Hurricane yaks?

Anyone have experience or insights on the Hurricane Phoenix yaks? How do they handle rough water? Are the hulls any more fragile than linear poly?

They sure look sleek, and seem pretty light weight.

The Phoenix are new this year I believe, and the first time I saw them were at the Alder Creek event.

I paddled the Phoenix 160.  That thing can hold a line, a rudder is almost required, although you could carve a turn (thigh straps would help).  The seat is a placed bit high making it feel somewhat tippy.  Really good secondary stability keeps you from going all the way over.  They didn't have a seat back in the yak and the shape of the seat bothered my back.  A seat back hopefully would help this. 

The 140 felt about the same although I could actually turn it without a rudder.

I love the feel of these "hard" boats, but they definitely wont take the abuse that a poly boat will.  The other one I was hoping to try is the Current Designs Altura.  CD was at the show, but didn't have the Altura with them.

-Allen

Haven't seen these boats before, but the Phoenix 160 has the kind of dimensions I like.

Pisco, what are the dimensions you'd like to see?  Longer and narrower?  What do you think about the need for a rudder with the longer 16 foot range boats.  The T160 is another long boat that I feel is better with a rudder.  I personally try to avoid rudders, only because I never could get used to them.

What else would you look for in a non-poly yak?  I'd like to put together a wish list to see what we could come up with.

-Allen

I do like longer and narrower. I've paddled in SIKs that were 19'x19". If the boat is well designed, (sufficient rocker), it will track well when upright, and carve when leaned. My impression is that most of the fishing yaks are designed for paddling neophytes. They are all about primary stability and when used in rough water are, in my opinion, more dangerous than a narrower boat with good secondary stability. Taking waves beam on can throw people off.

I think it's a good idea to have a variety of design types in a manufacturer's stable; from short and wide to long and narrow. I just haven't seen enough for advanced paddlers.

Unless I can get an outstanding pro-deal  on a narrow poly boat, I will probably build my own yak. Either a skin-on-frame http://www.capefalconkayak.com/index.html , or a plyboat http://www.pygmyboats.com/PRICELIS.HTM To be able to safely haul fishing gear I'd probably design a long deck bag to strap on top. I will admit that the poly fish boats have some great storage options.