First impressions of the Rockpool Taran 18.

As a big guy, it is often hard to find a kayak that suits my build. Some kayaks are so narrow I can't get in the cockpit at all, but thankfully that wasn't the case here. Furthermore, kayaks that can be very stable for a smaller paddler, can feel unstable for someone with a higher centre of gravity. I found the Taran very tight, and a bit tippy in slightly dynamic conditions, but not so bad that I can't work with it. Loading it up with expedition gear will probably improve the primary stability a lot. A bigger issue is the tightness around the foot-pegs and rudder controls. My NRS Boundary Boots (size EU 47, UK 12 or US 13) were catching on the underside of the deck, and making it hard to control the rudder. Maybe if I use soft beach shoes it might be better. Overall, the boat is lovely but a HV or XL version would be better for me. That said, I am going to continue to work on the outfitting and hopefully build up a bit more confidence in the stability with more training. Music: Banish Misfortune, perfirmed by Gerry O'Connor    / gerry o'connor - topic