2017 We paddle the globe. Current Designs borrows its design influence and techniques from waters across the globe. Inspired by these purpose-built kayaks and the pioneers that fueled the sport’s innovation, we’ve continued to advance the art through new techniques, materials and technologies. It’s a philosophy born from the idea that it’s not about where you take your kayak – it’s where the kayak takes you. So regardless of the destination, we invite you to begin each journey by exploring our North American, Greenland, British and new Danish style collections, in addition to a range of recreational and specialty models. Each one destined to be “a work of art, made for life” that let’s you take your passion further. 1 Makers OF movement Our international design influence and the visionaries who shape it. Long before the paddle enters the water, New England-based kayak designer Barry each kayak begins with a pen stroke. The Buchanan partnered with us on the famous product of inspiration and experience, hard chine kayak, the Caribou. And later, Nigel Current Designs develops and refines each Foster and CD brought the Greenland-styled model through collaborations with some of Rumor to the world’s waters. The newest the sport’s most celebrated designers and global collaboration can be seen in the Prana craftsmen. These partnerships have become and Sisu models, ushering in our Danish one of the hallmarks of the brand – and collection of kayaks. Celebrated Danish continue to shape its future. kayak designer Jesper Kromann-Andersen Beginning with the flagship Solstice line, has worked with our team to marry classic visionary designers have left their mark hull design with innovative twists for an on the Current Design fleet, while inspiring utra-stylish, remarkably versatile experience an entire generation of paddlers. Such was on the water. the case when legendary British kayaker Current Designs continues to find inspiration Derek Hutchinson teamed with Current in distant waters, in a never-ending expedition Designs to produce breakthrough models to bring the most beautiful, rugged and like the iconic Gulfstream. More team-ups dependable boats to paddlers and outfitters would soon follow. across the globe. 3 HOW TO CHOOSE A CU RRENT DESIGNS KAYAK What do you want to use your kayak for? PADDLER SIZE & FIT PERFORMANCE We don't publish recommended paddler weights due to differences in physical proportions Performance designs – good for all distances, expeditions and skill mastery. and paddling experience. This chart gives you a general idea of the range of paddler sizes each Profile: long and slender | Water: all water – calm to big | Stability: stable yet nimble | Fit: full connected kayak is intended for. The best way to find a kayak that fits you right is to get in and try it! NORTH AMERICAN STYLE BRITISH STYLE If you want a stable kayak with some serious If you want a snug-fitting, playful kayak with smooth edging, MATERIALS capacity, a seat back, and a rudder. graceful lines, a day hatch, a back band, and a skeg. Composite: lighter, better performance, more $$$ Rotomold: durable, heavier, less $ Small Med/Large XLarge + Squall GTS roto Squall GT Squamish roto Sirocco roto RECREATIONAL Extremely maneuverable – good for leisure trips, river floats, fishing and photography. Profile: short and wide | Water: calm | Stability: super stable | Fit: spacious Solstice GTS Solstice GT Solstice GT Titan Equinox GT Willow Cypress Infinity Gulfstream SOLARA KESTREL If you want a rock-solid stable kayak with a If you want a recreational kayak with some large open cockpit this is your kayak. additional paddling performance. Equinox GTS Nomad GTS Unity Libra XT DANISH STYLE Solara 100 roto Solara 120 roto Solara 135 roto Solara 145T Kestrel 120 roto Kestrel 120 Kestrel 140 Kestrel 140 roto GREENLAND STYLE If you want a tight-fitting, hard-edging Stylish, snug-fitting hybrid of Greenland kayak with an old school look, serious rolling and North American hulls with Danish style. ability, a back band and a skeg. TRANSITIONAL All around kayaks – great for short to mid-range touring and skill development. Profile: medium length and width | Water: calm to medium | Stability: stable | Fit: engaged Rumour Sulca Caribou Isle Prana Prana LV Sisu Sisu LV VISION BREEZE & WHISTLER If you want a transitional design to If you want a rotomolded transitional design The fit of our Performance Touring kayaks will vary greatly depending on paddlers body shape and desired fit. When choosing a high-end kayak, it’s always best to try before you buy! be used on mostly flat water. that excels in bigger water or waves. SPECIALTY Vision 135 roto Vision 150 roto Double Vision roto Breeze Whistler Boats made for unique situations and unique goals. For profile, water, stability, fit details see pages 30 & 31. Vision 120 SP Vision 130 Vision 140 Vision 150 Raven Tailfin Q600X Q700X Double Vision 5 KAYAK DESIGN BASICS THE MAIN ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE AND HOW THEY RELATE TO EACH CATEGORY. A GOOD "FIT" IMPROVES PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT. Recreational Transitional Touring When choosing a kayak, a common phrase you’ll hear is “you don’t sit in a kayak, you wear it.” Like your favorite Good Better Best Efficiency: how easily the kayak glides. pair of jeans, a kayak that fits right will provide you with the comfort and control you desire. We list maximum Good Better Best Tracking: how easily a kayak maintains a straight course. load weights for each of our models, but don't publish recommended paddler sizes due to differences in physical Best Better Good Maneuverability: how easily the boat will turn. proportions and paddling experience. The best way to find a kayak that fits you right is to get in and try it. Good Better Best Capacity: how much gear/weight the kayak can carry. Best Better Good Initial Stability: how tippy a boat feels at rest. Best Better Good Final Stability: how stable the kayak feels when tipped. ROCKER The degree of curvature in the hull from bow to stern defines the rocker. More rocker improves the WIDTH ability to maneuver the kayak, especially in rough A wider kayak will be more stable than a water. A kayak with little or no rocker will track very narrow one. Conversely, a narrow kayak well and travel efficiently, but may be more difficult to is usually more efficient than a wide one. maneuver. We carefully control the kayak's rocker to A wider kayak may provide more stability deliver the right combination of maneuverability, speed for both heavier paddlers and tall paddlers and seaworthiness appropriate for it's intended use. with a higher center of gravity. A wider kayak will also enable a paddler to spread their legs out more. FORM Swede Form: Widest behind the cockpit, Swede form Swede Form: Widest behind the cockpit LENGTH has a cleaner, longer and more slender entry, giving A longer boat will track straighter, glide further and travel faster, making it more efficient touring speeds and maneuverability. In shorter efficient. Length also adds to stability and capacity. A shorter boat is easier to lengths these kayaks are very responsive. Longer handle and can be more maneuverable. kayaks with this feature have amazing acceleration and track well. Because of the narrow bow they may punch through a steep wave, rather than ride over it. DEPTH Depth is a key component of a good Fish Form: Widest ahead of the cockpit, Fish form kayaks Fish Form: Widest ahead of the cockpit fit. A deeper hull will be roomier for have a more blunt entry but will have a more slender exit paddlers with larger legs, and increases through the water. The bows typically have more flare and load carrying ability. A shallower hull will are usually more buoyant than others. This enables our be less affected by wind, and may better shorter boats to be excellent surf zone kayaks. Longer fit small paddlers. kayaks benefit from this feature in large seas. HULL SHAPE Open Cockpit: The Solara's feature Keyhole Cockpit: A keyhole cockpit We design hull shapes for the ideal combination of tracking, efficiency, agility and seaworthiness based on the kayaks our largest open cockpits. These are blends the openness of a recreational intended use. Many hulls are fairly complex and have different shapes blended together. very easy to get in and out of, and give cockpit and the integrated thigh braces a feeling of being almost completely of a touring cockpit. The result is a cockpit free from the boat. Open cockpits have that’s easy to enter and exit, while offering Shallow Arch Shallow “V” enough space to put gear between performance, fit and solid connectivity These have good initial stability and are The “V” shape improves tracking, has a lively your legs for easy access. to the kayak. highly maneuverable. feel and delivers very comfortable stability. Recreational Cockpit: The Kestrels Touring Cockpit: Touring cockpits are Hard Chine Soft Chine feature recreational cockpits that are generally smaller and snug fitting to help A hard chine kayak has a well-defined edge A smooth transition from the bottom of the hull long enough so you can simply get in resist imploding of the spray skirt if hit by where the hull bottom meets the sides. This to the sides. Soft chines give smooth edging at and sit down. They are unrestrictive and a large wave in rough water. They include increases the initial stability greatly. Hard unlimited angles. The majority of kayaks that we many new paddlers appreciate their built-in thigh braces on the cockpit rim chines give defined edging angles and build have a soft chine.