Belfast, Maine 04915
207-338-6424
info@touringkayaks.com
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Lincolnville Ave. Belfast, Maine 04915 207-338-6424 info@touringkayaks.com |
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"Of all of the kayaks [John Winters] owns, this
design is the one he paddles the most." --Ben Wilhite, Raven Works f many contemporary sea kayak designs are imitations of each other.
The Raven Works TourLite breaks the mold. It is neither fiberglass nor
polyethylene, and yet it has some of the best characteristics of each. It is
neither a super big cruising machine with all the bells and whistles nor a
stripped down pocket cruiser, but again, it has some of the best
characteristics of each.The TourLite is a truly unique kayak in terms of construction and design. R-84, the material used for this kayak, provides many of the advantages of fiberglass (stiffness, lasting smoothness, weight savings) without the cost. The design successfully blends the best features of larger and smaller kayaks to create a "best of both worlds" kind of boat that is just plain fun to paddle and own. The Tourlite stands out for its versatility. It's suitable for a variety of conditions, tough enough to stand some abuse, stable enough to loan to friends and yet efficient enough to cruise long distances. It's lightweight yet durable, compact yet able to haul several "stone" of gear. It's easy on the budget yet a well-built performance craft outfitted with the likes of SeaLine and Kajak Sport. The Tourlite has a 15'5" waterline, which is longer than that of many 17' kayaks. True to all of John Winter's designs, this kayak is designed for maximum efficiency, stability, and comfort. The Tourlite's maximum waterline width of 22 inches makes for quick acceleration and efficient cruising. Above the waterline, the hull flares out an additional inch on each side, resulting in strong secondary stability and an enhanced feeling of security. The Tourlite feels narrower than 24" in that it is worn fairly low on the hips and has a tapered deck that allows for low angled paddling without any knuckle scraping. All designers claim their boats track well. This is one of the few kayaks that truly does perform well without a rudder in windy conditions. Even in 25 knot winds, the v-hull and low profile stern make it easy to keep the Tourlite on course. Despite its straight-tracking character, the TourLite remains a responsive kayak: when placed on an edge it possible to carve quick turns. The peaked deck sheds water rapidly and allows a long, deep cockpit that is easy to get in and out of. Yet the built-in thigh braces and the sloping underside of the deck also provide for a secure fit. The molded ergonomic touring seat provides good support for legs and is easy to sit in for long trips. Additional outfitting details include contoured back band, thigh braces, deck elastics, VCP-style rubber hatch covers, sturdy watertight R-84 bulkheads, SeaLine foot braces, and retracting carrying toggles. Color options include: yellow, red, smoke. Expedition Package upgrade ($230.00) includes SeaLine SmartTrak footbraces, Kajak Sport ergonomic seat, Kajak Sport rubber hatch covers, full deck rigging, and reflective logos. Additional options include SeaLine SmarTrak rudder system ($225.00). |
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