y KAYAK REVIEWS Avalon Viviane by Kajak Sport Length overall Beam Volume Cockpit size Cockpit coaming height Forward Aft Height of seat Weight Center of buoyancy * ‘With 250-lb. load 211/2 15.4 Cu. ft. 12¾’ 8” 1’/2 58¼ lbs. 46% Speed vs. Resistance These figures are derived from mathematical models based on a limited number oftowing tests on flat water. Kayak weight + 250-lb payload Resistance in pounds, shown to hundredths to dif- ferentiate figures formerly rounded to tenths. A fit paddler can maintain a cruising speed at 3 pounds of drag. Only a few can work against 5 pounds of drag for long distancea. See August ‘98 page 43 for more details. Calculated by the KAPER programby John Winters (Factor added for soft plastic hulls when applicable): 2 knots 3 knots 4 knots 4.5 knots 5 knots 6 knots 0.96 2.01 3.53 4.80 7.19 13.38 Calculated by Matt Broze using TaylorStandard Series: 2 knots 3 knots 4 knots 4.5 knots 5 knots 6 knots 0.94 1.98 3.64 4.75 6.59 11.50 Hydrostatics Paddler weight Cargo weight* Wategline length Waterline beam Draft Prismatic coefficient Block coefficient Wetted surface in sq. ft. Lbs./inch immersion 150 lbs. 200 lbs. 150 lbs. 200 lbs. none none 100 lbs. 100 lbs. 17’ 3.3” 20.7” 4.6” 0.48 0.29. 19.46 85.8 * Fixed “paddler” weight has its cen- ter of gravity located 10” above the lowest part of the seat and 10” forward 17’ 5.8” 21.1” 5.2” 0.49 0.30 21.39 91.1 17’ 7.9” 21.3” 5.8” 0.50 0.32 23.18 95.4 17’ 9.7” 21.5” 6.4” 0.50 0.33 24.85 99.9 of the seat at back. The “cargo’s” center of gravity coincides with the kayak’s approximated center of gravity. Calculated by Nautilus SystemTM computer program Righting/Heeling Moments (Fixed-weight) ‘2 2 2 0~ ou 70—--—-- 60 50 40—-- 30— 20— 10 2 — 4 3 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Degrees ofHeel 70 80 Righting Moment Heeling Moment The same force that rights a kayak on flat water contributes to its rolling motion on the face of a wave. 90 Stability Curves 1. 150 lb. paddler, no cargo 2. 200 lb. paddler, no cargo 3. 150 lb. paddler, 100 lb. cargo 4. 200 lb. paddler, 100 lb. cargo Calculated by Nautilus SystemTM computer program Reading the Stability Curves The steeper the slope ofthe curve as it rises from 0’, the higher the initial stability. Be- yond the maximum righting moment at the peak of the curve, the kayak enters an un- stable region of decreasing stability which does little to slow the rolling of the kayak to the point of imminent capsize. Note: Raising the center of gravity slightly will decrease the stability of a kayak while lowering it will increase it. 12 Sea Kayaker D April 2000
Thesteepertheslopeofthecurveasit risesfrom 0’, the higherthe initial stability. Be-yondthemaximumrightingmomentatthepeakof the curve, the kayakentersan un-stableregion of decreasingstability whichdoeslittle to slowtherolling of thekayaktothepoint of imminentcapsize.
Note:Raisingthecenterofgravity slightlywill decreasethestability of a kayakwhilelowering itwill increaseit.
12 SeaKayaker D April 2000
Avalon Viviane DesignStatement
TheViviane is afasttouring kayakde-signedfor advancedpaddlerswho de-mandspeedandperformancein all con-ditions. The brainchild of an accom-plishedFinnishkayakdesignerandracer,it hasenduredyearsof rigoroustestingandcontinuousrefinementin theformi-dableArctic seasoff Finland andNor-
while rolling, but I’d addsomefoamtomakeamore positive connection” (TE).Thefootbraceshadpivotingfootrestsforusewith an optionalruddersystem(notincludedwith thetestkayak).Therubbermountsletthepedals“taketheangleof thefeet,for comfort,without compromisingbracing”(TE). “Very comfortable.Iplantoinstall theseon my ownboat” (KW). TheoverallfitoftheVivianemaderollingeasy.
The skegcontrol is recessedin thedecknearthepaddler’sright hip, “closeat handandvisible with a downwardglance.The controlknob is attachedtoanaluminumrodsliderthatgivesmorepositive control than cable that maybucklewhenpushed.Gooddesign” (TE).
The Viviane’s primary stability wasratedasmoderate(TE), medium(KW),and“niceandloose,butnotuncomfort-ably tippy” (KB). TE andKB thoughtthesecondarystabilitywasmoderate:“easyto edgetheboat,butIdidn’t feelthatthesecondarystability wasa wall to leanagainst” (TE). KW thoughtthesecond-ary stability was “excellent.I felt com-fortablewith theboatonedge.”
TheVivianeis notaneasyboatto turn:“edgingtheboatwill helpcarveaturn,buttheturning is slow. I hadto work itaround” (TE). “A difficult boat to turnwithout aggressiveedging” (KB).
In thewind,TB foundtheViviane “didverywell goinginto thewind, andheldastraight coursegoing acrossthe wind.”With thewind and waveson thestemquarter,hewasableto holdcourseoff thewindbydeployingtheskeg.Withaloadinthekayak,KB notedthattheVivianehadonlyaslightweathercockingthathecould“easily compensatefor with acombina-tion of edgingand paddlestrokes.Thetendencyof theunloadedboatto weather-cockbecamestrongenoughto maketheskeganimportantcourse-holdingdevice.TheViviane’s unloadedhull andretract-
Although lightweight, theViviane is ahigh-volumekayak,well equipped,andcapableof handlinglargerpaddlersandexpedition-sizedloadswith aplomb. Ittrackssuperblyeitherloadedor empty,with orwithout deployingthestandardretractableskeg,and remainsremark-ably maneuverableatall times.
Phil WongGlobal Outfitters, Distributor
ableskegarenicelymatched.AsIloweredtheskeg in small increments,the bowtendedto fall off thewind in correspond-ing increments.The hull held a steadycourseperpendicularto thewind whentheskegwasloweredhalfway,andadown-wind coursewith theskegfully lowered.”
TheVivianeprovidesadryride:“Wavesin the1’ to 2’ rangewerenosedto thesidewithoutmuchfuss.Thebowdidn’t poundorthrowspray”(TB).
“Kayakers who havethe power willfind this a fastboat.During aone-hourworkout, I averagedover S knots. TheVivianealsoworkedfine for covering22nauticalmilesatafastcruisingpaceof4to41/2knots”(KB). “It keptup goodspeedinafollowing sea,making it easyto catchfrequentlong rides on wave sets” (TB).“This kayakis fastenoughto catchwindwavesandboatwakes.Thehull doesnotbroachparticularlyeasily,butit’s hardtomaneuveronthewaveface,so it’s impor-tantto catchwavesata900angle”(KB).
TheViviane haslots of stowagespace,andeasyloadingthroughthehatches.“I’dhaveno problempackingfor amonth-longtrip” (KB). Thehatchesprovedwa-tertightandwereeasyto getonandoff.Thesmallhatchin thestern“hasafairlyloosefit and needssomethingextratokeep it from getting knockedoff acci-dentally, especiallyduring a reentry”(TB). The fiberglassbulkheadsalsoprovedwatertight.KB reportedthattheViviane “handled better with the loadaboardthanit didunloaded.”
KW appreciatedthelong cockpitandthe flexible foot rests,and recommendstheVivianefor “strongpaddlerswholiketo gofastandfar.Thestoragespaceisquitea boon for long trips.” KB thought theViviane would “appealto largekayakerswith thepoweranddesireto approachthehull speedandthestrengthandskill tohandleitinrough conditions.Largeexpertsmayalsowanttotakeadvantageofthelargecargocapacity.” ‘TIE ‘liked theperformanceoftheViviane.Itmaynotbeagreatplayboat,but thehull will gowhereyou point it. It’swell-suitedfor apaddlerinterestedin mak-ing gooddistanceandfastpassages.Itsstability profile would require a paddlerwith solid paddlingandbracingskills. Agoodchoicefor aseriouscruiser.” fr4
April 2000 I~ SeaKayaker 13
DesignResponse
Thank you very much to all theparticipants in this review. We atKajak-Sport truly appreciatetheirtime, energy and insight. We aredelighted that their experienceaf-firmed all the design and perfor-mancecharacteristicsthathavebeen
hand-craftedinto theViviane.At Kajak-Sport, we consistently
striveto designandproducethebestkayaksand accessoriespossible.WebelievewehaveaccomplishedthatintheViviane, aswell asin the restofourmodels.
