The S6’s large planing surface is slightly curved in its cross section for snappy edge to edge control combined with respectable displacement speed the S6 moves around the river. The slicey ends are well balanced and rotate slower than the more spuddy aerial boats. The scooped bow and stern decks are Pyranha’s power pockets. When you bury the nose water gets trapped in the pocket for upward thrust, which Pyranha says, assists the natural lift.
A Bounce: Best at controlled planing bounces. B Pop
A Hull Speed: Shines for all-river speed, better than most on a wave.
B Carving/Edge B Release
A Looseness: Tracks for surfs and once free is super loose.
A Slice/Hole play: Smooth, slow, balanced. A All-river: Second only to the Flip Stick.
B Outfitting: Good fit; techy set up; limited foot room.
Pro Quotes
"I found the ends to be loaded with rocker and full of bounce’n life. The boat was just all-round good on the bounce—I give it a solid nine out of ten." — Billy Harris, Necky.
Necky VIBE length: 6’2” width: 24.5” weight: 33lbs volume: 45 gal
When everybody was learning to cartwheel, Necky was known for producing fast, loose and carvy hulls. It was only a matter of time before freestyle caught up with Necky’s wave boat designs. The increased volume in the blunt box fades to release edges for hard carves to aerial moves. Necky’s unique arrowhead tri-hull pro- vides maximum lift and drive and is kept super rigid by an internal aluminum rail hull support system. In 2003 they moved to a standard cockpit size accommo- dating a more aggressive seating position.
A Bounce: Best from fast carve to bounce. B Pop B Hull Speed: Faster on edge than planing. A+ Carving/Edge: Soft edges and sticks a line. A Release: Breaks free easily; predictable. A Looseness: Large planing surface, very rigid hull. B Slice/Hole play C All-river C Outfitting: Poor backband setup.
Pro Quotes
"I kept flushing off the wave until I put this baby on its rails. On edge it front surfs really well and is quite speedy—great for carving blunts. This is not as great for beginners/early intermediates who have not acquired a solid balance to utilise edge control, and rightfully so, it takes much practice."—Joe Hitchins, Bliss Stick.
"The Vibe is loose, period. In fact, the loosest boat I tested. Once released, it spins and spins like a top. So I give it a 10."—Corran Addison, Riot.
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"I found the set up for tightening of the backband was cheap and the backband itself was uncomfortable. Necky should be commended for the aluminum infra- structure that keeps this boat at the same time rigid and light. Rigidity plus lightness equal big air!"—Eric Gautier, Pyranha.
The Vibe was designed to carve by one of the greatest surf kayakers of our time—Spike Gladwin. His atten- tion to carving detail is unmatched, however it takes time to both understand and apply the edges in day-to- day boating. The Vibe was designed to be fast on its edges and slower on its hull in front or back surfs. The edges are low but not sharp and the area on which to slide is large so the boat is loose and forgiving."— Billy Harris, Necky.
"The best blunting boat I have ever paddled; also quite nice for front looping in a hole. The flatwater and user friendliness was well below what I would want in a boat that I actually had to paddle for a day. The outfit- ting was unique, it was light and showed innovation. Bravo!"—Eric Jackson, Wave Sport.
"The Vibe is unique, the concave sidewalls can be used to get an additional bounce over other kayaks. I found by loading the concave edge in the wave, there was an extra spring I didn’t find in other boats."— Brendan Mark, Dagger.
Rapid bottom line:
Not since the Jive has Necky produced a more compet- itive freestyle boat. The aluminum outfitting looks slick and keeps the hull super stiff and light. With a surf kayaking background Necky’s Vibe has the recipe for making love (to a big wave)—carving, looseness and bounce.
"I really liked how the boat played in a hole. The concave bow and stern made for really nice loops; the water loads against these concave pockets and
Pyranha S6 200
length: 6’6” width: 27” weight: 32.5lbs volume: 53 gal
Paddler: Joey Hitchins, Bliss Stick
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