Fjones wrote:
I just pedaled my Revo13 115 miles down the Apalachicola River with 11 other standard paddle kayakers.
Well that is a nice and long trip!
Fjones wrote:
The kayak performed well in all water conditions. It slices through waves without any problem and is stable in rough water. That said, it is a heavy kayak and had trouble keeping up with the other kayaks, especially going against a tide.
Yes plastic kayaks are heavier than fiber glass kayaks, and also more durable. But when you go on a multi day trip you have lots of extra gear on board. So there are possibilities to even out the diff with some extra care about what kind of (and amount) gear you use.
Standard sea kayaks have often a better glide in the water and therefore needs less energy to propulse. In the mirage driven kayak you use bigger muscles and normally you can keep up with sea kayaks in matter of distance per day. But maybe not in average speed.
I have participated in some races (with my Hobie Adventure) and for me there are some limits I can't pass. Maximum speed for a 10 km distance (about 6,2 miles) I can hold is 5,7 miles/hour (9,2 km/h). If I try to go harder my energy drains out fast. For distance between 40-50 km (about 25-30 miles), I can hold an average speed about 7,2-8 km/h (4,5-5 miles/hour). Surfskis are the fastest and normally I don't have a chance to beat them in any distance. Normal standard sea kayaks contains a wide range of properties and the fastest I cannot match. Also depends on their "engines" of course. But I beat some of them.
When I go out with my friends (about my age and maybe a little less trained than me), not racing, they are absolutely NO match for me. They sit in standard sea kayaks and I can go circles around them.
I count the Hobie Adventure as a fast kayak. Very fast if you consider length, width and weight.
You really need to be a good paddler in a fairly fast standard sea kayak to beat me.
(And of course, there are lots of those...
)
br thomas