Current Designs Kayak Review
 

The first Current Design production boats were West-coast cruisers - the Equinox and Pisces. The Solstice line went into production in 1984, and was extremely successful, and is still Current Designs flagship kayak line to this day.

Over the years CD has produced a host of highly-regarded sea kayaks, including the Gulfstream (produced with the help of legendary British kayaker Derek Hutchinson), the Andromeda, the hard-chined Caribou and the Slipstream. More recent models include the Rumor, Solstice, Cypress, Infinity, and a line of recreational kayaks, the Kestrels.

In 1991, Wenonah Canoe Inc., the leading U.S. manufacturer of composite canoes, was selected as the strategic partner to distribute Current Designs kayaks in the United States. The synergy between the companies was immediately evident, both companies produced the highest quality paddling products and were passionate about their products and paddling.

In 1999, Wenonah Canoe, the leading U.S. maker of composite canoes, purchased majority ownership of Current Designs, and moved its home base to the small Mississippi River town of Winona, MN. 
 

The Products

Current Designs doesn't have any whitewater boats in their current lineup. Instead the company focuses on manufacturing a full line of quality touring, recreational, and transitional kayaks. Prices start at about $1200 for the rotomolded polyethylene Squamish British touring boat, and go all the way up to $4600 for the the kevlar version of the Libra XT North American touring kayak.

Touring kayaks - Current Designs breaks their touring kayaks into three separate styles - North American, Greenland, and British.

The North American kayaks are the Libra XT, Nomad GTS, Solstice, Squall and Storm models. They have more depth and width than the British and Greenland boats, which improves storage capacity and the larger cockpits are easier for large paddlers to enter and exit. The North American boats are recommended for new and developing paddlers as they're more forgiving on the water, and easier to become accustomed to.

The Greenland style kayaks are the Caribou, Isle, Rumour, and Suke models. These boats are the the polar opposite of the North American style, as they have low profile decks, and are much narrower. These are hard chine kayaks, giving them high stability even in rough waters. These boats are recommended for more advanced paddlers, and may be too small for larger bodies or those wanting to bring along a lot of gear.

The British style kayaks are the Cypress, Gulfstream, Infinity, Sirocco, Squamish and Willow. The British style boats are sort of a middle ground between the North American and Greenland styles, as they are slighting wider and deeper than the Greenland kayaks, and have a higher foredeck. They also have a medium sized cockpit that can accomodate larger paddlers, and more leg room and storage as well. But they have a lower profile than the North American boats, and thus are better suited to windy conditions and rougher waters.  
 

The Pros