Nordkapp HM

In the progression of sea kayak design one boat always makes the list, the Nordkapp. I first saw one of these back in the early 80's when a friend of mine named Max Smith showed up for a San Juan Islands weekend kayak tour with a bright red Nordkapp HM. I was intrigued with the boat and almost afraid in many ways. It looked too narrow, the tiny ocean cockpit was confining and everything had to be packed through these small 8" deck hatches. Max was a character and at that time he was going through his "live-off-the-land" phase. As a result he barely bought any gear and was fishing and foraging for dinner along the way. Good thing we bought some extra so he didn't starve. So at that point I had the design on my radar but it was not until almost 20 years later that I finally owned one.

I saw an original Nordkapp HM listed for sale locally and bought it. There are many versions of the "Nordkapp" and I will not get into it here. You have to go on-line and read about the different versions. The name had so much value in the market that Valley Canoe named many boats as "Nordkapps" and it is somewhat confusing at this point. The boat I bought was a 80's vintage boat with a yellow deck and white hull. It came complete with the little bilge pump mounted in the deck behind the paddler. It is a low volume boat and I find it amazing the expeditions that this boat has accomplished with its tiny hull crammed with the gills with provisions.

I find the boat very stable and very forgiving. The Ocean Cockpit is tight but feels very secure for bracing. The boat has a lot of volume at the paddlers location and forward so it is a remarkably dry boat even loaded to the max. These were thick hand laid fiberglass hulls and are super strong. Older boats usually need new hatch covers but the hulls are usually hard to really damage with normal use. I really liked the experience of the Nordkapp. It tracks well but not too well. It was easy to maneuver using the swells and some easy corrective strokes. I had a hard time packing into the boat but the new ones have larger hatches so this can help the packing problem. They are still low volume so you need to pack carefully. It is hard to get a case of beer into the boat for a long tour. Just line the big cans of Fosters right down the keel line for stability.

I have paddled a modern version of the original Nordkapp design and it is still a classic. Valley makes a great kayak and this boat is no exception.

Paddle on lads...

I first saw a Nordkapp over 20 years ago when I paddled in the Bristol Channel in South Wales in all conditions and the boat excelled. By all conditions I mean even out in huge seas, in hail storms, and strong winds. I bought one this year and used it in the Everglades Challenge (see www.watertribe.com) in Florida, a tough 300 mile race down the west coast of Florida to Key Largo. The boat was fantastic, dealing with everything without a problem. Even at the end of a near continuous 60 mile paddle on the final day, when we were trying to stay ahead of a menacing electrical storm while crossing Florida Bay at 1.00am, the boat cruised through 4-6 foot seas effortlessly and securely. In addition, the hatches really are waterproof, and raccoon proof! My boat is made of fibreglass, but still feels light and maneuvrable, even with gear packed. It is an old design, but simply fantastic. Build quality is like a Mercedes. The seat is very comfortable. This boat handles all conditions tremendously well and really deserves the reputation it enjoys.

I purchased my Nordkapp HMC after extensively paddling a friends identicle boat. The overall fit and handling of the boat was ideal for me, being 6'1" and #250. The boats reputation for being tempermental is overstated in my opinion. My caveat is in the shoddy construction of the boat. I've had multiple failures where there were voids in the resin and the "high traffic" of the hull inside the cockpit has fuzzed due to abrasion. I'm not sure if I simply had the misfortune of purchasing a random lemon or if this reflects the manufacturing practices at the time of lay up. Unfortunately, I would have to give purchasing another VCP some serious doubt.

Basicaly the same boat as the HS, but with an extended section on the rear of the hull that precludes having a drop in skeg. This boat goes fast and straight. The modified hull profile allows me great directional control in every condition. It is a handfull to turn, but it is possible. You really excersize your leaning capabilities when learning to turn this boat. This boat also loves rough water. It's realy fun to surf because the directional stability keeps you running down the face of waves instead of broaching. When it does broach, it's slow and controllable. I have a Necky Looksha IV, a Nordkap HS, and this one, my favorite of them all.