Valley’s new baby
Valley seakayaks are making a new kayak & Barry and I have been lucky enough to try out their first prototype.
The idea behind the new kayak is to “introduce a new strain of DNA into the Valley range, one that is a little more contemporary both in style and paddling feel”. While I can think of a lot of very experienced paddlers who would never be seen in anything other than their trusty Nordkapp, there are other people who don’t get along with the Nordkapp. This new kayak aims to provide an alternative “contemporary sea kayak suitable for expedition style paddling whilst still fun and nimble enough for day and weekend work”. If you want to hear more about it in Valley’s words then visit their website here.
So what’s it like? Barry’s taken the kayak out 4 times and I’ve taken it out 3 times. 
We tried it on flat calm water, in chop, in a moderate tidal race and in a force 3/4 wind. Our initial thoughts are very positive – the kayak is a good length, it feels very stable & it seems to surf well. The cockpit shape has been changed so that there are pocket for your knees and thighs which is an improvement for me. The first prototype felt a little big for both Barry and I but we are at the bottom of the size range it’s aimed for.
We (and the other testers) have passed on our feedback to Pete Orton, the designer at Valley and he is already working on the 2nd prototype. I’m excited to try it! Watch this space, we’ll let you know what we think!
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As a smaller (5’7″) long distance touring kayaker, I am very interested. It is very hard to find a boat that fits my small frame and will handle an extended trips worth of food/fuel/gear. Curious to see how this turns out.
PO
Yes, the cockpit’s front end seems to be a bit high for Barry’s knees. I think foam can solve the problem. It is nice though, they have managed maintaining the “Valley family feeling”. It is still undeniably a Valley. Please let us know the news about it. Ciao.
Please don’t lower the coaming up front!
Valley might finally make a kayak that I can fit for long distance paddling.
I find a higher cockpit more suited for my needs (larger legs) than typically sized ones.
Rockpool GT fits me… I don’t like the average construction/finish on it.
Will Valley make the kayak I that I really want?
A quality lay up and decent handling?
Ah, and please make that cockpit low in the back.
Maybe slope the rest of the deck back up (for storage space) but keep the coaming low for layback rolls.
I am looking forward seeing the final model.
Barry Buchanan wants the deck design of his Caribou back LOL
this really does look like the original Caribou (sans day hatch) that CD produced for ten years under a (very recently)expired license w. Mr. Buchanan – both dimensionally and in overall appearance.
The chines look to be softer though. Wish you had provided better pix of that, and a bird’s eye view of the cockpit. A boat amidst the waves can only tell you so much.
I like the clean deck look without the stepped sculptured deck or wide-ass caboose of one of the current “hot” seakayaks. I hope none of that is sacrificed in the final design.
There are lots of people who will lead fulfilled lives without ever having owned a Nordkapp (any version) or for that matter a Romany or Explorer. Shocking as that may be to some.
So it’s refreshing to see Valley approach this without pretense or hype. One reason they remain one of my very favorite kayak makers. I wish them all the best w. this project.