Delta 16 Wavelength Review

Review

16

Sweet (Delta) I

magine a sporty little compact car boasting lots of stock features at a budget price – fun for the owner, but likely snubbed by sports car purists. That is, until one stops to look under the hood. And so it goes with the Delta 16 – a sporty little compact kayak that, for lack of a better phrase, comes tripped out with enough standard features to raise an eyebrow or two. And the package may be enough – just maybe – to entice fans of the more traditional Brit boats to take a look at what the 16 has to offer. Members of the South Island Sea Kayaking Association (SISKA), BC's newest paddling club, were offered the chance to look under the hood and kick the tires as this issue's guest reviewers. And as should be expected for a start-up Brit-style boat, in thermoform no less, the reviews were all 28

Wavelength Magazine

over the map. The boat's creator, Mark Hall, dubs it the "full-frontal lobotomy for the British Canoe Union." And it's certainly a departure for a manufacturer known to make predictable and stable boats. At just 22 inches wide, it's the narrowest of the Delta offerings, with the fit tailored for the smaller to mediumsized paddler. It's the level of experience the boat is designed to attract where views vary most widely. Delta tells us it's for an intermediate to advanced paddler. But a few key reviewers – among the most veteran of SISKA's considerably experienced membership – thought differently, labelling

SISKA's Michael Jackson tries the 16 off the Chatham Islands near Victoria, BC.

the 16 more on the level for beginner to intermediate paddlers. Let the controversy begin! Perhaps the most compelling review came from one guest kayaker, Dorothea Hoffman, a female used to a narrow boat and one of the smaller-sized reviewers for which the boat was designed. "At 5’4”, 135 lbs, I am a woman who usually prefers my 19 inch wide boat. But it was quick and easy to adjust the boat to fit my smaller frame, and I felt very secure and connected with the boat," she says. A new fit kit that will allow slender kayakers to adjust the seating to size will take that comfort one step further.

Delta 16 specs

Length Beam 16' 22"

FALl 2009

Depth 12"

Cockpit 32.5"L x 16"W

Total storage Weight 371.1 L 50 lbs

Delta 16

Win this kayak

So here's a tally of the assessments. The basics: The Delta 16 is unique for its four hatches, two of which can best be described as pods – two day hatches, one in front and one behind the cockpit. Both are self-contained, with the rear day hatch taking up only a portion of the boat's width. This has two advantages: making the gear in the pod easy to reach and allowing longer gear such as tents to be stowed alongside the pod, something not possible if your day hatch is divided by a bulkhead. The front day hatch also sits in a pod that lies under the deck inside the cockpit. This might appear to obstruct leg room, but careful design avoids that trap. The Delta 16 has considerable rocker, which for larger paddlers doesn’t necessarily equate into added maneuverability. But once again, correctly-sized Dorothea set the tone: "Due to the interesting curve of the hull above the chines, the boat has great secondary stability. Easy to put and hold on edge, a cinch to turn, it is an easily paddled boat." In other words, be careful you're the

About our guest testers

right size if you want to take advantage of this kayak's ability. For advanced paddlers, the 16 is likely to come to life in surf and waves, where its size and design is best suited. To add to the versatility, Delta has added a choice of a skeg, rudder or none (but not both). This will widen the 16’s appeal significantly. The rating Touring: Delta is known for getting a lot of volume out of a little, and the 16 matches this with a healthy 210 litres storage in the hatches – good for a week of gear, maybe two if you scrimp. The ability to slide the seat forward helped center weight and avoid weathercocking. Playing: "Easy to roll, easy to balance brace." The rolling is aided by a quirk of the Delta design: when inverted, it sits naturally at a 15-20 degree angle, a huge assist in getting upright. Stability: The Delta 16 is very easy to turn and maneuver for a smaller paddler. Weathercocking was an issue for a mediumsized paddler off Gabriola. The skeg helped tracking immensely. The positives: A thoughtful design, lots of extra features and attention to detail make this an interesting boat to review and paddle. Clearly Delta is interested in raising the bar through paying attention to kayaker's needs. People who like this kayak are likely to love it. Overall: Full-frontal lobotomies aside, Delta Kayaks has moved into a niche of its own here with a very affordable and versatile smaller boat catering to a smaller person. We would love to take this out in surf, arguably the 16's forte. When we do we'll post the results online on the Wavelength Forum (www.wavelengthmagazine.com/ forum). In the meantime, consider this an option for the smaller paddler who wants a racy option without going the traditional sports car, er, Brit boat route.  <

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www.wavelengthmagazine.com FALL 2009

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