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Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:26 am
by pallen661
Lorrie (RubberDuckie), Kate (noseykate) and I made it up to contocook canoe and kayak's demo day last sunday. If you're looking for a boat, this may be the place for narrowing down the field. They had P&H, boreal/lincoln/maelstrom, valley, NDK/seakayakingUK, Impex, wilderness systems and maybe a few more that I can't remember. Nice deep slow moving river to give the boats a try.

Having done the Valley boats at the RI event, and paddling an Impex boat currently, I focused on the P&H cetus's (original and LV were there), and the Maelstrom Vaag while also trying out the explorer/romany. The Maelstrom Vaag is a very interesting boat; long waterline with a ton of rocker. Pretty fast in a straight line but responds well to turning strokes and rudders. At 17'4" it could be a very nice, playful all'round boat. Low back deck and very easy to roll. It has the new "knee" hatch at the front of the cockpit, and behind the paddler a centered day hatch. My rotational flexibility is getting better and I could get to the hatch from either side. That said, I definitely couldn't see what was in the day hatch. This boat is on the list to try in more challenging conditions.

I also tried both the Cetus and the Cetus LV (low volume), and got remarkably different results from each boat. Having been in a the Cetus previously for a few paddles strokes, I tried the LV first. At 17' 4", I figured it would be playful and easy to turn like the Vaag. Instead, it was fast on the straight line and turning was unremarkable. However, at 190lbs, I outweigh the suggested range for the boat by a few pounds. In contrast, the full size Cetus had the same if not better straightline speed, but when put on edge the stern would break loose for amazingly tight turns. On edge, I could pivot the boat 360o around it's center point with just a few sweep strokes. Testing a bow rudder turn, I managed a 180 degree turn with a diameter of about a boat length. All said, an amazingly responsive boat for a length of 17'10" and someone of my weight. Just FYI, if I recall, both Lorrie and Kate found the same responsiveness in the Cetus LV that I found in the Cetus HV. I'd conclude that in P&H Cetus variants that it's important to find the boat that fits your weight, and not get something smaller expecting it to be more playful.

I did try the Explorer, but was unimpressed. I could see why folks love them for expeditions, but as mostly a day paddler I'm looking for something more playful. The seat hanger breaking when I was in the boat didn't convey a message of quality either.

Now on to find access to the Cetus MV, Rockpool and Tiderace boats in my size before I make up my mind.

Phil

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:54 am
by Johnysmoke
That Vaag is a sweet looking boat, wish I fit in it...

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 12:37 pm
by noseykate
Of your list, I tried the Cetus LV and the maelstrom Vaag (both are at CRCK). The LV handled entirely differently for me than it did for Phil. I found it to be the big surprise of the demo batch - fast, extremely easy to roll, and when leaned right up on edge, it almost pivots the turns. I thought the seat was poorly designed - both Lorrie and I complained that it hit our tailbones - but the rep pulled out the padding so that we sat lower, and that relieved the pressure in the wrong place. It had quite a low foredeck, but there were knee bumps so that the legs could be held more upright, which for me equals more comfort and greater control. The Cetus LV also has cut-away sides on the hull immediately in front of the cockpit - no more hitting the knuckles on the deck while paddling! (The TideRace kayaks, designed by the same man, also feature this cut-away.) I loved paddling this boat (in flat water) and I think it merits an ocean demo.

I paddled the Vaag because CRCK did not have the smaller Vital when I was there. (I tried it the next day at Contoocook.... review later.) I was pretty amazed by this boat too. It was way big for me - I just wanted to get a feel for the Maelstrom boats - but even so I could handle it without much trouble. It rolled extremely easy - very low rear deck - and was quite fast. Like the Cetus LV, it only required a lean on edge to turn it quickly. The foredeck was lower than the Cetus LV and therefore a little less comfy for me, and it didn't have the cut-away sides. I like the fourth hatch just in front of the cockpit, for small items such as hat, sunglasses, camera.

Both these boats are exciting designs that I'd like to try in more challenging conditions. Not that I can afford them....

NK

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 1:59 pm
by pallen661
noseykate wrote:...... (The TideRace kayaks, designed by the same man, also feature this cut-away.) I loved paddling this boat (in flat water) and I think it merits an ocean demo.....

NK


Kate- Aled Williams designed the Tiderace boats, as well as the Alaw and Alaw Bach from Rockpool, but not the Cetus (Cetii?).

Phil

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 3:04 pm
by noseykate
pallen661 wrote:
noseykate wrote:...... (The TideRace kayaks, designed by the same man, also feature this cut-away.) I loved paddling this boat (in flat water) and I think it merits an ocean demo.....

NK


Kate- Aled Williams designed the Tiderace boats, as well as the Alaw and Alaw Bach from Rockpool, but not the Cetus (Cetii?).

Phil


Doh! You are right.

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 3:39 pm
by jkates
pallen661 wrote:Lorrie (RubberDuckie), Kate (noseykate) and I made it up to contocook canoe and kayak's demo day last sunday. If you're looking for a boat, this may be the place for narrowing down the field. They had P&H, boreal/lincoln/maelstrom, valley, NDK/seakayakingUK, Impex, wilderness systems and maybe a few more that I can't remember. Nice deep slow moving river to give the boats a try.

Having done the Valley boats at the RI event, and paddling an Impex boat currently, I focused on the P&H cetus's (HV and LV were there), and the Maelstrom Vaag while also trying out the explorer/romany. The Maelstrom Vaag is a very interesting boat; long waterline with a ton of rocker. Pretty fast in a straight line but responds well to turning strokes and rudders. At 17'4" it could be a very nice, playful all'round boat. Low back deck and very easy to roll. It has the new "knee" hatch at the front of the cockpit, and behind the paddler a centered day hatch. My rotational flexibility is getting better and I could get to the hatch from either side. That said, I definitely couldn't see what was in the day hatch. This boat is on the list to try in more challenging conditions.

I also tried both the Cetus (now HV) and the Cetus LV (low volume), and got remarkably different results from each boat. Having been in a the HV previously for a few paddles strokes, I tried the LV first. At 17' 4", I figured it would be playful and easy to turn like the Vaag. Instead, it was fast on the straight line and turning was unremarkable. However, at 190lbs, I outweigh the suggested range for the boat by a few pounds. In contrast, the full size Cetus had the same if not better straightline speed, but when put on edge the stern would break loose for amazingly tight turns. On edge, I could pivot the boat 360o around it's center point with just a few sweep strokes. Testing a bow rudder turn, I managed a 180 degree turn with a diameter of about a boat length. All said, an amazingly responsive boat for a length of 17'10" and someone of my weight. Just FYI, if I recall, both Lorrie and Kate found the same responsiveness in the Cetus LV that I found in the Cetus HV. I'd conclude that in P&H Cetus variants that it's important to find the boat that fits your weight, and not get something smaller expecting it to be more playful.

I did try the Explorer, but was unimpressed. I could see why folks love them for expeditions, but as mostly a day paddler I'm looking for something more playful. The seat hanger breaking when I was in the boat didn't convey a message of quality either.

Now on to find access to the Cetus MV, Rockpool and Tiderace boats in my size before I make up my mind.

Phil

Phil,
The Cetus HV should be released in 2012, the current line is Cetus, Cetus MV and Cetus LV. John Carmody http://www.seacliffkayakers.com/Home.html just received his new team boat a Cetus MV, if you would like to demo the boat he should be back in the States June 7th.

I am looking forward to getting a Cetus HV when it's release, the original Cetus shouldn't be thought of a the Cetus HV as that's a future boat.
-Jason

Re: Demo day #2 -Cetus, Cetus LV and maelstrom Vaag

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 4:10 pm
by pallen661
Jason

Edited my post accordingly (you never know how long something will live on the interweb). Sorry if I got your hopes up. In between JohnC and Suz I figure I can demo the MV before the end of June.

Phil