[1]
[2]
deck style, a four-panel rear deck (or 4PD) that has the highest storage volume for ex- tended trips. Both hull versions use multiple chines
and a shallow-V bottom for very comfort- able initial stability and crisp, confident edging. We tested the more rockered hull and found it responsive and capable of graceful carved turns, while tracking on an even keel
is superb. Weathercocking
is almost non-existent, pesky crosswinds blow right over the Murrelet. As delightfully easy as the Murrelet is
to roll, we took perhaps the greatest plea- sure in simply paddling forward. Accel- eration is effortless, cruising speed is ex- cellent and it has the incomparable glide of a wooden boat. Jones explains, “Wood- and-epoxy has a permanent memory. Un- like plastic or composites, it will never degrade and oilcan.” A month after our
first meeting, I’m
back in Buffalo, apologizing to Jones for the superficial scratches resulting from four weeks of enthusiastic testing. He chuckles, “I beat the hell outta my boats,” adding that the Murrelet’s wood flour-epoxy-reinforced stems and seams produce a hull just as du- rable as fiberglass at a fraction the weight. Given its versatility, the Murrelet will
appeal to a wide range of paddlers, from traditional
Greenland-style enthusiasts
and expedition kayakers to recreational day-trippers. And first-time builders. Your return on an 80- to 100-hour investment in sweat equity is a performance kayak at a third the price. As I turn around to begin the long drive
home, the little voice in my head has a new note of certainty: hey, I will build a kayak. —Virginia Marshall This boat review first appeared in the
Spring 2013 issue of Adventure Kayak. Read more boat reviews by visiting Rapid Media online.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Watch a video review of the Pygmy Murrelet
www.rapidmedia.com 41
[3]
[1] CURVY WHERE IT COUNTS Designed with the Greenland-style enthusiast—or anyone who enjoys rolling as much as touring—in mind, the Murrelet’s cockpit rises to a comfort- able height over the knees, while the rear cockpit sweeps low to facilitate layback rolls.
[2] FLEXIBLE FIT The pivoting seat back “provides more support when touring but moves down out of the way for rolling,” says Lockwood. Seat options include the surprisingly comfortable Therm-a-Rest trail seat pictured here, or a more supportive foam seat.
[3] GASKET CASE Levered straps secure hatches over gasketed rims—seals are tight, we found only a splash of water inside after a lengthy rolling session.
Pygmy Murrelet 4PD Length ..................................................17 ft Width .................................................. 22 in Weight ................................................36 lbs Price...................................................$1,089
www.pygmyboats.com
PHOTOS: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74