Gear Review: Pyranha 12R Whitewater Kayak
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Clackamas River
Duration of Test: 1 day
Product Name: 12R
Product Brand: Pyranha
Best Use: Whitewater, whitewater racing, coastal play
The Full Review:
After having spent some time in other whitewater "long" boats recently, I was quite excited about the release of the Pyranha 12R. They revolutionized kayak design as we know it when they released the 9R, their 9ft creek boat, and I think they really hit the nail on the head with the 12R.
What sets this boat apart from the others in the whitewater industry is the amount of rocker and the defined edges. This makes it fast, agile, and capable on hard whitewater. The extra rocker on the 12R adds to the "skip" factor through a drop. For those looking to go fast, this is great because you won’t be getting bogged down by the holes you normally would. I would say rocker is the single best thing about modern whitewater boat designs, and Pyranha really did a great job with this boat. The defined edges really help you lock into your lines in this boat. Whereas with a softer-edged boat you might need a lot of paddle strokes to get you where you want to go. With the 12R, well angled hip movement and 1 good paddle strokes will really put you back on track.
P.S. I haven't got a chance to take this to the ocean yet, but it seems like it'll be a pretty sick surf boat/ rock gardener!
The Good:
Fast
Great rocker profile
Durable
Adjustable seat, bulkhead
Sweet edges
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the 12R is just a blast to paddle. Go fast, work on your race lines, do a week-long overnighter in it, do some attainments, or hit the coast for a surf. This boat really does belong in the quiver of most whitewater paddlers. This boat is also the most capable out of any when it comes to pushing its limits on some hard whitewater.
(DEMO AVAILABLE AT THE PADDLE SPORTS CENTER!)
The Full Review:
After having spent some time in other whitewater "long" boats recently, I was quite excited about the release of the Pyranha 12R. They revolutionized kayak design as we know it when they released the 9R, their 9ft creek boat, and I think they really hit the nail on the head with the 12R.
What sets this boat apart from the others in the whitewater industry is the amount of rocker and the defined edges. This makes it fast, agile, and capable on hard whitewater. The extra rocker on the 12R adds to the "skip" factor through a drop. For those looking to go fast, this is great because you won’t be getting bogged down by the holes you normally would. I would say rocker is the single best thing about modern whitewater boat designs, and Pyranha really did a great job with this boat. The defined edges really help you lock into your lines in this boat. Whereas with a softer-edged boat you might need a lot of paddle strokes to get you where you want to go. With the 12R, well angled hip movement and 1 good paddle strokes will really put you back on track.
P.S. I haven't got a chance to take this to the ocean yet, but it seems like it'll be a pretty sick surf boat/ rock gardener!
The Good:
Fast
Great rocker profile
Durable
Adjustable seat, bulkhead
Sweet edges
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the 12R is just a blast to paddle. Go fast, work on your race lines, do a week-long overnighter in it, do some attainments, or hit the coast for a surf. This boat really does belong in the quiver of most whitewater paddlers. This boat is also the most capable out of any when it comes to pushing its limits on some hard whitewater.
(DEMO AVAILABLE AT THE PADDLE SPORTS CENTER!)