Boat Review: Prijon Catalina Kayak

There are many reasons for purchasing a light-touring kayak. It makes good sense for small paddlers to get in a boat that fits proportionally. Others enjoy the sporty feel. But when it comes down to it, many paddlers do mostly day or short overnight trips and simply don’t need a full-sized touring boat. Instead, many want some of the touring features but in a lighter, easier to manoeuvre and economical package. The Prijon Catalina fits all these needs.

The Prijon Catalina excels on day trips

The Prijon Catalina is a nimble feeling 15’3” light-touring boat manufactured from a polyethylene plastic they call High Performance Thermoplast. This material is closer to fiberglass or Kevlar in terms of rigidity and weight, but maintains the durability and low maintenance of plastic. Prijon is able to shape their boats with sharp lines, creating more performance oriented plastic boats.

[ See also: The Great Future Of Plastic Sea Kayaks ]

Pleasing maneuverability

The Trihedral hull shape is a variation on a multi-chine design without the more common V-shaped keel line. Jumping into the Prijon Catalina for the first time, paddlers used to a very stable recreational or wide touring kayak will be surprised by how tippy or light and active the Catalina initially feels. They should be equally pleased by how quickly the Prijon Catalina rolls on to its more solid secondary stability.

Putting the Catalina on edge quickly initiates a turn that will continue until you run out of forward momentum or you level off the tilt. It really is a quick turning touring boat. If long distance paddling is more your style the standard rudder works well for straight-ahead tracking.

[ Plan your next paddling adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Sizing up the Prijon’s rudder and outfitting

We wondered if the rudder system was an afterthought to this hull design, tacked on for the North American market. In the up position the rudder lays on top of the stern carrying toggle, making it a nuisance to carry. Also, the pulley system to raise and lower the rudder is mounted too close to the cockpit rim, interfering with getting your sprayskirt on. We also noticed that some skirts are difficult to get on the shallow cockpit coaming.

Inside the cockpit, the rudder is controlled by Prijon gas pedal foot braces that are now becoming popular on more expensive full-sized touring boats. The concept is that the foot braces lock into position and the pedals tilt to control the rudder.

The sporty feel of the Prijon Catalina, or any other boat really, is more appreciated when you have taken the time to properly fit the boat to your dimensions. Instead of leaving you to maybe get around to adding outfitting foam, Prijon has answered the how-to-fit-everyone question by incorporating adjustable thigh braces and hip pads. An Allen wrench loosens the bolts so you can ensure both a comfortable fit and a fit that maximizes control of the boat.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all day touring kayaks ]

Perform in plastic with the Prijon Catalina

The Prijon Catalina is a capable light-touring kayak that provides the right fit for paddlers who don’t want the hassle of more boat than they need. This durable plastic boat tracks and maneuvers well, with a sporty feel for your days of coastal paddling.

We think Prijon’s adjustable outfitting will be the next step for kayak touring companies who constantly battle with making the perfect cockpit ergonomics that will fit the greatest number of people.

This article was first published in the Spring 2002 issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.