Capella RM 166

This was my first kayak and still my favorite. At first I had trouble maneuvering and edging with it. With more experience I readjusted the seat position and it suddenly came alive. I've dragged, dropped and hit this kayak so much, but it has survived and I am still paddling it. I've had to replace the seat, knee pads, skeg wire, and lifelines, I was disappointed that P/H no longer carries many of the parts of the older models. I would definitely consider getting a new in though.

I have been putting off this review for awhile. It actually doesn't, probably, belong here since P&H is now Venture kayaks. I did not know that upon purchase of this kayak. I have since read a lot about the merger and the downside of Venture. I purchased this kayak new and unused from Craigslist for $900. It was listed on CL as a P&H boat. However, it is definitely stamped "Venture" on the side. What that means for me....I don't know?

I'm 6'5" and 250 pounds without any gear or clothing. I have a 36 inch leg inseam and that poses many problems for me in the realm of kayaking. I have been paddling a Valley Nordkapp RM for a couple of years. I didn't know much about paddling flatwater when I purchased that boat (former WW paddler), but I realized rather quickly that it was much to small for me despite the fact that I could squeeze into the cockpit. And that was certainly a squeeze. In calm and warm weather I tried to re-enter the Nordkapp after taking a practice swim. It was impossible. Far too narrow for a guy of my size. Although I paddled it hundreds of miles, I was not comfortable not being able to regain access to the boat in the event of a swim. That was a bit scary, even if I feel that I would never have to swim.....

So, the Nordkapp was great in many ways, but very undersized. At my size, the initial stability was awful. As long as I was paddling forward, it felt like there was nothing that I could not handle. Stopping to grab a snack or snap a picture....however, was a dangerous undertaking.

So, I wanted something better...and with more initial stability...and safer. I had the chance to purchase a P&H Capella 166 brand new at used prices. It is a 2016 model.

I met the seller and paddled it out on a lake. Felt nice, but definitely felt shorter than the Nordkapp. That didn't seem to be a problem, however, It still paddled a bit like my Nordkapp. I initially felt like it was slower....but I did notice the extra two inches in width and the immediate change in initial stability. I felt like I could actually stop and take a photo without cascading over. Maybe have a snack. Sit comfortably without paddling...

I bought it and started putting it through the paces. Here is what I know...

It doesn't track at all like my Nordkapp. I seldom dropped the skeg on the Nordkapp unless I was crossing some totally wind blown open water stretch, but I drop the skeg much more often on the Capella. Very often actually. I seem quite dependent on the skeg at times. Without it, it has sometimes been a struggle to fight the wind. Even just light wind and chop.

However, with the skeg down, or even half down, all my problems were solved. The kayak paddles well and is much more nimble with the skeg down than the Nordkapp. That might be because of my size. "Skeg down" in the Nordkapp basically meant I was heading forward and not trying to turn much at all. "Skeg down" in the Capella means I can still follow shoreline contours and make subtle adjustments without pulling it back up. I don't feel like I'm fighting the skeg. More like it is helping me get where I want to go.

I did not enjoy the outfitting in the Nordkapp. This is probably because I am much too large for that kayak. The seat was uncomfortable and the backband was "barely there".

There is a vast difference with the Capella 166. The thigh hooks are great and form fitting. Even with a 36 inch inseam, I don't have the pedals at the furthest setting from me. The seat is set dead center and I still can put further distance on the pedals. I can also take my feet off the pedals and stretch my legs. My toes can just barely reach the front bulkhead. I can also pull my knees up through the cockpit if I want to move around a bit and stretch some more. This was unheard of in the Nordkapp for a guy my size.

However....the back band and thigh hooks are made of the same material. With dry pants on, those thigh hooks felt like pillows on my legs. Absolutely amazing. Yet, if you put those same thigh hooks or backband on bare skin....they eventually feel like sandpaper. It can become quite uncomfortable in a short amount of time. The material of both the thigh hooks and backband are quite abrasive to bare skin. It's hard to know how to score that detail. It is why the Capella is not receiving 5 stars.

Not the only reason, however. The Nordkapp drop skeg control was perfectly set on my left hand side. It was wire driven and prone to kinks, but it was really easy to adjust. The Capella....not so much. It's behind you on the left hand side. It's rope controlled, and for me, impossible to see no matter what angel I tried. It's in a very awkward place to try and take control of the skeg. Without a lot of effort, the skeg is either up or down. It's very difficult to get a "little skeg". I pretty much have to do that blindly. I can neither look over my left shoulder on under my arm to see the skeg setting. Seeing as the Capella is a kayak that could often use about a "half skeg", the controls are inadequate at best. Yet, I still will take that over a rudder. Your mileage may vary.

All in all, I like this Venture Capella 166. I have achieved a steady pace of 4.5 mph in the last 3 outings. I took it out on some moving water this weekend and found that it was pretty easy to ferry and keep an upstream angle.

Wind has really been its major downfall. The skeg solves that, but it's not as much fun to have the skeg down in my opinion.

I Purchased a new 2012 Capella 166RM this Past June. I wanted the P&H version and not the Venture kayak one due to placement of skeg control. We took a trip on Lake Michigan in what turned into 3 foot waves and high winds, the Capella handled spectacular and the skeg being deployed kept me on track. The plastic is very stiff and I had no issue due to flexing. I would rate this as my favorite of my three boats.

I've owned my Capella RM166 for 5 years and love it. The plastic is as stiff a plastic boat I have seen and is durable too. Primary and secondary stability is good and the boat handles well in wind and waves. The Capella RM166 is a good boat for intermediate paddlers and will grow with you as your skills develop. I own 4 kayaks and I will never get rid of this kayak because it does everything well. As roto plastic kayaks go, I haven't found another that handles like my Capella. I'm 53, 6' and 210 lbs.

I have owned my Capella 166 RM for about a month, and I've paddled it about 75 miles during 10 outings so far. My outfitter let me demo it over a weekend, and I decided to keep it since it paddled so nice.

PLUSES:
Initial stability is less than my first kayak (Necky Manitou 13), and I tipped over the first time I climbed in the Capella. Fortunately I haven't repeated that gaffe, and the secondary stability is excellent. The Capella tracks very nice even with the skeg retracted, but the skeg is great when paddling in certain winds. It is easy to edge and turns well. It also handles very well in rough water and waves, and I actually seek out boat wakes when I'm paddling it because it's so fun.

The Capella has tons of storage space and would be suitable for touring. It has 3 separate hatches and bulkheads, which is a great safety feature as well as providing storage. The hatch covers are easy to use and seal great. The kayak also has plenty of riggings.

The P&H seat, for me, is it's strongest point. It provides plenty of support and is very comfortable. I paddled my Capella 16 miles over 5 hours the second day I had it, and my rear was never uncomfortable. In my Manitou, I would have been squirming after the first hour or so.

MINUSES:
The Capella RM is not particularly fast, if that is important to you. My average speed in the 16'7" Capella is barely faster than my 13' Manitou, although it's easier to maintain a faster pace over long periods.

My Capella is the light blue color (sort of a Robin's egg blue) and it discolors easily. Mine quickly developed marks on the hull where it rests on my Yakima rack, and it also stains easily in dirty water. The marks are not easy to clean off. However, the top portion (above water) of the hull still looks like new.

The Corelite plastic used in the Capella's hull has relatively rough finish, which may slow its speed. The roughness also prevents suction devices (such as LED lights) from attaching well to the hull.

Overall I am very pleased with my Capella, despite the shortcomings. I also paddled the P&H Scorpio and liked it even more (felt much quicker) but couldn't justify the additional cost. My Capella was on sale for $1,000 new, and the Scorpio would have cost nearly twice as much ($800-900 more).

The quality of construction and attention to detail is great on my Capella. I have also heard very good reports on their customer service and warranty protection.

I purchased the boat as a second boat for daily paddling as I have a FG Valley Aquanaut HV for touring. I am 6'2" and 230 Lbs. I have a 32 inch inseam.

The thigh braces and seat are top notch. A new lower back band might be my next purchase and is my only complainant about the Capella. There is lots of room for my feet and I feel like I am in full control of the boat with the thigh supports. (Trying to purchase some for my Valley.)

The boat paddles like a FG model. It tracks very well and does not need the skeg to keep a straight track on flat open water. I paddled it in 20 km/h winds with half meter waves. I had to put the skeg down on following seas which kept the boat straight as an arrow. There is a bit of a learning curve on using the skeg. The trick is to push the release button not squeeze it. The boat feels very stable with good initial and secondary stability.

If you are looking for a fun boat that you can surf, take pictures and day trip in I highly recommend this boat. This boat could be used as a touring boat 4-5 days max if you pack like a backpacker. This boat would be good for all skill levels including those new to the sport.

I was looking for a plastic touring/play boat. I have a larger glass boat, so I wanted a shorter plastic boat that I could take on day trips or longer that was more maneuverable and could take a beating. I decided that I wanted a skeg boat and paddled the Tempest 170, Scirocco, and Chatham 17 before trying the Capella. I was ready to buy the Chatham when the store suggested I take the Capella and Chatham out and compare. They were confident I would choose the Capella. They were right.

The seat and back band were the most comfortable I had tried. The knee braces were rock solid and adjustable. The initial stability was less than the Chatham due to the hard chine but still good. The secondary stability is great. The boat edges well for nice turns. Construction is outstanding and I truly enjoy paddling it. It is surprisingly quick for its size. It won't keep up with my glass boat but it does well. I highly recommend anyone looking for a plastic touring kayak to take the Capella for a paddle. Never buy a boat you have not paddled.

My only complaint is when I am in too big a hurry to exit the boat I tend to damage my shins (I'm 6 foot 175lb) on the sharp edge of the front cockpit. I can't help but wonder if this has been modified since. The only trouble I have had was my rubber hatch covers rotted after about 4 years, but they were left exposed during that time.

High marks and definitely a great boat.

I was looking for something to bang around in a good all around boat and stumbled on the Capella. From cruising the harbor to being out in 4'seas I never lost faith in that boat.
Surprised me how fast/efficient the Capella was esp for a plastic boat.... Stroke for stroke I could keep pace with "most" glass boats that I paddled with.

I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a more efficient plastic boat. I am 6'3" 245 lbs and had no issues at all with it.
I sold it and now wished I hadn't.

Aside from those minor details, the boat is perfect. Accelerates quickly and is easy to edge and turn. It tracks pretty well without the skeg, but is dead-on with it. Sheds waves just fine. Lively enough to be interesting, but far from tippy. If you want performance without the expense and fragility of a composite boat, this is your ticket.

Before purchasing the Capella I test paddled various boats, both Glass, plastic and Carbon, and decided to purchase a plastic boat because it fits the large variety of paddling I do. I paddled boats from all the well known manufacturers and some lesser known ones and found the combination of performance, quality, design, fit and finish, comfort and feel of the Capella best suited my needs.

I have paddled the boat in various conditions from flat calm to 8' swells and even surfed the boat off Long Beach on Vancouver Island (what a blast that was) and found the all round performance of the boat was excellent. To date I have not had to use the skeg once, even though I have paddled in some high wind/strong tidal conditions. In fact for a plastic boat I found the Capella tracks very well and is pretty fast. I can keep up with any of my friends in their Glass or Carbon Kevlar boats without any problem, but I am a strong paddler!

I had to add hip pads but other than that I haven't had to do anything with the fittings on the boat and find the seating to be excellent. Even without the hip pads I've found this boat is a dream to roll and very manouverable. It has decent initial stability and excellent secondary stability, which is the way I prefer in a sea kayak.

Despite its relativey small storage areas I have found carrying even a week or twos camping supplies not to be a problem, although I will admit I am a light camper.

I purchased a fully loaded version which included the built in compass and pump and although I haven't used the pump apart from pumping out friends boats, the compass has been used a lot and is great! Overall I am extremely happy with this boat and know it will serve me well for a long long time. I can highly recommend the P & H range and especially the Capella to anyone looking for a good performance Sea Kayak!