17-foot range, aimed at paddlers of all sizes and experience levels. As waves get larger the boat feels more stable. I don't know about any complaints because it's the only kayak I ever owned u just have to learn how to paddle like Greenlanders do they've been doing it for thousands of years. How can we improve GearLab? I wanted a low volume Greenland style boat and the Arctic Hawk certainly has the look. Transitional kayaks in Current Designs lineup bridge the gap between recreational and touring kayaks. I have put retractable skegs on both. The classic Brit traits include: no rudder (although a skeg is optional), three fibreglass bulkheads sealed with rubber hatches, low windage, a snug fit and good performance. And I wish the front hatch was recessed, since it throws up a lot of spray: the hawk is a wet ride. However at my job as an instructor I find a thicker deck would be nice. When I bought it, I tried a ton of different boats, and then I sat in this one, paddled it around,and didn't want to get out of it. The lever ferule system provided an infallible joint for this 2-piece paddle. Popular Current Designs recreational kayaks like the Kestrel and Solara feature two watertight bulkheads (one in the bow, one behind the seat)a critical safety feature that ensures the kayak will float if it swamps in deep water. The thigh braces are a disgrace -- too small, badly shaped, and badly placed. Although slightly lighter, full-carbon models are also significantly more expensive. Got feedback? They can keep you informed on lead times for boats and have insight on what is coming down the pipeline. The speed issue may be an offshoot of the AH 40lb weight vs. the OI 55lb weight in glass. Great boat for smaller paddlers. They go by the very unfavorable nickname; divorce boats. The Arctic Hawk Pro is a kayak brought to you by Wilderness Systems. Paddling Magazine is your best online resource for Current Designs kayak reviews. We found that bent-shaft carbon fiber paddles greatly reduce fatigue and really compliments this boat. My husband and I own 2 ocean kayaks weighing each between 85-87 lbs. I have yet to find a wind or water condition that this boat could not handle easily. Weve also included some buying advice for used Current Designs kayaks and answers to common questions. We have put a bit of effort into our teamwork, and can now paddle synchronously without much attention, and for long distances. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. Their manufacturing facility is located in Winona, Minnesota. It may take a bit of patience and perseverance to find the right one, but through online classifieds like Kijiji or Craigslist, Current Designs kayaks can be found. At a whopping 95lbs and 18+ feet in length I can see why. A rudder would look too out of place and would add little over a skeg. Unlike many of the paddles we tested ( which commonly use a snap button system to join the two pieces), we did not feel any 'play' in the shaft even when the paddle was put under stress. Read reviews for the Arctic Hawk Pro by Wilderness Systems as submitted by your fellow paddlers. Finally it weathercocks like crazy so definitely get a rudder or skeg. I love this Chaika kayak, She glides effortlessly and is very respo;sieve. A kayak designed for multi-day camping trips on open water will have different features and performance attributes than a recreational kayak intended for beginner paddlers and short tours on sheltered waters. It handles wind and moderately rough conditions very well. Far too heavy! When looking for a Current Designs kayak, Kijiji searches will be most effective if you try various terms. no hidden. My Arctic Hawk is a 1993 model that I recently bought used and then rehabbed. The NorthStar is a very big, heavy boat. In launching into surf, I have had the front hatch blow off completely in a 4 foot swell.
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