Evolution "Debu"
Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a brief paddle of an Evolution "Debu" and while this was not enough for an in-depth review, these are my initial impressions.
The Evolution "Debu" is manufactured in Brisbane by Oz Rotomoulding. Anyone that remembers the marine-ply surfskis of yesteryear will immediately recognize source of inspiration for the design.
The hull has a distinct upswept bow, a fairly flat bottom, and deep skeg. The rocker (fore to aft curvature) of the hull gives it a shorter waterline length than other kayaks of similar overall length. This does give it a tendency to skew slightly from side to side with each paddle stroke, although I found no difficulty in maintaining direction. The shorter waterline also affects the speed of the craft and we observed that my own Perception "Swing", while heavier and wider, was faster.
The flatness of the bottom makes the craft very stable and the owner tells me his children are able to stand while he paddles.
The top of the ski is quite flat with just a shallow depression for a seat. There is no back support, but there are plenty of tie-down loops on both sides of the ski which could be used to clip on an after-market seat.
Paddling back to shore gave some indication of where the ski will utilize its hull design. With waves only inches high, you could feel the ski wanting to run with them. In surf the upswept bow will avoid digging in, while the rocker and skeg aid manoeuverability in rough water. The shallow seat depression enables the paddler to easily slide forwards or backwards to balance the ski.
Among the optional accessories is a lidded storage box that clips on between the bow and the foot wells. If I were launching through surf, I'd be storing my reels and tackle in this box and lashing my rods along the side then rigging up beyond the surf zone.
In summary, is the "Debu" for everyone? No! But if you regularly launch through surf it would be worth taking a test paddle. Compared to similar sized imported kayaks the "Debu" is reasonably priced.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 3.8m |
| Width: | 73cm |
| Weight: | 21.6kg |
| Capacity: | 120kg |