P&H Volan Review, Olly Sanders

[@petergill8884]

I bought the Volan in August. Same spec and same colour as in this video. Done about a hundred miles in it and love it. Lightweight, manoeuvrable, stable, tracks well and for a short sea kayak surprisingly quick.

[@PHSeaKayaks]

Thanks for your comment, Peter! Great to hear you're enjoying the boat!

[@wjcain99]

Great review .

[@wavesoffun]

Very tempting - I'll hire a demo one soon to have a play. Is the small front deck hatch watertight?

[@PHSeaKayaks]

Yes indeed, as watertight as any hatch usually is - we'd still recommend valuables go in their own waterproof pouch, though.

[@pikemaster1972]

Amazing build quality

[@alanjones3656]

PnH if ya see this, make a 16'5" at 21 please!! You have spoiled me with my Scorp LV @ 21" and cannot go back wider!! Made too many paddles for my 21 wide boat!! LOL

[@mikecoglione1308]

Just got one this year it's a fabulous boat but I am still a little scared. Very, very fast, quickest boat I ever owned and responsive. What I like is that it is a very "mature" and complex boat in that it does various things well so it tracks really well but if you get it on edge it will turn on a dime almost like a packboat. The skeg really helps too in wind or waves, I just keep it down because it tends to make the boat more stable because... it's a bit tippy. I've always banked on more the stable and recreational-ish boats and the Volan is a handful. I haven't flipped it yet, haven't ever flipped a boat in almost 2 decades of paddling but this could be the first. What I don't like is you can't stop paddling it or you get in trouble. You have to stay on the power all the time. As long as you keep stroking forward then it's fine but if you want to stop and take a drink, snack or photos then better to get out of the boat and do it with your feet on the ground or bottom in shallow water. Am 6'4" pretty skinny and fit but still at this height I am thinking I should have waited for the HV version which is likely a little wider and likely more stable. Any news when that is coming out?

[@PHSeaKayaks]

Interesting feedback regarding the stability; we have heard the opposite from most! Perhaps it is your height... have you tried adding some load to the hatches at all? No firm timescale on the larger version just yet (it will likely be named the '166' or similar).

[@mikecoglione1308]

@@PHSeaKayaks I think it is my height. Across most boats I tend to prefer wider ones and generally speaking find boats that are known as stable to be not so. The magic of composite construction that makes them so responsive unfortunately also makes these boats respond to all inputs. I would be very hesitant to take this boat out on open water but feel that way about most composites and still have my old Wilderness boats from 20 years ago for that reason. Most of my paddling is flat water but of course it's only flat if there's no wind as lakes and rivers can get pretty hairy too, maybe not nearly as challenging as the sea but certainly a handful if conditions rise up. I haven't tried loading the hatches. How would I go about doing that? How do you do it without having something rolling about as that can negatively influence stability. Filled water jugs maybe?

[@flatheadfletch]

I’m 5’11 and 207 lbs. I think the height of the seat off the bottom is what makes it feel tippy. Higher center of gravity ! This also makes it very responsive. I have no stability issues at all NOW that I’ve learned to slow my hip responses down. This yak responds so quick to body movement that it’s a whole new learning curve to be stable in !! I love mine. Zero regrets. I even fish from mine. Very very stable yak !!! Just have to learn new techniques !

[@mikecoglione1308]

@@flatheadfletch I took some time and the boat hasn't settled down but what seems to settle it is bad water. No seriously like on a calm day this boat is kind of wasted its definitely faster but tippier than slower/stable boats. But when the wind kicks up and more "stable" boats feel like a drag the Volan just kind of sails on through the waves and allows one to go out on days that would give pause to lesser craft.

[@joethi4981]

l have a lot of kayaks🛶

[@PHSeaKayaks]

What's in your stable?