RESPONSIVE STABILITY ALLOW THE A PRONOUNCED ROCKER AND


RELOAD TO PLAY IN THE WAVES. PHOTO: KEVIN WHITLEY


VIKING INVASION


A SLEEK, SPORTY NEW ZEALAND KAYAK HITS AMERICA’S ROUGHEST SHORES


Viking Profish Reload Specs Length .................................. 14’9” Width.......................................30” Weight..................................64 lbs Capacity .............................440 lbs Price ....................................$1,349


• Reload Tackle Pod system


• Large front hatch • Optional Kid Pod • Three round hatches


• Large recessed side handles


Almost a thousand years ago, Norse adventurer Thorfinn Karlsefni left Greenland heading west. He established a settlement in Newfoundland and explored as far south as New England. That was the first Viking invasion of America. Last summer, Vikings invaded again. This time they came from New


Zealand. Instead of a horde of giant, blond warriors wearing horned helmets, this invasion brought a sleek, light, spunky kayak that the sea- faring natives welcomed. As a die hard coastal kayak angler, I was on the front line. A few days


after the boat became available, I picked up a Viking Profish Reload at Appomattox River Company (www.paddleva.com) and drove directly to the launch. A couple minutes later, I was paddling out into Cheaspeake Bay.


I subjected the Viking to two tests. The first one I call, waves. Three


days of northwest wind whipped a mean chop down Chesapeake Bay. The outgoing tide at Little Creek inlet ripped into the onshore wind creating a set of three-foot standing waves that served as a perfect test ground for the Viking’s rough water capabilities. I pulled the Viking into a set of waves. The boat’s pronounced


rocker and primary stability kicked into gear as the first breaker pushed me forward. Despite wind, waves and current swirling in different direc- tions, I was in complete control of the kayak. On the paddle back out, the narrow bow sliced into the froth. I took


several direct hits, but the water quickly drained through oversized scup- pers. I played in the waves until the current died out. Then I stopped to slime the boat with a couple trout on the paddle back to the launch.


44 PADDLING MAGAZINE


• Rod slots on bow • Flush mount rod holders •


Starport accessory mounts


• Stern and bow handles


• Optional Chill Pod cooler


Part two of the test I call, wind. Anxious to get the Viking on the open


ocean, I was determined to fish the next day. The wind was blowing off- shore at 20 knots. Big red drum had been caught from surf and pier, so I decided to slow troll a big jig off Virginia Beach oceanfront. Confident that the Viking was up to the task, I paddled out of Rudee Inlet and worked my jig along the beach. Gusts up to 25 knots threatened to blow away my paddle, but the boat was hardly affected. The kayak sits low to the water with enough keel to keep the wind from pushing it around. I fished for several hours, paddling a half-dozen miles in relative comfort considering the conditions. As the sun set, I paddled back to the launch confident the Viking


will conquer any challenge I might face. In addition to a sporty hull design, the Profish Reload offers smart features on the top-side. A large Tackle Pod in the center of the cockpit provides enough space to carry gear and tackle for a short trip. For longer trips, I loaded my YakAttack BlackPak into the stern well. The test boat came standard with two flush mount rod holders and two RailBlaza Starports behind the seat. Two more flush mounts were installed in the gunwales. Instead of a bow hatch, the Reload has an oval hatch in front of the cockpit that is large enough to stuff gear, an extra paddle and the day’s catch. With a sporty hull and smart features, this boat is ready for action.


Unlike Thorfinn Karlsefni’s Viking invasion, which ended in defeat, the Viking Profish Reload is here to stay.— Ric Burnley


jDIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to Watch a video review of the Viking Profish Reload.


This article first appeared in the Summer/Fall 2014 issue of Kayak Angler magazine.


Viking Profish Reload Fish Friendly Features:


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