14 DAY TRIAL // With all this technology constantly changing around us, there are still some sports that remain human-powered and respect ancient traditions.
Take the kayak for example. It is a human-powered boat that was first used by some native Ainu and also Eskimo (how about that?), by hunters in the sub-Arctic regions of the northeastern Asia, north America and Greenland. But, even if they respect the traditions, they still come in a wide variety of designs and materials that are specialized for certain purposes. You might also find these devices under the name of canoes.
As it is sometimes being considered an extreme sport, you might also know that kayaking is said to reach nearly 25mph.The traditional kayaks typically accommodate one, two or occasionally three paddlers who sit facing forward in one or more cockpits below the deck of the boat. So, attach one 9.5hp engine and the whole game changes.
As expected, there are a lot of companies that specialize in manufacturing modern kayaking machines, such as Surfango's PowerKayak Hawaii and Adventurer.
The device can be paddled to allow the user to experience the good old kayaking thrill, but they also feature electric 9.5 engine that throws you in the wave's way to the 25mph top speed, or 28 mph with the Adventurer. And there is also a joystick steering that is said to throw you away when you're not paying attention. And when at sea/ocean, the machine is said to be silent and sleek.
Apart from that, it comes natural for the boats to feature waterproof compartments, rod holders for the enraged fishing addicts and more. But what strikes me most is the on-board digital dashboard that gives the owner precise information regarding the engine RPM, battery level, coolant temperature and a petrol gauge. Not to mention the 2-gallon fuel tank is enough for two hours of throttle on either version of the device.
And - oh my God! - these fellows even added a wacky "wedcutter" device to make sure that no vegetation gets curled around the shafts. The Powerkayak and the Hawaii weigh around 120-130 pounds, therefore it's easy enough to transport them. Kayaks typically have lower gunwales and present less wind age to broadside winds. Kayaks also usually have a lower overall cargo capacity than a canoe of similar length.
But Surfango has many products of this kind, among which there is the PowerSurf FX machine that retails somewhere around 2700 bucks a pop! But, hey, you can even go for a pink kayak. "Take it to the sea, Captain!"
