It’s HAMMER TIME!
P&H recently showcased the prototype of its newest play-the-sea model at this summer’s Outdoor Retailers show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Hammer, a 13.8ft-long, 24.5in wide, extreme condition sea kayak will join the Delphin and Aries models in the revolutionary, “play-the-sea” class.
The great minds of Pyranah Whitewater and P&H Custom Sea Kayaks came together with the idea of combining “whitewater edges, creek style volume, and touring length” to produce an ocean play boat that would excel in surf and rock gardens. The many whitewater-influenced features of the prototype Hammer include a planning hull, carving rails, and aggressive bow rocker to aid in maneuverability in the surf. The Hammer also features the standard Pyranah whitewater cockpit outfitting (seat, hip pads, thigh grips, and full footplate) and whitewater-spec plastic hull.
It’s clear that the prototype Hammer is heavily influenced by the success of the Delphin Surf but with the volume distribution of a whitewater creek boat to keep it from getting buried. From the looks of it, I’d predict that the Hammer will likely surf better than the Delphin in tight rock gardens but the decrease in length may affect tracking and speed on the approach paddle. P&H has alluded to some adjustments for the upcoming production model, the most notable of which is a decrease in volume which may allow for more sea kayak performance. Regardless, I’m excited to see how the Hammer performs on the water!
The Hammer will be available for the Spring 2013 season and may be out as early as late Fall 2012.
Check back for updates on this exciting new kayak as they become available!
-Kayak Dave
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