Pyranha Fusion

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The things we do for our readers! The winter sunshine off the Cornish coast was lovely but the sea temperature was low and the air temperature was below freezing. Being tough old buzzards we just got on with it.

Duffer's retailer's head was spinning during this review. Why would you sell a "valued customer" one kayak when you could sell them two? With that jaundiced view he set off to paddle the Pyranha Fusion.

What is a crossover kayak supposed to do?

In the case of the Fusion, a crossover kayak is designed to handle Whitewater and Day Touring in equal measure. We're not talking about extreme whitewater or 25 mile day trips, but a reasonable crack at both. Normally to do this you would need a white water kayak and a touring kayak.

Whitewater - it is a Pyranha boat after all

The Pyranha Fusion has DNA all through it from the Mountain Bat, the Mountain 300 and a little bit from the Creek 280 plus some steroids. Its old school pedigree is second to none. The first descents knocked up by the Mountain Bat and Mountain 300 are legendary. Just about every paddler with fillings and a touch of grey hair will have gained some experience in white water paddling Mountain Bat, Mountain 300 of Creek 280.

Fusion is not designed to chop ends, cartwheel or do any playboating stuff but is a reliable and forgiving Grade 1-3 river runner. Both Duffer and Codger can confirm that white water is cold and the rocks are hard, so paddle a Fusion and be safe in style.

What about Day Touring?

Our reviews are never designed to compare one kayak against another. With so many subtle differences in design, construction and use a comparative exercise would be futile. In our reviews we either like the boat or we don't. So we decided to break our own comparison rule and paddled Fusion and Venture Kayaks Flex 11 together. If Fusion thinks it can Day Tour with the best then we would pitch it against a boat we already rate. Both Fusion and Flex 11 come from the same UK factory and we felt comfortable with this comparison.

To the beach...

Setting the kayaks up was interesting as we had Flex 11 with rudder (though we didn't use the rudder) and Fusion River Tour with a skeg (you can also have it with Pyranha's Connect 30 whitewater outfitting). The same spraydeck fited both kayaks. On the test kayaks, both used the same footrest system and 'Flip-Top' backrest. The whitewater 'Connect 30' spec has more sophisticated outfitting, but we're not testing the outfitting in this review. I should also point out that the Pyranha Fusion is available in the standard size (that we are testing) and a smaller size with all the same design features but by being shorter, narrower and lower volume it is ideal for smaller paddlers.

		The hull shapes are different (obviously) but the boats are of similar length and width. The Fusion hull is all white water with smaller tracking channels (to impart added mechanical strength) with a rounded bow and stern. Whilst Flex 11 has a square touring bow and stern with larger tracking channels in the hull. Sit in either of the kayaks, close your eyes and the paddling position is the same. There are good size footrests, thigh braces with enough grip to hold your legs in the kayakers birthing position and a robust backrest giving ample support.

On to the water and along the coast

The conditions were ideal, apart from the penguin-friendly temperatures. We were suitably dressed for winter touring. Duffer was dressed as Yak Man, and Codger was the man from Palm Equipment. There was a small swell (twice the head height of a Jack Russel terrier) and a cold easterly breeze.

We set off. Duffer was in his own Flex 11 and Codger in the Fusion. Codger's grey power kicked in and it was grizzle grizzle.

"Here Codger, this is the cord that deploys the skeg."

"Ah, the sun was in my eyes", said Codger. More likely a case of beard in the brain, thought Duffer.

Off we went along the coast with a burst of speed. We thought it best to get the speed test done before the oldies start to tire. Flex 11 is slightly quicker through the water but that was hardly a surprise. Fusion forward speed was actually very good. Paddling the two boats together over a good number of miles and changing boats several times, neither of us was left behind or having to play catch-up. This was actually a very pleasant surprise. The Fusion has adequate forward speed to be classed as a Day Touring kayak.

If it gets too much, simply drop the skeg and Fusion adopts the manners of the Flex 11. Everyone gets what they want with a simple tug on the skeg cord - happy days.

The waves running up the beach were small to tiny, but we didn't need to kayak surf much as we knew how things would go. Fusion will surf OK and will bongo slide for sure as the bigger waves dump on the back deck. This reaction is the same for any kayak of these proportions.

Paddling west into the dying sun was when Duffer conceded there is a place for a multi-purpose crossover kayak like the Fusion. It had been a very pleasant paddle along the Cornish coast with a coffee break at Seaton Beach Café.

 

Equipment - Clothing

Kayak Paddles

Both sets of paddles we were using for touring are no longer available; they are relics from the past just like the paddlers. When these paddles give up the ghost we would replace them with Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon paddles (around 220cm) which would set you back about £160 - or (if the boss isn't looking) we quite like the look of the Werner Athena paddles with carbon blades and a bent carbon shaft at £315. The Fusion is good enough to warrant a reasonable paddle to get the best from it - something which is true of many kayaks.

We still have our whitewater paddles for the rough stuff and these are 200cm with a low angle feather. We both chose 220cm-long touring paddles for the flat. Again, to get the best from your Fusion we would recommend you get a white water paddle and a touring paddle. Use whichever matches the water and condtions you expect to paddle for the majority of the trip.

Spraydeck

Combination or nylon decks would suffice for calm water touring but a good fitting neoprene decks are a must for whitewater, surfing or rough water touring. Whitewater neoprene spraydecks have stronger shock cords, are designed to fit and stay on in testing conditions and come with size-specific waist tubes.

Regrettably Duffer now takes an XL-size waist tube - how the ageing process conspires against us. The Fusion however takes a modest R4/N4 size spraydeck. We highly recommend the Playboater Workdeck if you're planning on taking the Fusion out in anything rough; it's a very hard-wearing deck and one of our favourites. A great nylon option however is a Palm Coniston.

Why buy a Fusion instead of a Whitewater kayak and a Touring kayak?

This is a tough one to explain. With a touring kayak and a whitewater kayak you get the best from both boats to exactly suit your needs. It may be that your paddling abilities require that you get two different kayaks. You would also need to be able to store two kayaks.

On the other hand you might enjoy a bit of grade 1-3 white water but you're no play boater; you might enjoy a bit of rock hopping and surfing the green on 2-3 foot days; you might enjoy flat water touring but a trip around the Eddystone Lighthouse is too much to ask. If any of these last points sound a bit like you then a Pyranha Fusion could well be the answer to your kayaking conundrum!

The Verdict

Codger enjoyed paddling the Fusion, but his hands got cold!
Duffer can appreciate the merits of a crossover kayak, but would prefer it if you bought two separate kayaks - though buying two Fusions would be fine too!

Note from the Editor - Duffer insists we call the Fusion a "Polymorphic" kayak. But we told him to look the word up in a dictionary and after that he agreed that "Crossover" was a better word...!

Pyranha Fusion Statistics

Review by
Duffer & Codger
for Canoe Shops Group
A very cold January