Beluga

The boat is a really odd, old boat and not much can be found about it online. I suppose that’s because the boat fit into a very small niche in the market back in its day. It is a cross between an ocean kayak, a downriver racer, and a fitness boat.

It has a narrow’ish hull and therefore is somewhat tippy on primary stability but has small wings similar to a wild water boat like the Wavehopper so the secondary stability is outstanding. It has a watertight, bulkheaded hatch in the stern to allow for packing gear. At under 15′ long and with the added rudder, you might look at the boat and suggest it does not know what it wants to be when it grows up.

It is on the fast end of the scale for being plastic, it’s plastic so it should be virtually indestructible against rocks, it has a roomy cockpit, it has a sealed hatch for packing supplies, and it is very stable when compared to true racing boats.

Good for somebody who wants to do some fast touring or downriver trips who already has good balance skills but doesn't want to deal with the instability of a faster, racing design.

Fast responsive and pretty darn comfy. I dont know how it is in high wind or choppy water because I mostly paddle narrow streams. It has good leg room and decent outfitting I had too glue some insulite on the backrest to custom fit me. Yes its a little tippy if your not used too paddling a high performance boat. But I find it to be very stable and a blast to turn you just lean it over and she turns as pretty as you please.

It requires a little focus at the beginning but then it becomes a little speed demon and invites/requires you to go fast. A few runs and it felt comfortable. I am only using it for workouts on a lake, what a joy. Wish it were a little lighter. It's definitely not a fishing/picture taking platform. It's very comfortable and roomy. Nuff said.

I have had the Beluga for a year and I really like it. I wasn't at first sure that I made the right decision because because of it's intial instability. But, with practice, I learned how wonderful this boat really is. It's quick and I can keep up with 17 ft boats that weigh 20 lbs more. Used in in high winds in Hatteras without a rudder and although I wished I had a rudder, I was able to compensate and improve on what prior to this trip was beginner skills. All in all, I think the Beluga was worth the money. On flat water, it leaves a wake, it's so fast. However, the bow does dive under chop and the high bow causes some weather cocking in windy conditions but this could be corrected with a rudder. This is not a beginner boat, but (as I have proven) a beginner can grow into it.