I ended up signing up for a race at the last second recently. Part of it involved paddling a few miles of river....I had 3 kayaks we own to choose from none of which are what you'd call fast.

If I was to do this in the future again and either rent, borrow, or who knows maybe buy what should I do? The fastest people in that part of the race were in the super long, sleek ocean kayaks or kevlar solo canoes.

Should I look at a Magic or similar or even a racing specific canoe and kayak paddle or stick to a long, fast kayak? Purely speaking on speed for up to an hour of paddling. Not fishing or other uses other times of the year...

I wouldn't think any canoe would hang with an ocean kayak(assuming the paddlers were equal).

Have watched a few canoe/kayak races. While the kayaks claim a faster speed it's not much, maybe a half MPH out of a max over sprint distance of 7 to 8 MPH. The competitors I have talked with mentioned kayaks as faster but difficult to keep upright.

Far as factory tripping canoes I have paddled the Wenonah Voyager was the top. I keep up to well paddled Magic's in an Advantage. The biggest determiner will be training and conditioning of the paddler, way more important than the craft.

butthead

A racing kayak or surf ski with a wing paddle, the longer the better unless the river is twisty. Check out the length and width of the Epic V14 surfski

In racing, a 7% difference in speed is huge. Even a wing kayak paddle only gives a 2-3% advantage over a standard paddle but people use them despite the learning curve.

For a canoe, maybe this Hornbeck. That’s pretty close to being a surf ski that can fill up with water.

Yeah, the paddler matters way more but this is the gear forum!!

andym: "In racing, a 7% difference in speed is huge. Even a wing kayak paddle only gives a 2-3% advantage over a standard paddle but people use them despite the learning curve.


For a canoe, maybe this Hornbeck. That’s pretty close to being a surf ski that can fill up with water.


Yeah, the paddler matters way more but this is the gear forum!!"

I would love to try one of those just to see if i could stay upright!

andym: "A racing kayak or surf ski with a wing paddle, the longer the better unless the river is twisty. Check out the length and width of the Epic V14 surfski "

Funny you mention this. I was lined up next to an Epic at the start. She kicked my ass during the paddle portion. I was in my 12' Old Town Loon paddling my ass off and feeling like I was in mud compared to that.

Oh that’s funny. That’s a huge contrast in boats.

Around here a lot of people paddle Epics out in the ocean. They fly across the harbor on the way out.

If you would like to try out an Advantage, you can borrow mine for a few months. I've never raced, but it's nice for workouts after work. It's made of tuffweave so probably a little slower than the lighter Kevlar ones.

DownStrm: "If you would like to try out an Advantage, you can borrow mine for a few months. I've never raced, but it's nice for workouts after work. It's made of tuffweave so probably a little slower than the lighter Kevlar ones."

Thanks, where are you? I'm in SE IA

Muscatine.

The Red one!

DownStrm: "If you would like to try out an Advantage, you can borrow mine for a few months. I've never raced, but it's nice for workouts after work. It's made of tuffweave so probably a little slower than the lighter Kevlar ones."

Yes other than a specific racing canoe like the J series from Wenonah. I would for sure go with the Advantage. Fastest rec canoe out there. Not in the catalog but you can request one

BeaV's canoe is the fastest.

DownStrm: "Muscatine."

We're in Fruitland....so not too far! Haha

missmolly: "BeaV's canoe is the fastest. "

Is BeaV's canoe the fastest, or is any canoe Beav is paddling the fastest?

For a few miles, I think these sprint canoes are the fastest but the balance is mind boggling and my knees ache just watching. World record at 5000 meters is just under 21 minutes. The kayak record is 18 minutes and they get to sit down. Maybe there is some way to make them faster by breaking the class rules.

So any sprint canoes in your race?

there is a BIG rivalry in the Adirondacks. Hornbeck Fast Trick is going after the speedster Placid Boatworks Shadow.

It will be an interesting 90 miler.

Add Savage Rivers

SR racing line

andym: "For a few miles, I think these sprint canoes are the fastest but the balance is mind boggling and my knees ache just watching. World record at 5000 meters is just under 21 minutes. The kayak record is 18 minutes and they get to sit down. Maybe there is some way to make them faster by breaking the class rules.

So any sprint canoes in your race?"

Definitely nothing like that. I'd say there was only really 1 canoe and it was a solo kevlar Wenonah and I didn't catch the model. Everything else was a kayak, including a few wooden ones. (and whatever you'd call the Epic)

cyclones30: "

DownStrm: "Muscatine."

We're in Fruitland....so not too far! Haha"

We may have to meet midway at Deep Lakes Park, then. LOL.
I'm emailing you my cell phone.

RTurner: "

missmolly: "BeaV's canoe is the fastest. "

Is BeaV's canoe the fastest, or is any canoe Beav is paddling the fastest?"

BeaV could be paddling a $29.95 raft from Wal-Mart with his hands and he's still faster than a cigarette boat.

It’s probably easier to paddle a raft than a cigarette boat.

cyclones30: "I ended up signing up for a race at the last second recently. Part of it involved paddling a few miles of river....I had 3 kayaks we own to choose from none of which are what you'd call fast.

If I was to do this in the future again and either rent, borrow, or who knows maybe buy what should I do? The fastest people in that part of the race were in the super long, sleek ocean kayaks or kevlar solo canoes.

Should I look at a Magic or similar or even a racing specific canoe and kayak paddle or stick to a long, fast kayak? Purely speaking on speed for up to an hour of paddling. Not fishing or other uses other times of the year..."

Wouldn't it have to be this one?

Yes, I'm not sure I'm up to that type of $$ or balance at this point. And can you do that technique well for an hour or so?

The top sprint canoeists don't need to do that for an hour or so. They're done with a few miles (5 km) in just over 20 minutes which makes the world record holder was averaging almost 9 miles an hour. And the course involves turns to go back and forth.

However, I'm pretty sure I would be swiming within the first 20 yards.

I think they should give their sport another name. They're making the rest of us look bad. But as my wife would say, "why is anyone trying to go fast? That doesn't get you better photographs."