Kayak

A Taste of things to come...Kayak checks out the new boats for 2009

While the rest of us have spent our summers out on the water, spare a thought for the poor souls stuck behind their computer screens designing the boats that'll keep us happy in 2009.

Okay, that's enough thought. Let's get on with the boats.

We'll kick off with Old Town. 2009 heralds the introduction of the Vapor. Old Town are releasing the Vapor range to suit a plethora of requirements. There's the 10, 10xt, 12s, 12xts, 12xt, the 12xt Angler and the 12xt Recycled. Old Town calls it "a get in and go boat" and, given the size and shape of the cockpit, it's easy to understand why. All models are designed with stability and sportiness in mind. The XT models offer a bit extra, the s models are made for smaller paddlers and the recycled is, well, 100% recycled.

Necky has unveiled its 2009 line-up which sees the extension of its Looksha design. Recognisable by its double chine and "dolphin" bow, the Looksha has been with us a few years now. Next year, however, Necky will be making the popular touring model available in new sizes and materials with the new Looksha 12, the slightly smaller 12ST, the tandem T, the stunning 17 Carbon and the 14 Recycled, made completely from post-industrial plastic.

Meanwhile, over at Pyranha, designers have conjured two new boats - the Karnali and Z.One. The Karnali has a softer rounded edge profile for a more forgiving ride and is made of HDPE Metallocene which gives Increased rigidity, durability and weight saving and results in quality and performance benefits. The Z.One is, as the name suggests, is a descendant of Pyranha's Inazone. Its key features include a raised bow rocker to give extra lift over boils and eddylines, a smoother hull profile for increased speed and dynamic manoeuvrability around river and surf features and, like the Karnali, is made of HDPE Metallocene.

Dagger has unveiled its new river cruising/play boat called the Axiom. It'll come in four lengths - 6.9, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 - and, so the blurb goes, will combine the performance sought after by experienced paddlers and the forgiving nature needed by newbies. It looks pretty cool and will replace the RPM.

Also from the Dagger stable comes a new light touring craft called Alchemy. The folks at Dagger say it'll be completely at home both on rivers and in the surf zone, with control and manouvrability being the guiding design principles behind the boat.

Over at Perception, 2009 will see the introduction of the new Perception Tribute 10 and 14 models to join the 12. The new Perception Tribute line combines that essential Perception effortlessness with speed. The boat is pitched to a wide audience and, like its Carolina sister, will no doubt become a common sight out on the water.
 
Wilderness Systems has always been one of my favourites, and for 2009 they have completely re-engineered their world-famous Tarpon range. Confluence has provided some details as to what us paddlers can expect. On the Tarpon 100, 120, 140 and 160, kayakers can expect 

• Increased tankwell size on all models (in fact, the Tarpon 100 has more capacity than the previous 14-foot model)
• Improved bow lift for gliding
• Raised floors for drier ride
• Patented new scupper tube design for unmatched water-tightness

But that's not all. There's new outfitting too, with the firm's adjustable Phase 3 Sit on Top seating system, lever-lock Orbix hinged hatch covers and "SlideTrax" accessory rails for add-ons without the use of tools.

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