Paddled this one here in the USA last week on some whitewater. I love the simplicity and feel of this little boat. It’s like it does everything you need in an affordable package without even trying! Good work
Is this going to be suitable for a 6'1 guy, 95kg weight. Slow rivers, lakes and calm sea, maybe a little surfing but mostly to accompany my better half whilst she's paddle boarding.??
Hey there! Mat here... I'm 6'1" and around 110kg, and you can see a few shots of me in the Ion - I was really quite happy with its performance, and could probably have some lightweight overnight kit in the hatch without too much issue! At 95kg, you'll be absolutely fine!
The hatchback is a particularly valuable choice of the Pyranha team, it offers strong advantages in white water tours, especially in high-risk ones, where you have to carry additional protective equipment. I notice some ignorance regarding the acceptance of some valuable details of the hatchback in white water kayaks. The hatchback offers comfort in managing the equipment in white water tours, keeps the equipment safe, the kayak is very easy to empty if water enters. The kayak will float more easily when the Eskimo roll fails, it offers extra safety for the kayaker (I got into a siphon on the Soca river with a Pyranha Fusion, if the whole kayak was filled with water, someone would have pulled me out under the rocks). The skeg has nothing to do with this story, it is somehow for other waters, for other kayakers and for another kayak manufacturer.(Sorry) It creates confusion (it’s like an athlete running in flip flops), is effectively useless in rough waters and increases the manufacturing cost.
While your point regarding the bulkheaded rear hatch adding buoyancy to the kayak is correct, for the kind of waters and usage you describe, we'd recommend a dedicated whitewater kayak with properly fitted and inflated airbags. The reason the Ion and similar crossover kayaks, such as the Fusion, feature a hatch and a skeg is primarily that they are intended as a versatile option which can take on anything from moderate whitewater to light touring, the latter of which being where the skeg and hatch come in most useful. The skeg is also great for easing the learning curve for a beginner who is developing their straight-line paddling technique.
Not at all; as we say, its a lighter weight and more maneuverable option :) The Fusion II remains available for those who'd prefer it for their purposes, though!
