PADDLER 7
PADDLER 7
REVIEWS aggressive as on some other kayak designs , and this limits the tripping tendency more aggressive chines can confer when paddling over eddy lines . The Arrow Play ’ s chined hull also helps engage carving turns when surfing on waves . Due to the good hull speed , it is good at catching the less steep longer waves that slower and more rockered kayaks struggle to catch .
Consequently , it is great fun on downwind surfing blasts . The Arrow Play ’ s modestly rockered profile does , however , limit its performance in steeper wave environments , for example , certain tiderace overfall features and steeper beach surf . Far more rockered sea kayaks are preferable for this kind of paddling , as their bows and sterns feel looser on the curling waves . Nevertheless , paddlers who often use highly rockered surfing sea kayaks tend to revert to faster and roomier kayaks on expeditions . They often have bigger garages to accommodate lots of kayaks too !
THREE SIZES
My Zegul Arrow Play ’ s build quality and comfort have been well-tested and abused over the last four years of general paddling and expeditions . Reassuringly , the gel coat has proven to be reasonably robust on my frequent bumps into rocky shores . The Arrow Play is produced in three sizes , the larger of which comfortably accommodates my 36- inch legs with size 12 feet and 95 kg posterior . Dignified evacuation from the cockpit is also feasible for the longer-legged paddler . I also like the HV cockpit ’ s high leg / knee positioning that protects my weak hips and facilitates good power transfer between the foot and paddle blade – more spread leg cockpits do not agree with my dodgy hip .
The affordability of this sea kayak is also good . Its retail price is currently 10-20 % cheaper than many other equivalent sea kayaks in the UK . The standard A-Core currently retails for £ 2,900 . Zegul is based in Estonia and is a friendly company and highly popular brand in Scandinavian and Baltic countries . They have an excellent social media profile , with inspiring photos and films of their kayaks being paddled adventurously around the world .
In conclusion , this sea kayak works well for me . It is superbly designed with excellent build quality . And best of all , it is responsive , playful , and stable , even on expedition . The Arrow Play ’ s good looks and scarcity make it more unusual and striking when paddled in British Isles waters . Arguably , it should be on every prospective sea kayak buyer ’ s demo list . After all , the kayak chooses the paddler !
SOME EQUIVALENT MULTI-PURPOSE SEA KAYAKS
Sea Kayaking UK Explorer – similar specification to the Arrow Play – no chines , more rounded hull . Tiderace Pace Action – multi-purpose fast sea kayak with rudder . P & H Cetus and Volan – at 17 ft long , the Arrow Play sits neatly between these two kayaks . Rockpool Taran 16 – multi-purpose fast sea kayak with rudder . Valley Etain and Sirona – at 17 ft long , the Arrow Play sits neatly between these two kayaks . Northshore Atlantic Evolution – a 17 ft long dynamic water kayak .
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
I ’ m Geth Roberts , co-owner of Sea Kayaking Wales and SKW Kayaks ( kayak sales ), Anglesey , North Wales . We offer coaching / expeditions , demo opportunities and sell Sea Kayaking UK , Tiderace and Zegul sea kayaks . I was loaned a Zegul Arrow Play HV four years ago to try out , and I soon bought one . My current favourite sea kayaks are the SKUK Romany Surf and Zegul Arrow Play HV .
We stock SKUK Echo , Pilgrim , Romany Classic / Surf / Excel , Zegul Arrow Play LV / MV / HV , Tiderace Pace Action , Pace Tour and Xtra in small and standard sizes .
Please visit https :// seakayakingwales . com and www . skwkayaks . com
SUMMARY POSITIVES
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Responsive and fun in dynamic seas . Exhilarating to paddle when laden on expeditions . l Excellent secondary stability . l Downwind blast surfing . l Reasonably fast . l Impressive build quality and customer care / support . l Comfortable cockpit and leg positioning . l Three sizes – LV , MV and HV . l Constructions – A-Core or C-Core carbon fibre . l Optional rudder . l Looks excellent – lovely colour schemes . l Price .
NEGATIVES l
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Insufficient rocker for loosely surfing steeper overfall / beach waves . Custom orders require importing and may take a little longer to arrive – plenty of stock kayaks already in the UK .