Pyranha Ammo

A Flat planing hull, hard chines, lots of rocker and creek boat type volume sums up the Pyranha Ammo. This 4x4 kayak comes in 3 sizes (small, medium and large) making it a appealing to paddlers of all sizes. A few CKS staff members paddle the Ammo. Novice and intermediate staff note that this boat is very easy to roll and turn. It is also stable going downriver. The planing hull is good for surfing, and the additional volume in the boat make it much easier to peel in and out of difficult eddies without catching the bow/stern (i.e-getting squirted or flipping over). Advanced paddlers use the Ammo as an "almost creek/high water boat" with the option of catching some waves on the way downriver. The volume on the ends provides additional confidence for paddling class IV/V runs at high water such as Pine Creek and the Numbers on The Arkansas and The Upper Animas river. The extra volume is also a great spot to put a 1st aid kit and rescue gear in. The Specs: Small:

Length cm / ft	Width cm / ft	Volume Litres / US Gal.	External Cockpit Length cm / ft	External Cockpit Width cm / ft	Weight kg / lbs	Suggested optimum load weight range (inc. paddler)
207cm / 6' 9"	63.5cm / 25"	218 / 57.6	86cm / 34"	48.5cm / 19 ¼"	16 kg / 35 lbs	55 - 90 kg	121 - 198 lbs

Medium:

Length cm / ft	Width cm / ft	Volume Litres / US Gal.	External Cockpit Length cm / ft	External Cockpit Width cm / ft	Weight kg / lbs	Suggested optimum load weight range (inc. paddler)
219cm / 7' 2 ¼"	65cm / 25 ½"	242 / 63.9	87cm / 34 ¾"	48.5cm / 19"	16.7 kg / 36.7 lbs	70 - 110 kg	154 - 242 lbs

Large:

Length cm / ft	Width cm / ft	Volume Litres / US Gal.	External Cockpit Length cm / ft	External Cockpit Width cm / ft	Weight kg / lbs	Suggested optimum load weight range (inc. paddler)
226cm / 7' 9"	68cm / 26 ¾"	288 / 76.1	87cm / 34 ¾"	48.5cm / 19"	17.5kgs / 38.5lbs	85 - 125	187 - 275

Outfitting:

The Ammo series comes equipped with their Connect 30 outfitting. There is a movable bulkhead in the front of the boat, and foam pads that stick to the foot wall. The hip pads are very comfortable, and and come with extra shims to fine tune everything. The back band works with a ratchet system that is durable and easy to use. The Ammo also comes with a roll of thin foam with adhesive on the back. The foam can be applied to the area of the boat above the knees, feet or anywhere that needs some padding. Nice feature! Overall the cockpit of the boat is very comfortable and supportive.

Performance:

Pros: The Ammo loves downriver paddling. It rolls easily, boofs well, and is easy to maneuver. The planing hull and the edges increase the responsiveness and allow the Ammo to surf and play like many play boats. The Ammo would be another great choice for a Grand Canyon boat. It is very comfortable and has lots of room inside (great for long days on the river), can bomb through big water rapids and surf some of the faster waves. Check out this article and accompanying video to see what the ammo is capable of. Cons: On difficult runs with pushier water, remember that the boat has edges. It is a bit edgy but not "catchy", like many play boats. As long as you know that the edges are there, and are ready for them, everything should be fine. The planing hull is also quite a bit slower than a displacement hull, so be ready for that too.

The Verdict:

Some hybrid kayaks have the problem of doing nothing particularly well. This clearly is not the case with the Ammo. It has a tried and true play boat hull, 60+ gallons of volume (depending on boat size) and is very comfortable on advanced whitewater. The Pyranha Ammo would make a great choice for someone who only wants to own 1 boat. The only thing that it does not do, are some play boat moves that require a thin bow and stern (squirts, bow stalls, etc.).