It was a joy to paddle the new Volan 156, which turned out to be my personal “Cinderella” boat in terms of size and comfort.
I am quite short at 1.50 m, and weigh only 65 kg, both of which make it a challenge for me to find the center of gravity in a new-to-me boat.
My previous experiences with other P&H models were that the cockpit depth was usually too high for me to be able to reach above and power my strokes, and I often struggled to reach the footpegs. In strong winds, the higher bow profile of some models would also make it difficult for me to control the rest of the boat in front of me.
In contrast, the new Volan 156 was just the perfect fit and extremely comfortable. The carbon seat was cushy, easy to get in and out of, and required almost no backrest adjustments, and it was easy to roll and keep contact with the boat.
The skeg was also easier and fast to operate without pressure (my finger did not get caught for a change), and the foot pegs were solid, both absorbing and responding fast to the pressure I applied.
The sweet surprises came with the surf and tide races: low depth and short length towards the stern created very playful moments; my kayak did not catch in the back for the first time in my life!
Despite the overall short length of the boat, I was also able to keep up with the speed of the group and the challenges the Pembrokeshire environment brought.
Thanks to John Carmody for letting me experience the boat; I had previously hesitated to travel where it was questionable for me to find a sea kayak that would fit my size, and the Volan 156 was a pleasant surprise.