P and H Delphin?
#1
I am in the market for a plastic surf/rock garden/play boat. I am wondering if anyone owns a P and H Delphin and has thoughts on that boat (or other ideas to fill this niche).
John
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#2
I had one for a few years. I loved it because it was solid and playful and I never minded hitting rocks or landing on ledges. It enabled me to take some risks that I wouldn’t do in a fiberglass kayak.
The only down side for me was that it was pretty slow especially fighting a headwind. I sold it for my Aries and had no regrets.
Another cheaper option is the Dagger - Stratos 14.5. Tim and I paddled them on the West Coast . It's very popular for rock gardening there.
Also Jackson has the Karma RG ( rock garden ) though I've never paddled it.
- Jon
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#3
(11-19-2021, 11:46 AM)jsharlin Wrote: I had one for a few years. I loved it because it was solid and playful and I never minded hitting rocks or landing on ledges. It enabled me to take some risks that I wouldn’t do in a fiberglass kayak.
The only down side for me was that it was pretty slow especially fighting a headwind. I sold it for my Aries and had no regrets.
Another cheaper option is the Dagger - Stratos 14.5. Tim and I paddled them on the West Coast . It's very popular for rock gardening there.
Also Jackson has the Karma RG ( rock garden ) though I've never paddled it.
- Jon

Thanks for the great tips!
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#4
(11-19-2021, 12:05 PM)purplesurfcat Wrote:
(11-19-2021, 11:46 AM)jsharlin Wrote: I had one for a few years. I loved it because it was solid and playful and I never minded hitting rocks or landing on ledges. It enabled me to take some risks that I wouldn’t do in a fiberglass kayak.
The only down side for me was that it was pretty slow especially fighting a headwind. I sold it for my Aries and had no regrets.
Another cheaper option is the Dagger - Stratos 14.5. Tim and I paddled them on the West Coast . It's very popular for rock gardening there.
Also Jackson has the Karma RG ( rock garden ) though I've never paddled it.
- Jon

Thanks for the great tips!

Shrew,

For you, look at the Romany Sportive from SKUK.  Also, check out P & H's Scorpio LV.  Finally, P & H does a Virgo LV for more single purpose "rock bashing".  It is noteworthy that our "rock gardening" usually involves paddling to a venue, moving through multiple venues and often supplying our own power vs. relying solely on long period swell.  In other words our "rock boats" are sea kayaks that need to be paddled, not west coast whitewater boats mostly propelled by swell. 

Best,

Tim
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#5
That's  such a good point Tim. There's a difference between what we need for a rock/touring kayak and what the West Coast folks need.
The swell is so different and we tour more from venue to venue.
J.
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#6
I have a low volume Dagger Stratos that I might consider selling.  I don't paddle it much since I got my Scorpio LV, but I never had any trouble keeping up with the group in the Stratos.  Let me know if you're interested.
Cat
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#7
(11-19-2021, 11:14 AM)purplesurfcat Wrote: I am in the market for a plastic surf/rock garden/play boat. I am wondering if anyone owns a P and H Delphin and has thoughts on that boat (or other ideas to fill this niche).
John

I paddle surf a Dephin 150 a bit for past several years.   For me, it's been the best surfing longboat I have had so far.  But, admittedly, I have pretty much moved on from longboating to predominantly surf kayaking and then waveskiing in the past 15 years.  The Delphin re-ignited a bit my interest (if not outright) passion for long boat surfing.  Enough so that I went and ordered a "west coast surfing longboat" -- a Sterling Progression -- that should be arriving in a couple of months.

I am 5'3" @ 150lbs.  Here are some footage of my recent surf sessions with the Delphin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f-UKC_v4Gc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YpwWFaJYnc

I will likely not hold onto the Delpin, if the Progression lives up to its hype as a longboat surfing machine.

sing
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#8
Thanks for sharing this. Good luck with the Sterling.
If you are in the area consider paddling with our club.
Jon
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#9
(12-02-2021, 10:24 AM)jsharlin Wrote: Thanks for sharing this. Good luck with the Sterling.
If you are in the area consider paddling with our club.
Jon

Thanks for the invite.  Smile    It's a possibility now that I am little back into the longboat surfing.  I used to do some of the RICKA paddles when I was more of a seakayaker (past member of NSPN) rather than being predominantly a paddle surfer.   Also, overlapped with some RICKA folks when I was active with the the defunct Rhode Island Surf Kayaking (RISK) sessions.   I believe "Tsunami X15 Tony" did both seakayaking trips and surfing sessions.

Happy and safe paddling (and surfing) now that winter season is upon us.

sing
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#10
I have a 155 Delphin which you are welcome to borrow in the spring and give it a try.  I could bring it to Providence and you could grab it from Barrett or I could meet you somewhere.  I am typically down once a week.
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