Tras varios meses de uso del kayak Villain S creo que estoy en condiciones de dar mi opinión acerca de este kayak que se ha convertido en mi embarcación favorita de creek.
After several months of using my kayak Villain S I think I am able to give my opinion about this kayak which has become my favorite creek boat.
Lo primero que llama nuestra atención es el equipamiento incluido de serie. Prácticamente en minutos la tendremos adaptada para echarnos al río. El reposapiés se regula desde la bañera (sentado en el kayak) mediante un tirador que se traba con una presilla sencilla pero eficiente. En mi caso le he realizado un nudo a la cuerda para en caso de soltarse (cosa que no me ha pasado ni una sola vez) el reposapiés no se vaya hasta el fondo.
The first thing that catches our attention is the standard equipment. Practically within minutes we will adapt the kayak to take it to the River. The footrest can be adjusted from cockpit (sitting in the kayak) with a rope that locks with a simple but effective clip. In my case I’ve made a knot in the rope when loose (which happened to me not even once) the footrest not go to the bottom.
The base of the footrest can be easily removed (pull us) to introduce load in the front of the kayak. This is a handy feature that makes the load very available.
The seat is inflatable, or more precisely, deflating. Is filled with granulated foam, and once we sat down and picked our way, we aspire the air to conform to our anatomy.
La riñonera agarra muy bien y tensa tirando de 2 cuerdas que se fijan en trabillas colocadas sobre la muslera. Estas trabillas son muy efectivas (tampoco se me han soltado hasta ahora) y tienen la ventaja de que no tienen partes metálicas por lo que no se pueden enroñar.
La bañera es grande para permitir un salida rápida y segura, y las musleras muy acolchadas. En mi caso, he pegado un par de piezas de foam para que me agarre más. Es una opción personal que aplico a todos mis kayaks, ya sean de slalom o rodeo.
The hippads are very comfortable and if you need more padding like me, they include foam plates wich are introduced very simple on the inside of the fit. The pads are fitted with a strap and Velcro on the side of the seat.
The backrest grabs very well and is fitted pulling 2 strings that are set in loops placed on the thigh support. These loops are very effective (in my case they have not released yet) and have the advantage that no metal parts so they don´t get damaged by the water.
The cockpit is large to allow rapid and safe exit. The tight support is very comfortable, but in my case, I stuck two pieces of foam to grip me more. It´s a personal choice that I apply to all my kayaks, slalom or rodeo.
The backrest grabs very well and is fitted pulling 2 strings that are set in loops placed on the thigh support. These loops are very effective (in my case they have not released yet) and have the advantage that no metal parts so they don´t get damaged by the water.
The cockpit is large to allow rapid and safe exit. The tight support is very comfortable, but in my case, I stuck two pieces of foam to grip me more. It´s a personal choice that I apply to all my kayaks, slalom or rodeo.
So the first impression is of great comfort and ease of adaptation.
En el exterior comprobamos que las asas están bien situadas y son cómodas y resistentes, fáciles de agarrar en caso de rescate. El tapón queda encajado en un hueco de manera que no sobresale nada sobre el nivel de la superficie del kayak; al estar tan protegido es muy difícil que se rompa porque no hay manera de que se golpee.
Otro de los puntos fuertes de este kayak lo detectamos observando su exterior y es que el único agujero que traspasa el kayak es el de vaciado! (aparte de la bañera, claro). Esto nos evita problemas de filtraciones de agua que son habituales en otros kayaks.
Outside we see that the handles are well placed and are comfortable, durable, and easy to grab in case of rescue. The cap is stuck in a hole so that nothing protrudes above the surface of the kayak, and is so protected that is very difficult to break because there is no way to hit it.
Another of the strengths of this kayak is detected by observing that the only hole that pierces the kayak is the drain hole! (apart from the cockpit, of course). This will prevent water seepage problems that are common to other kayaks.
Another of the strengths of this kayak is detected by observing that the only hole that pierces the kayak is the drain hole! (apart from the cockpit, of course). This will prevent water seepage problems that are common to other kayaks.
In terms of weight, like many of the creek kayaks the Villain weighs, and is mainly due to the thickness of plastic. Personally I prefer to sacrifice lightness gaining stiffness and strength, things that shine in this kayak.
EN EL AGUANavegando en agua plana el kayak se comporta de manera ágil y conductora. Respecto a su antecesora la Rocker notamos que la proa es más afilada lo que da una sensación de más velocidad.
Paddling in flat water the kayak behaves agile and conductive. Respect to its predecessor the Rocker, we notice that the bow is sharper giving a feeling of more speed.
In the rapids the kayak is conducted very well and I attribute that to the semi-planehull. Accustomed to paddle in slalom kayaks I like the hull not to be completely flat; I think it gives you more speed in the turns and wide trajectories. On the other hand has always seemed that the marked edges of a flat bottom can make you lose your balance in very rocky rivers.
Algunos lo encontrarán excesivamente voluminoso. A mí me da seguridad y confianza y no veo que afecte negativamente en la navegación.
En cuanto a maniobras más técnicas de creek es un kayak con una respuesta muy predecible. Si lo colocamos en la línea elegida la seguirá sin desviarse cortando olas, deflectores o rulos. Boofea perfectamente y emerge muy equilibrada después de los saltos.
Probándola en olas pequeñas comprobaremos que se maneja muy bien y con un poco de habilidad seremos capaces de realizar 360º y loopings. Aquí nos damos cuenta de la maniobrabilidad de este kayak relativamente largo de creek.
Probándola en olas pequeñas comprobaremos que se maneja muy bien y con un poco de habilidad seremos capaces de realizar 360º y loopings. Aquí nos damos cuenta de la maniobrabilidad de este kayak relativamente largo de creek.
Some find it too bulky. In my case it makes me gain trust and confidence and I see that it doesn´t affects navigation.
As for more technical maneuvers is a kayak with a very predictable response. If you put in the selected line will be followed without deviation: cutting waves or holes. It boofs perfectly and emerge very balanced after the jumps.
Testing it in small waves see that it handles very well, and with a little skill we will be able to make 360 º and loops.
Otro punto fuerte es la velocidad. Remando en difentes ríos la sensación es que es un kayak muy rápido pero después de probarlo en varias carreras y obtener excelentes resultados estoy convencido que es uno de los kayaks de creek más rápidos que hay en el mercado actualmente.
As for more technical maneuvers is a kayak with a very predictable response. If you put in the selected line will be followed without deviation: cutting waves or holes. It boofs perfectly and emerge very balanced after the jumps.
Testing it in small waves see that it handles very well, and with a little skill we will be able to make 360 º and loops.
Otro punto fuerte es la velocidad. Remando en difentes ríos la sensación es que es un kayak muy rápido pero después de probarlo en varias carreras y obtener excelentes resultados estoy convencido que es uno de los kayaks de creek más rápidos que hay en el mercado actualmente.
Another strong point is speed. Paddling on different rivers the feeling is that is a very fast kayak but after testing it in several races and get great results I’m convinced it’s one of the fastest creek kayaks that are in the market today.
Resumiendo: confort, seguridad, velocidad y navegación predecible todo unido en un gran kayak de creek.
In short: comfort, security, speed and predictable navigation all together in a great creek kayak.
Ramon Etxaniz.
