From the banks of the Vaal River in South Africa, Fluid Kayaks has been raising the bar in paddle-sports equipment since 2002. Though originally known for whitewater kayaks, their latest offering proves they like to ride those other waves, as well. PL takes a look at Fluid’s newest ocean kayak…
The familiar Element model (formerly only available in plastic) is now available in composite materials and is designed with ultimate surf-boating performance in mind. Fluid reports that this new kayak is “lighter and more rigid, enabling bigger moves, higher speed and crisper performance.” Now, that’s what the guys here at PL call “a day at the beach.”
The composite Element has a sandwich construction hull: a Soric core between carbon and glass. The hull is also vacuum infused with a top quality E poxy resin. According to the Fluid website, this “creates the ultimate blend of strength and durability versus weight.” The composite Element uses the same quad fin setup as the standard plastic Element, with fins from 4WFS.
Dimensions:
Medium
Length: 187 cm / 6’1’’
Volume: 200 liters / 53 gal
Weight: 12.5 kg / 27 lbs
Cockpit size: 49x89cm / 19.25”x34.25”
Paddler weight range: 69-95 kg / 140-210 lbs
Large
Length: 230 cm / 7’6”
Width: 65 cm / 25.5”
Volume: 230 litres / 60.5 gal
Weight: 12.7 kg / 28 lbs
Cockpit size: 49×87 cm / 19.25”x34.25”
Paddler weight range: 70-110 kg / 150-240 lbs
Check out the full line of Whitewater and Recreational Kayaks at
Fluid Kayaks
