P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Blog

Sea Kayaking Articles from P&H Staff, Team Paddlers, and Friends

We’re Charity Champions!

By

On March 22, 2023

In Fundraising & Activism, News

You may recall that in March of 2022, we set about raising funds for the DEC to support their relief efforts in Ukraine – unbelievably, a year has passed since then!

With your help, we ultimately raised over £88,600, and as a result of this significant contribution, in February of this year, Work for Good (the platform which manages larger donations to the DEC) named us as one of their ‘Sales Fundraising Stars’.

Sadly, the situation in Ukraine continues, leaving many in need of aid. If you wish, you can still donate to the DEC directly on the following link: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

The Full-Carbon Cetus

By

On March 7, 2023

In News, Reviews, Technical

We make many boats each year between our rotomoulding facility and head office in Cheshire, and our composite workshop in Derby; both have very skilled teams using some sophisticated equipment, and sometimes quite basic skills in a sophisticated way.

In my 52 years in this industry, I have seen some exceptional skill and craftsmanship from our team, from our suppliers, and from some competitors, much of which most of our customers would never see or understand.

I am so used to it that I wrongly take it for granted, but occasionally, something I see makes me realise just how far we have travelled and just what a skilled, talented, and wonderful team of people we’re lucky to have building our kayaks.

Recently, I saw a Lightweight Kevlar/Carbon Infusion Cetus with Clear Carbon all-round that was utterly exquisite.  From 3 metres away, it looked like any full-carbon kayak, but when I got close, I was “gobstruck” (for our international friends, this means ‘overwhelmed with wonder, surprise, or shock’), speechless, and rendered immobile. I poured over the deck, stroking its form and looking for a blemish that was never found.

For some time, I have been proud of our team’s skill in laying down a full layer of carbon in the hull without weave distortion and folding. The painting of bows and sterns in a solid colour to disguise the cutting of fabric necessary for low-skill manufacture are not the P&H way. To see the deck laid down without such painted segments around its many complex features is an entirely different order of difficulty! There was no fabric weave distortion or any cuts around the RDFs (Recessed Deck Fittings, which hold the decklines, elastics, and handles) or hatches. Around the heavily contoured compass, sail mast foot, and split-paddle shaft recesses there was one little cut which had to be pointed out to me, but I still couldn’t see it. It was invisible.

Steven Pericleous, you are a master craftsman, but so are many more in our team whose skills aren’t so easy to see.

Graham Mackereth

Paddling the Chalk Cliffs of Møn – Denmark

By

On December 20, 2022

In Trip Reports

Many say the island called Møn in the eastern part of the Danish Baltic Sea is the most beautiful island with the most spectacular section of coastline in the whole of the little Kingdom. This means a lot because the country is supposed to own 1,400 islands and a coastline of more than 7000 km in length. I could quite agree with that, but I have not even seen yet maybe 150 of their islets.

What makes it stand out from the others are its chalk cliffs. The white walls called Møns Klint stretch for about 7 km along the eastern coast of Møn. They consist of shells that accumulated 70 million years ago on the seabed of an ancient tropic sea. Billions of microscopic plankton with chalk skeletons made up a thick layer of sediment, that was later exposed by the glaciers of the ice age. If you are lucky enough you can find fossils of shellfish or sea urchins at the foot of the cliffs.

The highest point, the Dronningestolen, reaches 128 m above the sea level of the Baltic Sea. This kind of rock is also common on both sides of the English Channel like in famous places like Étretat in France, or the White Cliffs of Dover. A wonderful old beech forest that grows alongside the cliff sets the Danish wall apart.

The best time to paddle along this coast is the early morning when the sunrise hits the white, carbonate rock. If the weather is right you will paddle under the glowing “Klint” and look up in awe and wonder as there are plenty of cracks, little towers, and fallen trees along the shore to see.

But the Island has more to offer than the Klint. When you paddle around it, which means about a 110-kilometre distance and approximately 3 days of paddling, you will encounter long and empty sandy beaches and the cute little town of Steege with its historic centre.

The western shores of Møn are pretty sheltered by a lot of small islands, some only inhabited by cows and birds. On the narrow points, you will encounter a little tidal and wind-induced flow.

The main stretch of the route around the island is open to the waves of the Baltic Sea which can be pretty powerful when the wind stirs up over 5 Beaufort. A wonderful thing is the Danish system of free overnight places in the wild, called “Overnantinig i det fri”. Those are designated sites specially reserved for hikers, bikers, or paddlers. Along the shore of Møn you will find some of them in tactical, well-suited positions for a circumnavigation if combined with one of the normal camping sites. Some “Overnantinig i det fri” sites offer Scandinavian-type open wooden shelters and fireplaces, which are perfect for sitting out bad weather.

If you bring your fishing gear alongside and buy a cheap Danish fishing license in a post office, you can catch some sea trout and mackerel to enrich your cooking. So why not visit the little kingdom of Denmark and bring your sea kayak?

There is much more to discover. You can paddle alongside Copenhagen’s City or surf the waves of the North Sea in Klittmöller or Hvide Sande. Looking for a mellow camping trip? Paddle the Limfjord which offers wonderful nature, many “Overnattning i det fri” places, and an intricate system of water bodies…

End of Season Sale

By

On November 29, 2022

In News

It’s been a busy year, with lots of new products and lots of new paddlers taking to the water!

To ensure they had the right product to suit each and every one of those new paddlers, our network of specialist dealers stocked up more than ever – now that we’re heading into the traditionally quieter winter season, though, this means they have a little more remaining stock than they might usually have had, including some of our kayaks that we know will be yearning for the water!

If you want to pick up one of those kayaks at an outstanding price, then just give one of the dealers below a call, drop them an email, or, better still, pay them a visit:

Scotland

Port Edgar Watersports (JP Watersports) – 0131 319 1820 – bookings@portedgarwatersports.com

North East

Northeast Kayaks – 01665 714 039 – sales@northeastkayaks.co.uk

Robin Hood Watersports – 01924 444888 – sales@roho.co.uk

Wet and Wild – 01482 354076 – sales@1stwetwild.co.uk

North West

Go Kayaking – 01928 710770 – info@go-kayaking.com

South Wales

Up and Under – 029 20 578 579 – watersports@upandunder.co.uk

South East

Kent Canoes – 01732 886688 – info@kentcanoes.co.uk

South West

AS Watersports – 01392 219600 – sales@aswatersports.co.uk

South Coast Canoes – 01202 914224 – sales@south-coast-canoes.co.uk

Lake Schwerin With a Sea Kayak

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On November 14, 2022

In Trip Reports

Lake Schwerin (Schweriner See) is situated in the north of Germany in a county called Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and measures approximately 62 km², which ranks it 4th among the biggest German lakes. Carved out by the glaciers of the Ice Age, it is nowadays a proper paddling ground for sea kayakers.

The vast nature along its shore is a good reason to visit this gem of a lake. A good deal of its shore is accompanied by beech tree forests and floodplain forests that are dominated by alder and ash trees.

In the branches of the trees, you may spot white-tailed eagles. Kingfishers hunt small fishes close to shore. You can listen to the trumpeting sounds of cranes, which usually are hidden in the vast fields of reed that spread over several bays. Spotting them is hard except in migrating time when groups of hundreds pass over the lake frequently.

If you are a fan of culture, you will not be disappointed here either. The Castle of Schwerin is called the Neuschwanstein of North Germany. Built on the remains of an older fortress it was changed over time. Its contemporary face was built in the middle of the 19th century by architect Adolf Demmler with the simplicity of Prussian Neoclassicism and a sense of elegance in mind.

In modern times the castle became the seat of regional parliament. With a kayak, you can paddle around its walls and enjoy the view better than anyone else. Several islands that can be visited by kayak are another reason to cruise here.

Last but not least there are two possibilities to camp in designated places on the islands with your tent. A possibility that is rare in other places in Germany.

When the wind is strong, like in the off-season, you may have the possibility to change from cruising to surfing mode and paddle downwind in steep and powerful waves.

To sum up you will find a good deal of reasons to put your kayak into the water at Lake Schwerin!

Introducing the P&H Leo

By

On May 13, 2022

In News

In the mid-’90s, the Capella was introduced not only as one of the first serious plastic sea kayaks but also at a short-for-the-time, 16’ length for the increase in manoeuvrability that offers.

Plastic sea kayaks soon took off, and with good reason, being a more affordable and highly durable option for individual users and fleet owners who enjoyed their budget-friendly and lower-maintenance appeal. The 17’ Scorpio, and later the 15’ Delphin entered the P&H range, leaving little room between them in the market for the Capella, which was rehomed in a lower spec amongst the Venture Kayaks range, and eventually retired just a few years ago.

This is the sad result of a niche market like kayaking; it’s often difficult to justify having a wide plethora of options in boat design and length (although we generally give it a good try!) We’re delighted to say paddlesports is booming right now, though, and that widening of the market enables us the space to offer shorter boats like the Virgo, as well as a new, mid-length boat; the 16’ Leo, available now in MV and HV sizes!

The Leo will appeal to fans of the Capella but is brought bang up to date with a much more stable hull profile and a whole heap of modern features like the Skudder system, split paddle recesses, inserts to take a kayak sail mast foot, smarter deck styling, and the renowned comfort of our Connect outfitting system.

If you’re looking for a highly versatile sea kayak which allows the paddler to explore all avenues of sea kayaking comfortably, this is it.

Ukraine Fundraiser Update

By

On April 29, 2022

In Fundraising & Activism, News

Although the initial shock of the situation in Ukraine has subsided and the media’s interest has largely moved on, it is clear that much has transpired that money or humanitarian aid cannot fix; loved ones lost, atrocities suffered, and lives forever changed. The war in Ukraine has also, sadly, not yet come to an end.

We are proud to have been able to offer what little support we can, though, and thank each and every person who has supported us in our fundraising efforts thus far, but we’re not done yet!

There are still some ‘Flag of Ukraine’ Virgos available to order on our UK/EU Webstore, and via the dealers below; if you know of anyone in the market for a Virgo, please do let them know:

Ireland

Bantry Bay Canoes

I-Canoe

Germany

Denk Outdoor

Sport Schroer

Gadermann

Norway

Padlespesialisten

Alfa Fritid

Switzerland

Siesta Oppi

Sweden

Aterra

Netherlands

Kanocentrum Arjan Bloem

Italy

Ozone Kayak

New Zealand

Further Faster & Long Cloud Kayaks

The P&H staff who gave up their time in aid of the fundraiser.

A large part of what has been raised so far was via the raffle held for a ‘Flag of Ukraine’ Volan. Congratulations to the winner, Christopher Chan, and thank you to everyone who entered! Here is Chris’ reaction to when we gave him the good news, and what he had to say about his motivation for getting involved:

“When I received word that I had won the Flag of Ukraine Volan, I wasn’t sure whether to believe it and I’m still surprised even now. I’m excited to paddle it soon on the East Coast of the US! I am extremely grateful to P&H, their suppliers, and the staff who donated their time to make this happen.

I supported the raffle because I wanted to be part of a larger community contribution to the Disasters Emergency Committee with the paddling community to the people of Ukraine. It’s heartening that so much was raised so quickly and that the funds will support Ukrainians immediately.”

If you pre-ordered a ‘Launch Kayaks, Not Missiles’ T-Shirt, these were shipped out from the 12th of April in the UK/EU and have just landed and begun to be despatched this week in North America. We really appreciate your support and patience with these!

Once all orders have been fulfilled, we will list any remaining t-shirts on our webstores and the sales of these will also go towards the fund.

Lessons Learned- Blade Awareness

By

On March 28, 2022

In Technical

This video series, titled ‘Lessons Learned’, will highlight things Christopher seas while he is on the water coaching and will give you some ideas to think about the next time you head out in your sea kayak. We hope that you will find them educational and that they help you get the most out of your days on the water.

Blade awareness will help take you’re paddling to the next level.

Understanding how your blade slices through the water will help give you more control in dynamic water. Have you ever found yourself “tripping” over your kayak paddle in challenging conditions? Well, taking some time to work on blade awareness will help you gain a better understanding and get the most out of your kayak paddle.

Key outcome:

  1. work on blade awareness in flat water
  2. Keep your wrist and forearm in line to minimize injury
  3. Allow time to develop this technique
  4. Get professional coaching to maximize your progression.

Lessons Learned

UK’s Premier Kayak Manufacturer Now Available in Greater Vancouver

By

On March 25, 2022

In News

After pivoting their business in 2019, the UK’s premier kayak manufacturer, Pyranha and P&H Sea Kayaks are now available again in the Greater Vancouver area after securing partnerships with the area’s best paddlesports retailers, Coast Outdoors (North Vancouver, BC) and Western Canoeing & Kayaking (Abbotsford, BC).

Established in 1971 and 1968 respectively, Pyranha Kayaks and P&H Sea Kayaks unified in 2004 and together have grown to be the UK’s leading supplier of cutting edge whitewater kayaks and industry-leading sea kayaks. These innovative designs have taken adventurers to the remotest corners of the globe and received numerous industry awards and accolades. Pyranha/P&H pivoted its Canadian business in 2019 to focus solely on independently owned, speciality retailers and has been reestablishing its Canadian dealer network since then. 

“We’re just thrilled to bring the two premier British Columbia paddlesports retailers into the Pyranha / P&H family. Western Canoeing and Coast Outdoors represent the very best paddlesports selection and service and align perfectly with the values of Pyranha’s family-owned business. Bringing the industry’s best kayaks to the best retailers positions us perfectly for a new beginning in the British Columbia paddlesports community.” says Chris Hipgrave, Pyranha’s North American Sales Director. “Western Canoeing will focus on the Pyranha whitewater kayak brand while Coast Outdoors will be focused on the P&H Sea Kayaks brand. Both of these outstanding retailers promise to expand our opportunities to the huge paddlesports community in British Columbia and well beyond.”

Coast Outdoors is North Vancouver’s foremost paddlesports speciality store. Their knowledgeable and enthusiastic retail staff are dedicated paddlers who know their stuff so can give you great advice if you need some direction, arrange demos, or help you out with any parts you might need.

Coast Outdoors

352 Lynn Avenue

V7J 2C5

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

(604) 987-2202

info@coastoutdoors.ca

Western Canoe Kayak prides itself on having the largest and most diverse selection of canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle-boards, and accessories, with easy access through their online store. Their staff don’t just talk about paddling, they live for it! Whether you’re just getting into paddling or have been paddling your whole life, their staff have the expertise to answer any questions you may have. Good service and sharing of knowledge are their most important products, and they’re free!

Western Canoeing & Kayaking

1717 Salton Rd

Abbotsford, BC

(604) 853-9320

sales@westerncanoekayak.com

Lesson Learned- Hang onto your Kayak

By

On March 21, 2022

In Technical

This video series, titled ‘Lessons Learned’, will highlight things Christopher seas while he is on the water coaching and will give you some ideas to think about the next time you head out in your sea kayak. We hope that you will find them educational and that they help you get the most out of your days on the water.

‘Hang onto your Kayak’ is the first video in the Lessons Learned series. In this video, you will learn the importance of hanging onto your kayak with examples of what happens when you let go. One of the most important concepts after learning to wet exit your kayak is holding onto your kayak once you have a sense of humour failure and exit the kayak. It became obvious to me in 2018 that many people don’t put enough importance on this fundamental technique. Driving home the importance of this simple task needs to start at the foundation level and should carry on through the skills progression. When paddlers let go of their kayak in a dynamic environment this added a level of complexity that can be avoided. Whenever working in these environments we focus on simplifying the process and only take on more complexity if the environment demands it. During pool sessions and rescues, practice sessions in calm water reinforce the importance of staying in contact with the kayak at all times during any rescue or recovery of a swimmer. See you on the water!
Key takeaways from this video

  1. When practicing rescues in all environments maintain contact with your kayak.
  2. New paddler should be reminded of this important concept
  3. You need the kayak to put the swimmer back into. In a dynamic environment, things can become complex rather quickly.

Visit www.committed2thecore.com for more tips and professional coaching opportunities. Christopher Lockyer is a proud member of the P&H pro paddler Team Based in Nova Scotia. Sea you on the water

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