Testing, testing

Testing,

P&H Cetus (MV)

www.phseakayaks.com Dimitri Vandepoele NORTHSEAKAYAK

This review is based on long term testing and the latest renewal in constructions. I have paddled two different boats for this review. First, I have paddled my Cetus MV Expedition KevlarCarbon for precisely four years (and a bit more than 5,000 km under the hull). For the people who are following us on social media; this is the black and orange Cetus I paddled with. I recently switched to a Cetus MV in Expedition Kevlar-Carbon, but this time to the brand-new Infusion version, which I am eager to talk about! This one is the black and green one I currently paddle with. I paddled the Cetus in conditions from flat calm up to Force 7, and corresponding sea state. I’m using it as a coaching platform, for day trips, offshore trips, surfing, downwinders and rescue training. The thing I’m most proud of is that the Cetus accompanied me during my second North Sea crossing in 2018. So that’s the ship we are going to talk about!

SOME HISTORY

Most of us know that the Cetus is a design that has set the standard for expedition sea kayaks during the last decade. P&H developed this boat, and prototypes were shown to the public at Trade Shows in 2006. The first Cetus deliveries to customers started in February 2007. At the beginning there was just a Cetus MV (a rather big MV), the updates followed soon afterwards to the complete gamma as we now know it, having three sizes that will fit any individual (HV, MV & LV).

testing The Paddler ezine test stati on . I f y o u wan t y our p roduct reviewed and it will be of interes t t o paddlers email us: reviews@thepaddlerezine .com Most names of P&H boats are from constellations, same counts for the Cetus (no plural, there is only one). Cetus is the Constellation of the Sea Monster or Whale (check Wikipedia for more information). The Cetus is the most successful production model in P&H’s history. PERFORMANCE/BEHAVIOUR With the Cetus, P&H took sea kayak design away from the earlier deeper V-designs, that only worked when fully loaded and were not playful at all. This boat has a low profile and slightly fuller ends. As a result, the Cetus can be leaned, so the ends disengage from the water. That way, it becomes like a ballet star as it plays around rocks, obstacles, or a rugged coastline. This is extraordinary for an 18ft sea kayak! Also, one of the reasons why I can use this boat for almost anything. No hard chines on this boat, so it is very forgiving and can be steered around while putting it on edge with some knee pressure. This is one of the faster sea kayaks, not to be mistaken for a type 'fast sea kayak'. Whether you paddle the Cetus on flat calm water or in more advanced conditions, speed can be maintained. It is also a very stable boat, which is the reason why you can keep your focus on forward paddling instead of keeping yourself upright in rough seas. Stability is for every single sea kayaker slightly different, but I must say that I’m very comfortable in it during filming with my camera in those mentioned conditions. I rarely make use of the skeg; the Cetus tracks very well. Only on longer trips and when exposed to a stronger wind coming from the side, or a bit more from the back, I will drop the skeg a wee. When the wind and waves are coming from the back, I never use the skeg. The Cetus is way too agile not to play in waves coming from the rear. So, during downwinders (even mild ones with only small waves) the Cetus will put a smile on your face. When one is new to sea kayaking, and you are not used to picking up locks like that, you can drop the skeg a bit, and the Cetus will track in a straight line, taking you anywhere you want! That is one of the cool aspects of this boat. It will please both the novice paddler, as it will the wintered coach or expedition sea kayaker. It is very difficult to come up with numbers and exact speeds as we move on waters that are affected by tides and waves. I can only say (compared to paddlers with the same abilities and strength) that the Cetus does not keep up with other similar boats; it will lead the way! Also, one of the reasons why this boat is so popular with such a broad audience. Now, a little about manoeuvrability. I’m using the Cetus also as a coaching platform for a few specific reasons. It is fast so that I can move from the back of the group to the front rather speedily. But and this is equally important, I can

SPECIFICATIONS:

CETUS MV

l Length: 541cm l Width: 54,5cm l Volume: 332 litres l Weight: (from lightweight to heavy depending on construction/lay-up): between 20 & 28 kgs l Four hatches: (front, rear, day & mini) l Maximum paddler weight: 115 kgs move around very quickly between places or paddlers. I can turn the Cetus on a dime, making my way back to a capsized teammate and saving essential time. The secondary stability gives a lot of trust, making you lean or edging the boat to the fullest. When that happens, you are no longer 'just paddling'; you become a ballet dancer! Man, this boat is agile for its length!

EQUIPMENT/OUTFITTING

The Cetus is expedition ready. That is a mouthful since only a small percentage of paddlers is effectively using their sea kayak for expedition use. It will swallow all your kit and take you to the end of the world in comfort. However, this doesn’t do this boat much honour – there is more to it than 'just expedition ready'. The Cetus is a complete boat (which I like way more than expedition ready). Let’s start with the deck itself. It comes with four hatches as standard, where the oval rear hatch can take the larger stuff, not just tent poles; I was instead thinking about a larger kayak cart and my emergency shelter. Same for bow hatch. Equally important are the mini hatch (right in front of the cockpit) and the day-hatch (right behind the cockpit). Those two compartments are well in reach of you whilst on the water. That means you can put a complete safety kit in it; the space in the day-hatch is rather generous. The mini-hatch is ideal for smaller equipment, a snack, GPS, cell-phone…. All hatches are waterproof; I had no leakage during all those years. Don’t forget to lubricate (silicone-based sprays work best) the edges so that the hatches open and close easily. Deck lines and elastics are well placed, perfect for performing deep water rescues, also, in an excellent position to put your spare paddle or other safety equipment underneath. There are enough attachments, so no loose hanging lines all around.

COMPASS RECESS

One of those details that I find essential is the compass recess. You don’t see this on all high-end boats. On an expedition boat, this is a must-have, and it should be standard like it is on the Cetus. The compass is installed on the bow, giving you the option to keep one eye on the course and the other on where you are going. I can be very brief but thorough about the cockpit! This is P&H at its best! I’ve been using the Connect seat for years now – it is like putting a sofa in a jet fighter! The seat, thigh braces, hip pads are connecting the paddler to the boat, period. Same counts for the Twist-Lock footrests. These are adjustable whilst sat in the cockpit. P&H boats are now delivered with some extra adhesive knee pads. You can stick those at the right place yourself, where your knees are touching the deck, very convenient.

BUILD QUALITY/CONSTRUCTION

The build quality is excellent, no question about it. You cannot find sharp edges; there is detail in this hand-built boat. When checking the inside, the seams, the hatch rims are all well placed without a single remark. Composite is for the lover of craftmanship. There are a few choices to consider when it comes to construction options. There is a choice between performance Kevlar-diolen and expedition diolen. You can even customise further, letting P&H make reinforced areas on your boat or mix things up to your wishes. A while ago, P&H came up with a new advanced layup process called 'lightweight infusion system constructions'. This process takes more time, an exact amount of resin is infused into the Kevlar/carbon weave excluding air pockets or other inconsistencies from the hull and deck structure. Now, this is where things come interesting.

Mostly, the tougher the boat, the more the weight increases. In my case, the weight of my Expedition Kevlar/carbon Cetus is exactly 30 kgs. When I ordered a new Cetus in the Expedition Kevlar/carbon infusion lay-up I was a bit reserved; would it just make a few kilograms, and will it be as stiff? Upon receiving this Infusion layed-up Cetus, I immediately checked the weight; a little less than 25 kgs! This is a lot of weight-saving on such a boat. Still, I wanted to field test this kayak before starting to cheer. I did a few coaching sessions with it, I went surfing (force 5-6 and an average wave height of 1.5 metres), and I did some distance. After that, I felt it was time to sum it all up – and to cheer – a lot! Compared to my first Cetus, the ‘infusion Cetus’ has the same stiffness, the same strength in construction but with the loss of more than 5 kgs. It gives a tiny bit of better acceleration, and it is super convenient when loading it to the roof rack of the car. This new infusion lay-up is built to quality, not as most do, to a price.

IS IT WORTH IT?

My answer if you are not on a budget; definitely! As for options – I would advise you NOT to look on the P&H website! Please don’t do it, I mean it! There is a so-called 'kayak customiser' that will keep you shackled to it until you finally composed the boat of your dreams! I have been busy for hours and days on that, looking at options, changing colours and making comparisons. There are a lot of things you can change or add to the Cetus! After picking your lay-up, you can start thinking on seams, keel strips, cockpit rims and the constructions and colours of that all. You’re not finished by then! Choices to make on the outfitting, seat, bulkheads, footrests, rudder or skeg (no, we’re not going to start this debate). Do you want a built-in pump, compass, or another deck outfitting? Think about it!

CONCLUSION

The Cetus ticks all the boxes, making this a very versatile platform for expedition use, coaching, weekend, or day trips and even surfing. When spending your hard-earned money, rest assured that you will become more prosperous. Richer with memorable trips, fantastic views, and exciting experiences. You will travel in a high end, hand-built boat that takes you anywhere. Options will become standard for he/she who is paddling the Cetus. This boat is eye candy and performs at the same time, and you can customise the Cetus to all your wishes. It is manoeuvrable when put on edge, fast when paddling straight. It will please the novice paddler and tease the more experienced kayaker to move boundaries. With the new Infusion lay-up, P&H has advanced the standard even higher. This boat has proven itself during the years, earning its place at the top of highend sea kayaks. Even better, try this boat out yourself! Have fun and take care of each other on the water!

P&H WEBSITE

Have a look at the P&H website for more details @ https://www.phseakayaks.com/row/k ayaks.php?model=cetus-mv

WANT TO SEE THE BOAT IN ACTION?

We have a video on our NORTHSEAKAYAK YouTube channel @https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=sqmhrAWidt8

The GoPro Hero 9

https://gopro.com Darren Farrar @StandUpPaddleUK

Every year for us adventurers we consider selling our old GoPro to upgrade to the newest model, this year is no different. This camera is the most powerful offering GoPro have ever done. Overall the camera isn’t a massive upgrade from the Hero 8 Black, and I do think some will stick with it as GoPro did iron out a lot of the kinks with that camera.

I’ve opted for the upgrade to the new Hero 9 for a couple of reasons: l 5K video: (which looks unbelievable by the way) l Hugely improved battery: (I’d say you’re probably getting about 20-25% more battery) l The front display: I’m a massive fan of this l New modes and software upgrades: (HyperSmooth 3.0 stability and Hindsight mode) A few things I’m not so pleased about before the praise starts: l The camera gets quite hot during heavy use and data transfer. l The touchscreen can be a bit unresponsive. l Not a full compliment of Video mode settings. l SuperPhoto mode needs improving. Now, let’s talk specifics and good stuff. It’s so bloody versatile it is unreal – but all GoPro cameras are. The sensor upgrade to a 23.6MP shoots immense 5K video and is definitely an upgrade. In the right conditions, the footage will rival that of a DSLR camera, no, not a joke. The images are more detailed as you’d expect and preserve well when cropped in the GoPro app. The Hero 9’s new HyperSmooth 3.0 boost is something close to incredible – a gimbal killer. I climbed Helvellyn Mountain and ran up and down several peaks, the footage was Seamless and Smooth AF – see my Instagram for this video! GoPro as ever retains all the modes from the Hero 8, whilst adding more: Video, Photo (inc Night Mode), Timelapse (inc Timewarp, Nightlapse) – mainstays of the GoPro camera range. SuperPhoto is back. Timewarp has been improved with a x30 mode and feels smoother on playback. Hindsight mode is a cool feature when in Burst mode – which captures shots before and after you hit shoot! I won’t go too indepth with the Video modes as they are pretty much similar to the Hero 8, barring the 5k video. The camera can get very hot, which seems to be when trying to process large data, i.e. recording 5K and when transferring data on the app to my phone.

It’s overheating more than the Hero 8 was, but again that was a fix they provided. While this isn’t a considerable worry personally, I can see users thinking the camera is faulty or defective because of the heat! I believe a firmware fix will solve this.

THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT

Having the ability to remove the lens to install the New Max Mod looks quite exciting (due October/ November), and it also means the ability to have Lens Filters is back, i.e. Polar Pro.

This ultrawide lens will bring Max HyperSmooth (seen on GoPro Max) and have the ability to lock horizon even if it’s rotated. I’ve got a GoPro Max, and it is the smoothest and best stabilised video I’ve ever seen –so this to gain that feat is immense. This camera is the most significant redesign GoPro have done, the camera is bigger than the Hero 8 and has a larger 2.27-inch rear touchscreen. It’s definitely better in feel – I think it will take more of a beating on the mountain. Only time will tell! The 1.4-inch colour front display is handy if you’re a vlogger – you can frame up easily, although it lacks the high-end quality of the image. The battery has been increased, and the overall battery size is 40% larger. On testing, I would say my batteries are lasting 20-25% longer.

GRIPES

l The touchscreen – it currently isn't good enough for responsiveness. I am told by GoPro that there is a firmware fix coming in November, not ideal. l The camera gets quite hot, as explained. l No 4K/120p – why, oh why GoPro? l SuperPhoto needs improving via an update (as the Hero 8 was). l Having to do firmware fixes on a camera so new, not great.

PRICING

Hero 9 is RRP £429.99 outside of GoPro.com. Via GoPro and their subscription, you’ll get a significant discount. The Sub is great – auto uploads content to the GoPro server, protection of your cameras, which means you get a replacement if your camera is damaged – two per year – the cost £5 per month. Opting for this you’ll get a Hero 9 for £329.99.

OVERVIEW

l It’s the best GoPro yet by far. l Simplified Hero 8 Settings and menus are retained – a good shout for those newer users. l Longer lasting battery by about 20-25%. l New sensor – 23.6MP. l 5k Video is dreamy, and HyperSmooth 3.0 is brilliant. l Webcam mode is quite useful – this is no longer

‘just an action camera’. l Those happy using the current Hero 8 settings do not need to upgrade. l Fixes needed to several ‘Gripes’ with the camera. l Hero 9 comes in a nice packaged case, a cool change from the old plastic box – kudos on that one GoPro.

Overall, I’m quite happy with the upgrade. Find me over on Instagram and see more of the same @darrens_visuals

Palm Bora drysuit

https://palmequipmenteurope.com Dale Mears @StandUpPaddleUK

Drysuits are a big purchase and one to enable you to paddle throughout winter unless you are one of those hardy folk who sticks with split kit or a cag deck all winter. Which I guess is sufficient for shirt sessions on the water. However, big river trips, long sessions on the water and any risk of taking a dip could be a good reason to want to stay warmer and play it safe with a drysuit.

A drysuit without a doubt is one of the biggest luxuries to a kayaker, SUP boarder or canoeists, with the ability to throw on a drysuit over your clothes or layer up underneath in some nice fluffy thermals. Anyway, this is not about selling you a drysuit. If you know, you know! This is about informing you about Palm Equipments top of the range suit the Bora immersion suit.

The Bora is pitched at a touring market, therefore will not be to everyone’s needs. If you’re a freestyle or river paddler, this may not be for you which I’ll come to later. However, if you are a canoeist, touring kayaker, instructor, sup tourer or recreational paddler, this may do just what you want with some nice bells and whistles to top it off. The Bora is designed on two different models a male and female version. At first look, both appear the same – some slight colour difference on the zips orange in the male and blue in the female. The differences are mostly on the cut and shape of the suit with the female taking a different shape on specific areas. The other difference is the facility to visit the toilet. The male suit has the usual front zip for you to take a tinkle, the female suit a newer designed back zip which can be undone to do your business. It’s lovely to see both options rather than a one suit fits all style seen by some brands.

AESTHETICS

Visually the suits are the same, coming in a bright yellow top aesthetically designed to help with visibility, grey bottoms intended to take the brunt of the dirt and wear. In winter you will know dry trousers can get very dirty. I also own some palm atom bibbed dry trousers and bought them in yellow, I’d say they are now a brownish colour after maybe six years of wear and tear. The suit comes with a neoprene neck, not a latex neck which can often cause rubbing and a lot of discomfort when wearing for a long time. Admittedly these do not hold the water quite so well as a latex neck but a great compromise if wearing a lot for comfort. The Bora comes with a hood which folds out of the neck in a similar way to most waterproof jackets. This can feel a little bit stiff packed into the neck at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly, and it does soften over time. The hood itself is an excellent feature for this suit. It has excellent adjustability, both at the back to tighten and around the neck to get a secure fit it in heavy rain or winds. As mentioned earlier, this may not be a feature required for those more dynamic styles of kayaking such as freestyle or river paddling. The hood also has a zip-up neck which covers the lower chin and partially covers the mouth to prevent wind chill yet still allowing breathability. This outer neck has a fleece lining too, which is super toastie! As for the suit itself, the Bora is very similar to the Atom regarding design and materials. The main differences being the hood, the wrist cuffs are a little larger on the Bora than the atom wrist cuffs, rather than a single chest pocket on the Atom. The Bora

has a double pocket which is fleece-lined for warmth and like that of a hoody pocket you can put both hands on together and warm them up. This is an excellent feature for those cold sessions! The Atom has the latex inner neck seal whereas the Bora uses an ultra-stretch neoprene. However, the material is the same on both suits and makes use of Palm’s four-layer 320D fabric reinforced in critical areas of wear. Access is via the back of the suit using a YKK aquaseal. Over the shoulders zip is not always the easiest to do up and open if paddling solo, however, I’ve been managing fine, you need to get the knack. Once on the zip does not get in the way, nor does it feel restricting. As both a paddler and sup paddler I’ve been mostly wearing this on a SUP board. Although aimed as a kayaking and canoeing drysuit, it does not feel cumbersome on a SUP even with unnecessary features such as the waist rim used to put your spraydeck in and seal against the suit. So if you are a multi paddlesport coach/wanting a suit for a bit of everything, the Bora is worth considering. In true drysuit style, however, the feet are massive! I’m yet to find one that’s not! But you have to consider the sizing range if shoe size were added into the mix there would be so many sizing considerations it just wouldn’t work. Having worn this suit on a warm autumnal day it was forgiving, and I wasn’t overheating in a short sleeve base layer and trousers, also worn on a couple of very wet and cold days with more layers and it was toastie warm. This will definitely be my go-to suit their winter on the SUP. During a swim test the suit held water off well, there was no water ingress, and the water was beading off the suit after approx five minutes in the water. The air held in the suite offers a bit of extra swim floatation too.

CONCLUSION

All in all, I think this is an excellent drysuit for those real explorers, whether ocean, river, lake, canal, sup, coaching any of these disciplines would compliment this suit it is a quality piece of kit. It is a higher price at £770 however you are getting premium features and something that if looked after will last you many seasons.

New online product customiser

Peak UK have been specialising in custom printed paddling gear for a decade, leading the way in truly unique paddling equipment – not only for Olympic and highperformance teams and athletes, but also for outdoors centres, paddle clubs, activity providers and individuals. On their new, online product customiser you can now select an item from their custom range and choose from 10 colours for both the fabric and logos. That’s a possible 90 different variations! You’ll be able to see a visual of your chosen garment and colour choices. If you want to go for a full bespoke design you can now order this online too, with all costs visible upfront. The Peak UK design team will contact you to discuss your design once the order is received. Visit peakuk.com/productcustomiser to get started!