Sat - October 22, 2005

Which Sea Racing Kayak to Choose? Thunderbolt, EFT, OceanX, Vampire, Surf Ski?



Thunderbolt in Colorado River 100 Race, Texas WSBS X-par Missile in Canoe Colorado Race Spencer X-treme in South Platte River Marathon
Some fast racers in my virtual race paddle 6.5 mph just for a slow and easy warm up before racing while for me 6.5 mph is a goal to be reached in my Sisson Nucleus kayak in the 5 mile trial before I will allow myself to buy a new faster boat. A year ago, I started with ~5.8 mph, right now I can paddle her at ~6.25 mph. I can maintain above 7 mph for 0.5 mile, so there is a room for improvement on the paddler side.

Of course, I will have to face the decision what to buy: West Side Boat Shop Thunderbolt or EFT, or something between like a new KayakPro Vampire, Ruahine OceanX , or perhaps, surfski like Fenn Mako XT or Huki S1-R (option for a wider seat well!) I am thinking about races from 10 to 100 miles mostly on shallow rivers with some easy rapids.

I need to deal with some restrictions here in addition to my skill level. I cannot fit my wide butt into some narrow racing boats. I had occasion to sit in WSBS X-par Missile after the Colorado River Race. I could fit into the cockpit but the coaming extensions used for the hung seat were picking into my hips (the hung seat was removed in that boat and replaces by a pad). I am afraid that I can expect the same problem in the case of Thunderbolt. A little wider Vampire looks promising ...

Does anybody have comments on seating problems and/or seat options in the above boats?

For the next few months I need to focus on preparations for 2006 Ultimate Florida Challenge, but I still hope to get a new kayak for the next summer and, perhaps, to test her in the Colorado River 100 Race in Texas. I would also like to give another chance to my old CLC Patuxent 19.5, but with a new seat.

Below, snapshots of the new 21'1"x18.75" Vampire racer by Kayak Pro still in a factory in China.

KayakPro Vampire KayakPro Vampire KayakPro Vampire
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Posted at 01:23 PM    


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