Kayak

Nine Excellent Plastic Touring Kayaks for under £800

Venture Kayaks: Easky 15

The British-built Venture Easky 15 is a great boat. Not only is it comfortable and stable enough for a beginner, it has excellent speed and efficiency in the water for the adventurous recrationalist. It has a low profile which means it is largely unnafected by winds and its large storage hatches make it ideal for longer expeditions. It can also easily be converted to a great fishing platform because of its flat plates behind the cockpit, to which rod holders can be mounted. These plates can also be used to attach a GPS system.

Length: 4.58m Weight: 23kg

 

Point 65N: Five O Five - RRP £699.00 (inc Rudder)

Trust me, if you've not heard about Point 65 yet, you soon will...big time. The Five O Five model (so named because of its length - 505 cm) can take paddlers from first stroke to sea kayaking without breaking a sweat. It offers great performance and stability and its rudder system is widely regarded as "excellent". The build quality is simply phenomenal for a kayak in this price range - so much so that Point 65N offer a two year warranty. It has two vast oval-shaped hatches for weekend trips or longer. In terms of speed, this boat is like a rocket compared with its rivals - in fact, its speed is comparable with performance five metre sea kayaks. An awesome craft.

Length: 5.05 Weight: 27kg
 

North Shore: Atlantic Sport RM Sea Kayak RRP £795

This boat just squeezes in under the £800 threshold. Anybody who has ever paddled a North Shore knows they are travelling in something a little special. The Atlantic Sport RM is no different. It is made of three-layer rotomolded plastic giving it gargantuan strength and should last pretty much forever. This is just as well, because the superb hull shape, high performance and stability should mean buyers will want to paddle it forever. Beginners may find paddling the Atlantic RM less forgiving than the others, but for the intermediate kayaker this kayak will set your world on fire.

Length: 5.20m Weight: 24.5kg

Perception: Carolina 14  £550

Not long ago, if you mentioned the words "plastic", "touring" and "kayak", chances are people would assume you were talking about the Perception Carolina. It remains one of world's most popular models, though it has had to contend with fierce competition in recent years from firms like Venture (a branch of the formidable PandH Sea Kayak firm), Dagger and Point 65N. The Carolina retains its place amongst the world's best sub £800 plastic touring kayaks because of its stability, trusty handling and good performance. And then there's the first-class outfitting, with its "Zone" Backrest System, adjustable padded seat, thigh braces and footrests, paddle holder, flotation bulkheads, great grab handles and more. Then comes the clincher - the price. At £550, no kayaker can ignore the Carolina.

Length: 4.27m Weight: 25kg

Dagger: Charleston 14 £549

For too many years the formidable Charleston model has been in the shadow of Perception's Carolina. The pricing, comfort, responsivness, storage and predictability make them such evident rivals that buyers almost inevitably have to choose one or the other. Yet all too often, it seems, the Charleston loses out. This is a shame because the Charleston is an incredible beginners boat, it looks and feels superb and alongside excellent outfitting, the Charleston comes with a retractable skeg. For a beginnner/intermediate, the Charleston always merits a place on any shortlist.

Length: 4.96m            Weight: 24kg

 

Perception: Sealion Fastnet  £699

Yet another Perception masterpiece. The first thing you notice about the Fastnet is the hull. It's Jaguar E-type styling was created to stave off drag. This makes it lightening fast. Then there's its upswept bow. That gives lift in choppy water. In touring kayak term, this model is a sports car. It is 5.02m in length, boasts expedition-level outfitting and has everything you'd need to kayak away into the sunset. A great, great kayak.

Length: 5.02m            Weight: 28kg

 

Wilderness Systems: Tsunami 135 £799

Another boat which just pips under the £800 bar is the Tsunami 135 (Sadly the longer models range from £899 upwards). Renowned for its responsiveness and build quality, the Tsunami comes in a number of shapes to suit a variety of paddlers. It effortlessly combines responsivness and performance and comes with superb outfitting, which includes the super comfortable Phase 3 seat. For paddlers out on the water for long stretches at a time, this comfort can be a Godsend. It also has three hatches rather than the usual two, which means long trips are not a problem in this versatile and great value kayak.

Length: 4.15m  Weight: 23kg

 

Necky Manitou 14: £599

The fine-looking Manitou range offers rock-solid versatility for beginners and intermediate boaters. The Manitou 14, longer than its siblings, is stable and comfortable and boasts a retractable skeg to improve tracking.

It retains the stability and comfort of its shorter siblings while helping you advance your paddling skills. One of the boat's best features is the luxurious "Extrasport" made of  shape-molded EVA foam and its back-rest is up to 4" thick. The Manitou is a solid boat with excellent build quality and pedigree.

Length: 4.38m Weight: 22kg

 

DAG Tiwok: £625

DAG is a French maker which seem little known in the UK but are huge in Australia and in Europe. Although I've not had the pleasure of kayaking any of their boats, I've included the Tiwok on the basis of the recommendations of others. The manufacturer sayd: "The Tiwok is the sleekest and most elegant among compact sea kayaks. Its compact dimensions and well-proportioned lines give it amazingly good properties on the water. Its streamlining, speed, stability and ease of use will allow you to stay on the water for the entire day. This under-5m sea kayak model has everything that a high-performance kayak needs, both for the beginner or for an excursion." It looks beautiful and well kitted out.

Length: 4.4m  Weight: 22kg