“It’s a multipurpose kayak with few peers: surfing ability for coastal travel or day trip fun; low windage and well-balanced for rough conditions; ample gear storage for multiday trips; and high stability for photographers or fishers”. To read the full review click here.
Pinguino 145 4PD:
The Pinguino 145-4PD (four panel deck) has morphed the recreational kayak design of the Pinguino 145 into a stylish surf kayak and rolling machine. Her smaller, arched cockpit design (17x33” instead of 19x36”) allows a closer paddle stroke and a very low rear cockpit height to facilitate Greenland style Eskimo rolls. This version has been created for people who like a snugger fit or want to take the Pinguino 145 into the surf zone or rock gardens where they will brace or roll the boat. The lower deck also makes it more ergonomic for smaller folks who may have a tighter paddle stroke, or who don’t want the huge cockpit commonly found on recreational kayaks.
Stable and Well Mannered: Like the Pinguino 145 she’s more stable than any of our other touring boats, with the exception of the Borealis XL. She tracks solidly, but thanks to her shorter length is quick to turn. She lays over securely on edge and cuts a very rapid chine (leaned) turn, making her a great boat for maneuvering in tighter spaces.
Design Features: The front deck design cuts the side deck panels away to allow a closer, more comfortable and efficient paddle stroke. All the Pinguinos offer our multi-chine hull design, to maximize efficiency and stability. With a raked stern and swede form shape, it is a unique design in the Pygmy line up. The Pinguino’s shorter length and lightweight make cartopping and carrying to the water a cinch. She accelerates quickly, and is nearly effortless to hold at cruising speeds. She tracks solidly, but thanks to her shorter length is quick to turn.
Fishing, Bird Watching, Photography: Like the entire Pinguino series, the stability and maneuverability of the Pinguino 145 4PD make her a great boat for messing about, cruising rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and gunkholing the coast line.
She Loves to Surf: The Pinguino 145 4PD shares with the Pinguino Sport an affinity for the surf zone and rock gardens. Marc Downing, kayak guide and expert paddler reports “The Pinguino 145 has a loose feel that regular touring boats with their stiff keels cannot touch. In swell and medium surf, the 145 and the Sport are very steerable from the beginning of the catch right up into directional surfing. In bigger surf, nothing short of a 7’ white water boat is broach proof, but both the Pinguino Sport and 145 resist broaching much longer than any other touring boats I’ve ridden." Outfit her with the adjustable knee braces (choose your foam type) for a snugger fit in the waves.
Renowned northwest paddler, Warren Williamson, went to Skookumchuck rapids (a phenomenal standing tidal rapid) with John Lockwood, designer and owner of Pygmy Boats, to test out the Murrelet 4PD version 2 hull and the Pinguino 145 4PD at Skookumchuck narrows in BC. He had this to say about the Pinguino 145 4PD: "The Pinguino is very user friendly on the wave. It's definitely a surf kayak... Once the wave got bigger it really liked it. If you want more of a sporty surfing kayak, the Pinguino is an incredible kayak." Watch the video of him surfing (above).
Carrying capacity (vol.cu.ft)……12.3 **Efficient Cruising Wetted Surface in sq. ft……17.50 Loaded waterline length……12.5' ***Top crusing speed……4.91 mph Available as kit……yes Available as plans……no
*The transverse Metacenter, in inches, is a measure of a kayak's initial stability. A higher number is more stable. All single kayaks computed with same weight person.
**Efficient cruising is a function of low frictional drag and low wetted surface. Lower WS means faster (less effort) cruising speeds, here expressed in sq. ft. ***90% of theoretical hull speed (THS) in mph. A boat's theoretical hull speed is a function of square root of its loaded waterline length (LWL). at approximately 80% to 90% of its hull speed a kayak will start to produce a bow wake longer than its LWL and the effort required to continue acceleration rapidly increases
Pinguino 145 4PD Features: Hull type… Multi-chine Deck type…Pygmy multi-chine cut away deck with Pattented rear cockpit recess Best used for…Day paddling, Kayak touring, Lake paddling, Photography, Kayak fishing, Surf kayaking, Rock gardens Paddler experience level… Beginner to Advanced Shoe size….Up to men’s 12 (depending on shoe and personal comfort) Cockpit size…17"x33"
* We usually ship "Medium" hardener with our kits (good for temperatures ranging from 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit). You may order "Slow" for hot climates (75-95 degrees Fahrenheit) or "Fast" for cold climates (35-55 degrees Fahrenheit) upon request. Read the System Three Epoxy Book to help select the appropriate epoxy and hardener for you. If you would like a copy of the Epoxy Book, click here to download. We also stock System Three’s Silver Tip Epoxy and offer this as an option in our boat kits for an additional charge. For Silvertip epoxy the slow hardener is good for temperatures warmer than 65 and the fast is best for temperatures cooler than 65. Note: Silver Tip Resin can only ship via Ground Service and is not eligible for shipments to Alaska.
