They say it takes two to tango,
but I say it only takes 1.5 to K2!
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There’s a new kayak in the hood! 😮
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Semi-recently I acquired an old school vintage International Canoe Federation (ICF) spec K2 Sprint Kayak in fair condition for a very low sum. This is the style of tandem boat one might see in the Olympics or other sprint races. My particular example appears to be a We-no-nah, but I could find absolutely zero information about any such boat online. That was until a sharp reader identified this boat as the Wenonah K-2 Osprey Olympic Kayak circa 1988. So this boat predates the internet era! She is a regulation ICF 6.5m long (21.5 feet) with all of that in the waterline and weighs about 40lbs by feel. There is no rocker, she’s a flat water sprint boat.
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It’s an older Wenonah ICF K2 Sprint Kayak in fair shape.
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This boat was originally white and still has a We-no-nah remnant sticker on deck.
It was repainted blue at some point in time.
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The width is harder to measure because in the old racing rules, boats had to be made to a certain width on at least one point. This was common in racing canoes also and manufacturers met this requirement by widening only the deck, typically towards the stern in keeping with a swede form. This way the hull could be keept quite narrow for maximum speed. The hull cross section on this kayak is completely round, except where it flares out to meet the wider deck behind the rear cockpit. As such, there are no flattened areas on the hull and there is absolutely no initial stability – it’s like a round log. However this is OK, and actually not that much different from my Stellar SES surfski aka the Grey Ghost. I’m well used to my SES so this was not a surprise, and this K2 feels like it has endless secondary stability to me when under way.
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The hull cross section is completely round! 😮
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak reinforcement pillar in the stern.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayaks have the tiller steering from the front!
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The rear footplate with a curtain wall bulkhead in front of it.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak – the front cockpit is quite narrow, about 16 inches. I barely fit inside!
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak rear cockpit is much more accommodating although the coaming is the same.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with rear seat removed for initial balance and test paddling.
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It’s really tough to find people willing and also able to paddle this kind of boat in South Florida. Eventually I decided to do a quick solo test paddle on the intracoastal waterway and Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach using a 50lb counterweight in the front cockpit to simulate a second paddler. This actually handled OK, though I still couldn’t get the entire waterline submerged. So I decided to call up my paddling partner Kaya Kay Skellitonova and she met up with me to finish the test paddle!
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak is regulation 6.5 meters long (21.5 ft).
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Initial ICF K2 Sprint Kayak solo test paddling on the intracoastal waterway with a 50 lb ballast in the front cockpit. The water taxi usually sets off nice wakes for surfing, but I won’t ride them today.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak solo balance is actually not so different from my Stellar SES surfski.
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Solo ICF K2 Sprint Kayak first test paddle in the intracoastal.
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Moving on to tranquil Whiskey Creek, the ICF K2 Sprint Kayak glides nicely.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak has very, very little volume in the bow!
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Feeling like I might take things up a notch .. or move to the front cockpit .. idk.
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Paddling the ICF K2 Sprint Kayak solo from the front cockpit.
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This is really tricky!! I was only able to keep this up for a short ride for fear of capsize into 6 inches of water, ha ha! 😉
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The 21.5 foot waterline create easy gliding, even if only about 18 feet were actually in the water.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak has very evident swede form.
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Back on the intracoastal, I got the call to pick up my paddling partner Kaya Kay.
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Look who’s here – why it’s Kaya Kay Skellitonova!
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Kaya Kay Skellitonova goofing around the skinny front cockpit.
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Kaya Kay Skellitonova in the ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with a Greenland stick.
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak with Kaya Kay on Whiskey Creek – she prefers the Greenland paddle!
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Kaya Kay fits just fine into the front cockpit of the ICF K2 Sprint Kayak.
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Kaya Kay relaxing in the creek soaking up the sun.
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Yeah, it def only takes 1.5 to K2! 😉
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Kayak Kay Skellitonova is always up for a nautical adventure!
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The ICF K2 Sprint Kayak is a fun and very fast boat to paddle! Realistically I’m not really sure I’ll be able to paddle this boat as a tandem – as intended. However I feel there is potential in this boat to convert her into a lightweight solo high speed cruiser for protected waters. Just moving the rear seat forward a foot or so should restore proper trim, and the large front cockpit will make a nice front hatch once it’s covered. Switching the steering to the rear cockpit and enlarging the cutout for my legs should do the trick.
It’s a project waiting to happen!
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ICF K2 Sprint Kayak initial testing complete, time to head home!
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Enjoy!
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Bless UP!
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© 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
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The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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With that said..
Blessings friends!
🙂
Kayakfari
kayakfari ( kayak .. far .. i ) 