I took advantage of my presence at "La descente de l'Odet", a meeting of identified floating objects which took place last weekend between Bénodet and Quimper. I took the opportunity to test 3 models from the range on offer.
- A 1-seater touring/hiking canoe
- A 2-seater SUP/Kayak for touring/hiking
- A 1-seater kayak
Le Molveno 380
This is a 1-seater canoe for touring/hiking. Made of reinforced HDDS fabric, it features 2 side walls and an inflatable bottom. Plenty of storage space in the bow and stern. This canoe is available in 2 sizes, the 380 1-seater and the 420 2-seater. The outer hull is 0.6 mm thick reinforced PVC. Its ma payload is 120 kg. It features a padded seat with backrest, secured by 4 D-rings, an adjustable footrest and two stabilizing fins. It all fits into a large, reinforced bag, and includes a repair kit and special valve maintenance wrench.
Personal opinion : this canoe is very stable, so you don't need to have a lot of experience. The overall weight is a very light 15 kg. A well-finished canoe.
Hybrid SUP/Kayak 12 ( SK12 )
As the name suggests, it's two products in one, a SUP or a kayak. This is the two-seater version; in the kayak version, we add 2 seats that attach with D-rings, and remove the kayak bottom. Its dimensions are 365X98X20 cm. It can carry a payload of 200 kg. Everything fits into a sturdy bag. It also features daggerboards. The reinforced fabric is also HDDS.
Personal opinion : very light package, 10 kg. I've also tried it in SUP version, and it's stable and easy to stand up. The kayak version is very comfortable. For a longer trip, you'll need to bring a backpack to carry the extras, as there's no storage space on it.
1-person Tenaya kayak
This is the brand's top-of-the-range series. These fishing/hiking models are available in 1, 2 or 3-person versions. The dimensions of the 1-seater version are 345X87 cm. Carrying capacity is 136 kg for this version. The seat is a comfortable inflatable. It also features a stabilizing fin. The sturdy backpack-style storage bag lets you take your kayak anywhere, even on the most unlikely of launches. The side walls are made of reinforced PVC. Extra gear will be safe in front and behind. There are reinforced bungee cords at the front and back to hold watertight canisters, for example.
Personal opinion : it's a rugged, seaworthy cruiser, gliding along the water quite quickly and of course very stable, I also tested it without a centerboard. The seat is super comfortable.
Conclusion
A range of models to meet all your kayak gliding needs. Ideal for those with limited storage space. The look of the various models is appealing, and the workmanship is of the highest quality. The range also includes a number of paddles, leashes and inflation pumps, both manual and electric, for plugging into a cigarette lighter. I used the manual pump, which has a pressure gauge. Inflation pressures are indicated on each inflation valve. On the fishing model, there's room for a rod holder. Prices range from 470 euros to 1300 euros for the 3-seater model. I tested them without daggerboards, as the conditions were just right. In windy conditions, daggerboards are recommended. A different way of approaching SUP, kayak or canoe gliding.
Here's a video on how to assemble one of our models. The principle is the same for all models, with one imperative: don't exceed the maximum pressure indicated on the valves.
