Catamaran vs Kayak

27.03.2024
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Can a catamaran outrun a rowing kayak?

At first glance, it seems absurd to ask such a question. And why is it necessary if the catamaran has a transom? And this is important because the speed of the vessel at the oars is an indicator of its hydrodynamic properties, as well as the current resistance of the vessel's hull. Of course, a rowing kayak will be more like a catamaran. Are you sure? But we doubted it and conducted a very interesting experiment with speed measurements. We took the two-seat catamaran Smart Fisher 395 and the three-seat catamaran Smart Fisher 571. Why were these catamarans chosen? Because they are light enough (width 150 cm), with two and three pairs of oars, but much more comfortable, safer and more convenient for fishing than any kayaks or kayaks.

The experiment was conducted on a lake, without current, and ordinary people were rowing. The maximum speed of the three-seater catamaran Smart Fisher 571 with three pairs of oars was 9 km/h. And at a walking pace - 6-7 km/h. The maximum speed of the two-seater catamaran Smart Fisher 395 with two pairs of oars was 8 km/h, and in cruising mode – 6 km/h. By the way, there are photos and videos of this interesting experiment on our website, you can also watch the video on YouTube. This is a very good speed! What do these indicators tell us? If we simulate a normal river rafting, we will need to add 2 km/h - the average speed of a flat river. As a result, we will have the maximum speed of these catamarans on oars - 10-11 km/h, and at a tourist pace - 8-9 km/h. On kayaks, people raft at an average speed of 6-8 km/h. And this means that even without an engine, only on oars, Smart Fisher catamarans will not lag behind kayaks in the alloy, and even vice versa.

Such recreation as river rafting is one of the best active recreations. But, to be honest, rafting on kayaks has its drawbacks. Here are some of them: a low level of comfort and safety, and the impossibility of returning to the starting point of the raft due to the large labor costs of the dam against the current. And this is dependence on other people's transport. That is why we took our catamarans as an example. They do not tip over, are very comfortable and safe, fishing with them is a pleasure, you can stand at full height or swim directly from the side. You can also go rafting on shallow rivers. And you can row with your back forward (the classic version), and vice versa - pushing the oars away from you. Very good muscle training. And, of course, you can put a small engine that will take you to the departure point to your car. For example, with a 2.5 hp engine. you will have a speed of 15-16 km/h. Or you can - an electric motor, a battery and a solar panel. Moving in complete silence at a speed of 6-9 km/h - all tourists will envy you!

If you're into kayaking, we have some really nice Sport transom kayaks. We have already talked about them in detail and all the information is available on the website. They have the structure of a catamaran and their speed indicators are the same as those of the Smart Fisher. In any case, you need to choose a vessel very carefully, taking into account all your wishes. Because modern materials and technologies allow you to use kayaks, boats and catamarans for much more than 10 years. Sooner victory and good trips!

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Catamaran vs Kayak

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