In the early 1990s Pyranha began to recognize that there was a demand for a better weekend sea kayak for early intermediate paddlers. There was an opportunity to make a lighter, more rigid craft that should be easier to handle and more responsive. Pyranha's recent experiences included open canoes of Royalex. Royalex had benefits of lighter weight and panel stiffness, so we tested it further, while starting the CAD drawings for a possible design.
We were able to achieve significant firsts in forming the cockpit and hatch rims, plus using a biscuit-tin-lid joint to keep th kayak drier.
Orca was kept a little shorter at 15' 8" than some designs, with a beam of 22.5' for stability. The hard chine gives increased stability, better directional stability when upright, and more maneuverability when leaned.
The larger keyhole cockpit has easy access or exit and is fitted with thigh grips.
The bulkhead was shaped to empty water quickly. Orca has a high sheer for rough water and aesthetic considerations, and provisions for fitting a compass and deck pump.
We intended the Orca as a weekend sea kayak for early intermediate paddlers. We never intended Orca to be a serious long-distance expedition kayak nor to surf waves, although it has done both.

Graham Mackereth

Reviewers:

SN 5'8", 150-pound male. Overnight trip, 40 lbs of cargo. Winds calm to 10 knots, waves to 1 foot.
MH 5'10", 190-pound male. Four-day cruise. Open coast swell to 9 feet, heavy clapotis, rock gardens. Wind 10 to 25 knots .
DL 5'10", 180-pound male. Day trip in currents and whirlpool with cargo of 20 pounds. Weekend trip on open coast swells to 5 feet with wind, waves one to two feet. 86 pounds of gear.

Reviews:

Pyranha's Orca is the first kayak we've seen made of the material most often used to make open canoes. The Royalex "seems to be very good, being not only strong and light, but also unaffected by heat. I left the boat on sawhorses for a week in 80-degree heat and observed no deformations whatever" (DL). SN noted that the Royalex has a "very hard and slippery finish. It easily slides over rocks. There appeared to be no hull deformation from the [Royalex] bulkheads." The joint between the hull and deck has an overlap about an inch wide and is sealed with caulk. The caulk isn't pretty, but with the boat right side up you don't have to look at it.

At 53 pounds, the "lighter-than-average weight boat carried well" (SN). It rests comfortably on the shoulder and is well balanced for a solo carry. The toggles at the ends make for an easy two-person carry.

Laced through recessed deck fittings are grab lines around the perimeter and bungies ahead of the cockpit for charts, and aft for a spare paddle. There are no bungies for a paddle-float rescue aft of the cockpit, though DL was able to use those on the foredeck for re-entry practice.

The cockpit is "of medium size with easy access and egress"(DL), "perfect for seating myself, then bringing in my feet" (SN). There isn't much room for stowing gear within the cockpit, but the lack of excess space in the cockpit minimizes the floodable volume.

MH thought the support provided by the back band and seat was " superb," though for DL and SN it was too low: "It is adjustable, but I could not get it forward or high enough" (SN). The molded seat is contoured for comfort. It "felt fine on both short and long trips" (DL).

For DL, the cockpit of the Orca was "small enough that its foredeck does not need additional thigh bracing added. The only improvement necessary is the addition of some padding for comfort." SN felt adequately braced, but both he and MH thought that the addition of custom-fit thigh bracing would be a worthwhile addition: "Such a maneuverable boat needs to have good thigh bracing"(MH). The Yakima foot braces were "excellent. Easy to adjust and very solid" (MH). The Orca tested did not have a rudder installed, although the stern is designed to accept one and accommodations for rudder cables were in place.

The Orca's stability was rated from "moderate to low for about ten degrees, then moderate secondary" (SN) to "very stable initially and on edge" (MH) and "stable in all conditions experienced—both initial and secondary stability were predictable" (DL).

The Orca "steers beautifully and is very pleasant weaving through rocks, and very fun in the chaotic waters of rock gardens" (MH). "The boat carves turns well and is very responsive to body leans. The boat's ability to turn with body lean is very useful for making the boat track straight." (DL). While the Orca steers well, it requires lean or paddle corrections to hold a straight course. SN shifted his cargo load aft to settle the stern deeper, but the tracking did not substantially improve. DL and SN thought the addition of the rudder option would help with course holding. MH suggested the addition of a skeg for the same purpose.

In winds to 15 miles per hour, DL experienced no weathercocking. In winds to 10 knots, SN noted that the Orca does weathercock. MH noted that the Orca weathercocks in light winds, and in stronger winds to 25 knots required a strong lean to maintain course in a rough beam sea.

In moderate conditions the overhanging deck/hull joint helps keep the Orca dry by knocking down spray. MH noted the bow was a bit more bouyant: It "rides nicely heading into big seas and does not dive into following seas." Paddling a loaded Orca, DL noted a tendency for the bow to "punch through waves rather than ride over them."

The Orca "is a speedy little kayak for its length. I could easily pull ahead of longer boats. A fit paddler can easily cruise along at four knots" (MH). DL and SN also had a favorable impression of the Orca's speed: "feels fast for a short boat" (SN).

For MH, "surfing wind waves was a lot of fun. The kayak catches waves well and feels quick to sprint. It does want to broach, but once surfing it is easily controlled with edging and ruddering. It is also a lot of fun in a bigger following sea."

The Orca is easy to Eskimo roll. The low back deck makes it easy to do layback rolls.
The Orca has "enough room for a weekend trip, possibly a week if you are a light packer" (SN). The forward hatch is too small to allow easy packing. The hatches are sealed with neoprene covers with bungies sewn into the perimeter.
The covers were awkward to put on: They "require three hands to get the job done" (DL). Some leakage was reported in the aft compartment, perhaps because the rudder cable housings were not watertight. The bulkheads were "strong and secure. The angled rear bulkhead makes for easy draining of water" (MH).

All of our reviewers thought the Orca's tracking was its weak point, suggesting that the rudder option would be an important addition for making long crossings. MH thought the Orca was a "lively, playful boat for rough coastal exploring. It's very maneuverable and predictable." DL also thought the Orca would be "an excellent choice for playing in currents and in tight quarters." SN noted that "a person interested in a simple, durable boat with OK speed, no maintenance, enough space for a weekend trip and a roomy cockpit will find this boat ideal."

Designer Response

We found your review to be very well constructed. I think the overall message is quite correct and in keeping with the way that we have seen the product in practice and with the feedback we have had from our customers. For a designer starting out with a concept, it is always a little hard to interpret how paddlers of different skills and experiences will find the performance of a new kayak. We are glad that you seem to agree with us, and are very pleased that the Orca is providing a slightly more sporting picture than we had initially envisaged.

For the kind of sea conditions we get in Britain and the nature of our coast lines, the performance characteristics of the Orca prove ideal. In light of our recent experience, we are just launching a new seat concept for our whitewater craft. It will be modified appropriately for the Orca. This is a double-strap back strap, in which the top strap runs through the top of the seat unit into a thigh grip so you can adjust the tension in the back strap after sitting in the boat. The new system is proving to be ideal for both gripping yourself in tight when it gets rough or for relaxing. The new back strap is also higher and provides a lot more back support. In whitewater tests it is proving to be exceptional, especially for people who have minor back problems. A new multi-layer foam seat base is also proving to be extremely comfortable. It will be particularly appropriate for a boat like the Orca where paddlers will be in the seat for long periods of time. We are hopeful that these new developments will set new standards.

With regard to trim and balance, it is common for boats in Britain to be ordered without rudders (we are seeing an increase in interest this category). For many boats for America and our other markets, rudders are fitted as standard equipment. The Orca seat is adjustable fore and aft. With a screwdriver and a spanner it is possible to adjust the seat into five different positions. While it is not practical to make such adjustments at sea, customers may alter the trim and handling characteristics to suit individual requirements.

Graham Mackereth, designer

Options and Pricing

Designed: 1994
Standard Lay-up: thermoformed Royalex multi-laminar sandwich: vinyl exterior with PVC and ABS core.
Standard Features: bow and stern hatches with neoprene covers and strap-down rigid covers, foot rests, seat, back strap, deck lines, carry toggles
Options: rudder
Approximate Weight: 45 pounds
Price: $1539, MSRP from Impex
Availability: distributed in the U.S. by

Impex International Inc.
1107 Station Road, Building 1
Bellport, NY 11713
Phone: (516) 2862988

Manufacturer's Address:

Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.
Marina Village, Preston Brook
Runcorn, Cheshire
WA7 3DW, England
Phone: 01928 716666