L

ess than a year after the release of the Prana—one of the most exciting new designs of 2016—Current Designs (CD) is again turning heads. This year’s showstopper is the Sisu and, like its predecessor, the boat is a collaborative effort between CD and Danish designer Jesper Kromann-Andersen.

“It’s a privilege to work with Jesper,” says CD vice president, Bill Kueper. Growing up in a small, sea-locked nation to a family of sailors and boat builders, Kromann-Andersen, 46, has been designing kayaks for most of his adult life. He says his fascination with the boats traces back to his childhood, when he first saw traditional kayaks in paintings made by his great-grandfather in Greenland. The design ethos of those ancient craft became integral to Kromann-Andersen’s own approach: “The Inuit never thought of a kayak as complete without a paddler,” he says, “the fit and responsiveness is always in focus.”

STRONG IS BEAUTIFUL

“Made in the USA, these kayaks are in a class of their own thanks to Current Designs,” says designer Kromann-Andersen. The Sisu’s flawless fiberglass laminate is vacuum-bagged to reduce weight and maximize strength.

FOCUSED ON FIT

The ergonomically shaped front deck provides clearance for paddle strokes, with additional space for a positive fit in the knee area. The low back deck eases re-entry and rolling.

AMPHIBIOUS & AMBIDEXTROUS

Touring paddlers will appreciate the Sisu’s four storage compartments. The centered day hatch stays dryer in rough waters and is easier to reach with both hands than an offset hatch.

Kromann-Andersen describes this approach as dynamic efficiency, “meaning that the way the kayak responds feels like a natural extension of the paddler’s input.”

Where the Prana struck an ideal balance between touring speed, tracking and rough water responsiveness, the Sisu is optimized for lively play in surf, currents, waves and rock gardens.

At 16 feet, the Sisu is a foot shorter and slightly wider than its sibling. It also has even more rocker and the hull’s flat mid-section extends further in front of the cockpit, transitioning into a buoyant, flared bow. On a wave, this means the nose doesn’t dive and the boat stays loose and maneuverable while surfing. The Sisu’s hard chines are most pronounced at mid-ship, where the boxy profile makes for superb secondary stability when edging and carving waves.

Seeking a suitably dynamic environment to test our flawless, frost-white-and-royal-blue Sisu, I wait for a late fall gale to sweep across my local waters. Thirty-five-knot gusts out of the northwest plunge the wind chill well below freezing and send noisy breakers charging onto the rocky shore. Taking shelter behind the breakwall of a neighboring estate might feel a little like trespassing, but it offers a welcome rest between wild rides.

The Sisu’s nimble maneuverability isn’t the only advantage in challenging environments. Current Designs reinforced the deck to maximize stiffness and strength without adding weight. Those reinforcements extend to the outfitting: the seat supports are an integral part of the coaming, joining deck and hull through the cockpit where abuse is heaviest and paddler safety paramount.

On a very different day—this one unusually warm and calm—I explore another, unexpected aspect of the Sisu’s design: for a playful 16-footer, it’s rather fast. I’m cruising effortlessly across a wide bay when I glance up and see a V of migrating swans shining in the watery November sunshine, the graceful white arrow mirroring my kayak gliding beneath.

When the birds bank their impressive wingspans and veer east, I follow suit. A subtle weight transfer and turn of my head are cue enough—the chine carves deep into the water and the stern whips through the turn. Call it a natural extension of paddler input, but edging the Sisu feels like nothing so much as flying.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayaks’s Spring 2017 issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

Eight years ago, when we first reviewed the composite Whisky 16 from Sweden’s Point 65 Kayaks, we applauded its designer, famed English sea kayaker Nigel Foster, for “boldly pushing deeper into the playboat niche than most would be willing to go.”

Today, nearly every major touring kayak manufacturer has a play-specific offering. Even the terminology has become mainstream: ocean play. At the time, however, the Whisky’s distinctive features—plentiful rocker, hard chines, flat hull, stern-weighted cockpit position and high-volume ends—constituted a weird and wonderful departure from sea kayak design tradition. “The Whisky is a different and very fun kayak,” summarized our review.

SIP AND STOW

The Whisky hatch is a small, bottle-shaped cubby molded into the front deck for easy access. Two oval hatches and a day hatch round out the ample storage options.

PUMP AND GO

Squeeze the small pump beside the seat to inflate the backband and pamper your lower back. The keyhole cockpit’s wide rim enhances spray deck fit and dryness.

WATCH OUT BELOW

The flat hull works together with the hard chines to create a platform that surfs like a dream and is super stable for paddlers just beginning to explore their edges.

Now, to celebrate his 10-year collaboration with Point 65, Foster has developed the Whisky 16 3L, a new plastic version of the pioneering kayak. Rugged, three-layer polyethylene construction makes perfect sense for a boat that excels in rock gardens, surf breaks and tidal races. It also reduces the cost, making this new Whisky an attractive entry-level contender for aspiring paddlers.

Durability was a paramount goal for Foster, who describes jumping on the boat’s deck to check stiffness. “It’s reassuringly solid,” he confirms, “just what I need for rough water and awkward landings.”

Foster shaped the hull for agile control while surfing and carving, and indeed, the Whisky’s crisp, full-length chines—which meet at almost right angles to the nearly flat bottom—bear striking resemblance to the rails and hull of a whitewater playboat. And, like my river runner, the Whisky is a champ at ripping across currents and riding waves.

The boxy hull shape also makes for novice-friendly primary stability and rock-solid edging. Beginners will feel very secure in the Whisky’s deep cockpit, which fits a wide range of paddlers. On my smallish frame, however, the coaming sits slightly high, making it a bit awkward to get “outside” the boat for bracing and rolling.

The Whisky’s bucket seat is comfortable and supportive. It’s paired with Point 65’s slick AIR-Backrest, which can be inflated on the go for a custom fit and superb lumbar support.

Touring speed is comparable to other 16-footers and tracking is surprisingly well behaved for a boat with so much agility. The Whisky loves narrow passages, inviting anyone to become an expert gunkholer.

In designing a boat for dedicated play paddlers, Foster has created much more than a dedicated playboat. The Whisky 16 3L is a capable do-everything kayak for paddlers of all abilities and inclinations. A decade later, it’s still a very fun kayak.