The Paddler Magazine Issue 83 June 25 | Page 6

PADDLER 6
PADDLER 6
REVIEWS
“ The Pyranha Firecracker is my go-to kayak. If I could only have one kayak, it would be this one. It does a bit of everything; you can use it for river running and playboating. It tailees so nicely, and surfing is amazing! You can paddle it on decent-sized water as well, which is good. I had a Firecracker, which I broke, and when I looked at getting another kayak, I thought I should try something else. But then nothing was as good as the Firecracker, and I thought, why get a kayak that won’ t be as good? So I bought my second Firecracker! If that doesn’ t show you how good this kayak is, then I don’ t know what will.” Paul Gill
242 tech spec: Length: 242cm / 7 ' 11 " Width: 66cm / 26” External cockpit length: 91.5cm / 36 " External cockpit width: 52cm / 20.5 " Volume: 259L / 68( US) gal Weight: 19kg / 41lb Optimum paddler weight: 60-90kg / 135-200lb
Firecracker makes that joy easily accessible. While I’ m still working toward holding a tailee, the tail of the Firecracker is so easy to catch, motivating me to start some daily core strength exercises again.
Even when the kayak doesn’ t quite reach vertical, it loves to spin. Catching the tail sometimes results in effortless, smooth rotations on the eddy line, which is an absolute joy! The Firecracker’ s tail playfulness matches the Ozone and far surpasses the Z. One.
FIRECRACKER VS OZONE VS Z. ONE
When I got the Ozone, I loved how playful it was. But I kept my Z. One because of its stability and reliability as a river runner. Now, with the Firecracker, I feel like Pyranha has blended the best qualities of both into one boat.
The Firecracker’ s balance is fantastic. It provides the confidence of the Z. One with the agility of a lighter boat. Unlike bulkier creek boats, it feels nimble, making it ideal for effortless laps on your favourite sections. On the Dee, I completed six laps of Serpent’ s Tail without feeling too fatigued, something I might not have managed in a heavier kayak.
For those who love playing on features, the Firecracker delivers the tail engagement of the Ozone while offering a more predictable response. Whether you’ re carving into waves, spinning on eddy lines, or working on tailees, this kayak keeps the fun flowing without feeling overly twitchy.
The Firecracker perfectly fits the category of a playful river runner. It has earned a permanent place in my