Rockpool Taran – A layman’s review. A contribution by James Chapman.

As you are probably aware if you follow this blog, two sea kayaks were recently delivered to Perth from Expedition Kayaks in Sydney.  

My choice was the Valley Etain and I have already posted a report. James Chapman, a paddling friend has taken delivery of a Rockpool Taran. Now, these are two very different beasts and it will be interesting in the coming months to follow our progress with our choices.  

James has very kindly put together his first impression of the Taran, and below are his thoughts.

Thanks James for your contribution.

Background

I have been paddling a composite Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Pro over the past 2 years.   The Tempest provides a good blend of British style sea kayak movability and fun where the water meets land with touring potential.   However, it is a bit of a compromise.   Reasonably fast (starts to want to jump out of the water at around 9km/h) but not a screamer, carries lots of gear but a bit big for surfing and bouncing off rocks.  My plan is to specialise and get a small low volume skeg boat for play and a purpose built tourer to carry all my camping toys over large distances.  It just so happens that I have started with the latter, the Rockpool Taran. 

 Tempest 170 Pro

    

 Initial Impressions:

When I think of fast sea creatures the starfish immediately comes to mind.  Google tells me that Taran is Gaelic for Thunder.  Neither of these images capture my initial impressions of the Taran.  First thoughts are how wonderfully “she” is constructed and finished and how sleek she looks.  Normally sleek and narrow equates to tippy and swims but I was wrong here.  More on this later.    

I am happy with my choice of colours.   Having spent some 30 minutes consuming cake and coffee on the water front admiring my new toy I was happy to return to a relatively cool boat.  Understanding the impact heat and sun has on Carbon and Kevlar probably a wise choice for Perth.  

 A design element of note is the large flat section running probably over half the length of the kayak.  Untested so far but I guess this the secret to the Taran’s formidable reputation downwind particularly on following swells.

Flat bottom section minimal impact on resistance, maximum impact on downwind speed.
 

On the water:

Sitting in the boat the first thing I noticed was the lower primary stability when compared with my Tempest.  My body’s natural reaction was to try and balance the boat like I was delivering a tray of coffees.  Fortunately on experimentation beyond the threat of scolding coffee there is a predictable and solid secondary stability that I know will save me many times in the future.  The key will be to relax and let the boat do its thing.  In reflection this only took 3 or 4 paddles for me to adjust.  

Should I use the rudder?   There was no wind, the Taran was tracking beautifully and the slighted edge or sweep provided immediate response.  I paid for it so I better see what it does!  Like a skeg, on deployment, it does stiffen the boat up a bit.  However, at the slightest curl of the toe you are rewarded with an immediate response.     Will take a bit of getting used to.  Initially as I drove through my legs my toes moved which had me weaving like the V8s down Mount Panorama.  Not good for speed.  So I will need to train my mind, core and feet. 

The Taran slices through the water effortlessly.  Any feeling of apprehension as a small wave or chop approaches disappears as the Taran continues to track dead straight oblivious of the disturbance.   Not sure if it’s the rocker, the flat bottom or the starfish but the ability to maintain momentum is noticeable.  Within the speed range of my initial paddles (8-10km/h) resistance appears linear.  The Taran appears to glide between strokes, if you want to go faster just pick up the cadence.  In other words good reward for effort.  

I have not had a chance to get out in some decent swell yet but have been playing in some small runners.    The Taran accelerates easily onto any semblance of a wave and to my surprise just tracks in pretty much any direction I want to go.   Just rotating the body in preparation for a stern rudder and a slight inside edge is enough to have it running across the line.  Even before I get to put the blade in the water.     The opposite brings it back in line.  

This could easily become addictive and have me searching for large following seas.

On flat water I guess that wave resistance starts to catch up with you and go exponential around 10.5km/h.    I managed a short sprint to 11.5 km/h on my Sunnto but would not be sustainable.  Using my Werner Cyprus touring paddle and pushing into an 8-12 knot head wind with small chop the boat tracked well and I don’t expect it had a big impact on speed.  Although it did drive my heart rate up.   

Sunnto Ambit Trace http://www.movescount.com/moves/move19893860

Have rolled several times with no problems.  I think it likes being the right way up more than upside down.  This is always a good start.  In fact the only issues I have had were rolling too fast necessitating a hasty low brace to avoid going over the other side.  Probably a nice problem to have.  Will see how she like rolling full of gear.  I guess the same physics applies..

Comfort:

                          Simple but very comfy cockpit – Rudder deployment cord in foreground

I had ordered the wider seat to accommodate my sturdy base…  Untested this was a risk but fortunately it fits my ass like jelly in a mould.  Not sure about that analogy.   The cockpit setup relies on a performance moulded seat with well positioned thigh braces and a very low back band.  I am used to pads along side my hips to provide support and lock me to the boat.  Initially I found the lack of lateral support in the Taran disconcerting but now realise it frees up my legs for driving and the close fitting thigh braces provide more than enough support.   I didn’t have any of those falling out of the boat moments when rolling.  

The SmartTrack rudder and footpeg system works wonderfully.  Fixed footpegs for drive and toe peddles to move the rudder.  Very small peddle movement is needed to initiate surprisingly tight turns.  Not quite low brace turn tight but probably tighter that edging.    Probably the best part of the rudder is the ease and design elegance for retracting and deployment.    The blade is spring loaded and hence wants to be down.  The single cord only really comes into play to pull it up.  Very smooth.   A proper foiled blade shows that someone understands hydrodynamics.

SmartTrack Rudder

Conclusion:

In only 4 days, and 4 paddles I am sure I have found the right kayak for me.  Fitness boat, grand tourer, slightly quirky and confusing to the slappy ski paddlers and just the challenge I needed to push my paddling skills.  Just need to think of a name now…..