theStorm
by Current Designs
The Current Designs Storm has been completely redesigned for 2004. The Storm was CD’s first roto- moulded polyethylene kayak, designed by Brian Henry in 1994 on the template of his flagship com- posite design, the do-it-all, beginner-friendly Solstice GT.
length: 17 ft 1in width: 24 in depth: 14.75 in cockpit: 32.5 in x 17.5 in weight: 64 lbs rear hatch: 15 in (oval) front hatch: 9 in (round) total volume: 394 litres MSRP: $1,999 Cdn, $1,349 US
www.cdkayak.com
Plastic was difficult to shape in the same lines as fibreglass, so the original Storm was a compromise with a slightly more rounded cross section and more rocker than the Solstice. It had a little less tracking and stability but was still a great all-around touring kayak. The public quickly fell in love with the Storm. With now over 5,000 well-loved Storms out there, there were bound to be a few complaints. Common nitpicks about the old Storm were “oil- canning” (concave denting of the hull, once com- mon in plastic boats), weathercocking and the finickiness of the neoprene inner hatch covers on plastic lips.
CD has addressed the rigidity issue by introduc-
ing stiffer materials in recent years. Other wishes on the list have been ticked off by this year’s complete redesign. Newer rotomoulding technology allowed the new Storm to be shaped closer to Brian Henry’s original vision. With a tad less rocker and a flatter hull, the new Storm paddles more like the Solstice, with steady tracking and minimal tendency to weathercock in a crosswind.
The old neoprene hatches have been replaced. Other tweaks include lower decks fore and aft of the cockpit for ease of entry and layback rolling and a more streamlined feel—designers retained the roomy cockpit by moving the volume outboard toward the chines.
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nce upon a time, there was a begin- ner–intermediate paddler named Goldust, a recently retired WWE pro
wrestler looking to get in touch with his sensitive side. So he went for a walk on the beach. Pretty soon, he came upon three kayaks. There
was nobody there, so Goldust climbed right into the first boat, a sporty low-volume number, 16- feet by 22 inches. “This kayak is way too cramped and tippy,”
boomed Goldust, who was practically sinking the nimble craft with his 260-pound bodyweight. So he pried his six foot six inch frame out of the tiny cockpit and climbed into the next kayak, a wide and flat-bottomed rec boat. “This kayak is way too short and slow,”
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boomed Goldust, who wanted a fast boat for long- distance paddling and tripping. So he ditched the rec boat and climbed into the third boat, the 17- foot-long, 24-inch-wide Current Designs Storm. “Ahhhh, this boat is just right!” he exclaimed
with great satisfaction and he went to the kayak store and bought one right away.
42 Early Summer 2004
While predictable and stable, the Storm is also a graceful kayak that’s as fast and manoeuvrable as any boat in her class. Little Goldilocks might want a smaller boat like the CD Squamish, but for an ex- pro wrestler like Goldust or any other mid- to large- sized paddler looking for a durable, affordable plastic kayak with room to carry gear on extended voyages, the boat that was “juuust right” to begin with is now even better.
1. Klutz-resistant hatches The old Storm’s finicky neoprene hatches have been replaced by the rub- ber Kajak-Sport hatches found on many high-end composite kayaks. Ours lived up to their watertight rep and were remarkably easy to peel off or thump back on. The front hatch is protected by a plastic cover that’s flush with the rest of the deck, adding to the clean lines and overall dry ride.
2. Groovy rudder The rudder uphaul/downhaul system is a pair of lines on the rear deck threaded with large red baubles. The lightweight plastic rudder sits firmly into a moulded groove in the deck that flares near the stern so that you don’t have to look behind you to centre the rudder when you pull it up. The foot pedals are mounted on a sturdy aluminum rail and are smooth and easy to adjust.
3. Roomy cockpit
The cockpit is generous, with ample room to lift the knees out while sit- ting and lots of volume in the sides of the boat for long legs and big feet. Foam-padded plastic thigh braces are bolted under the coaming. They don’t provide the stiff, aggressive support of the latest whitewater-inspired outfitting, but they do give adequate, comfortable thigh contact and fit long legs well. Over the years CD has made its seats longer and less deeply bucketed, eliminating pressure points and providing good support under the thighs.
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