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(KAYAKFAN) wrote in
:

Mike, I'm using your post for my response since you mentioned several other
P&H models.

Wright is probably more responses than he figured. Although I've never
owned a P&H boat I've paddled most of their models, including one called
"Iona". A friend of mine owned one and it was the one of the first kayaks I
ever paddled. It was somewhat like a shorter and a bit tippier version of
the Capella. BTW, I am in between Wright and he 6'1" guy so judge my reviews
accordingly.

I have had nothing but good luck with the P&H Roto Capella I've had.
It packs a lot and rolls easily. I am sure it could do a lot more than
what I put it through.

A lot of people like the Capella. I found a big difference between the poly
and glass versions. I thought the poly version was nice but I *really*
liked the glass version.

My friends have different P&H boats and they are happy with theirs.
Two guys (one a VERY accomplished paddler) have the Sirius and another
has the Quest. My "expert" friend would say "go Brittish," regardless.
That's one considered opinion, anyway.

I've paddled both the Quest and two sizes of the Sirius. The first time I
paddled a Sirius was after just a couple of seasons and it felt like it was
a little too much boat for me. After gaining some experience and more
skills I paddled one a year later and wanted one. The Sirius S would be a
good boat for a smaller paddler looking for boat to develope more advanced
skills. I also liked the Quest quite a bit. It seemed a bit stiffer
tracking than the Sirius and I thought that initial stability was remarkably
high for an "advanced" boat. It has very good secondary stability as well.
As far as other Brit boats go, a person of Wrights size looking at a Vela
ought to look at a VCP Anas Acuta as well. Not as long as a Caribou S and
much lower volume as well.

I didn't like the Quest as much as my Capella because it sat too high,
but it is a solid pack horse. I don't fit in the Sirius but it is a
sleek and fast boat. It tracks better than the Capella and (I would
think) the Quest. It seems the Quest is really just a big Capella.

The Quest has harder chines than the Capella and, to me, it didn't "paddle"
bigger than the Capella. I paddled the Vela and Quest one after the other
and their was a stiff breeze. The Vela felt very nimble in the wind but the
Quest required a lot more edging to get it to turn in the wind.

There is a new boat, the Bahiya, that is more traditional with its hard
chined look. I have a boat like that and it has a different feel that
takes some getting used to. I imagine it would carve turns really
well.

I haven't paddled a Bahiya but it's supposed to be for more advanced
paddlers. It's likely one of their tippiest models. I believe it's sort of
a lower volume and higher performance version of the Quest. It sure is a
sweet looking boat though.

I WILL say that P&H has given me nothing but outstanding customer
support. They made good on a keeper issue I had and answered some
questions about skeg cables.

The primary drawback that I would see with the Vela would be with it's
lengh. It's only 15'8" long. However, for a boat that short I found it
quite quick (but not fast). It wouldn't have a lot of storage for a
multiday trip. I thought the Vela had a good amount of initial tippiness
(not too tippy, not too stable). For a hard chine boat it would transition
to it's secondary stability point smoothly. The secondary stability was
very good and predictable. It rolled very easily.