Buying Your First Multisport Kayak for the Coast to Coast

Enigma. Eclipse. Shadow.

Are these kayaks… or Marvel characters?

There are so many models it’s hard to know where to start.

Don’t stress.

This guide makes it simple, clear, and easy to choose your first multisport kayak.

Look: Most novice paddlers start in a boat that’s way too “tippy”.

“What does tippy mean?”

Tippy = the opposite of stable.

We don’t call unstable kayaks unstable. We call them tippy, because tippy kayaks… tip. 

And trust me, you do not want to tip.

For first-time Coast to Coast athletes, falling out is the worst-case scenario. Every swim adds around 20 minutes to your race.

Your #1 priority as a newbie to this sport should be to eliminate swims.

Ideally, eliminate all swims.

That starts with two things:

  • First, a Grade 2 course that prioritises whitewater skills first (book this here)
  • And second, a kayak that forgives mistakes instead of punishing them.

If you are new to all of this, then read this carefully...

A “fast” kayak isn’t fast if you’re swimming beside it.

Fast kayaks are slow. And slow kayaks are fast.

See... I told you this was going to be simple.

You’re fastest in the boat you can stay in—through the Gorge, even when you’re cramping, when you’re choking down a bruised banana while the northwesterly wind tries to rip your paddle from your hands.

You want a boat you feel bulletproof in.

Once you commit to this concept, choosing a boat gets a whole lot easier.

“But there are so many models—how do I decide?”

Good question.

I’ve helped over 1,000 athletes complete the Coast to Coast for the very first time, so I’ve seen every combination of paddler × boat.

I know what works for beginners, and what doesn’t.

But before we jump to “just tell me what to buy,” you MUST know this:

You are required to race your first Coast to Coast event in the same class of kayak as specified on your Grade 2 Certificate. If you get this wrong, you won’t be racing at all.

There are only three classes: Stable, Intermediate, and Elite.

If you’ve never paddled grade 2 rapids before, if this is your first Coast to Coast, if you’ve only done flatwater training—listen carefully:

You are not an intermediate paddler.

Almost all first-timers will be certified for a “Stable” kayak.

Good news: that narrows the list.

Here's the list...

Stable Kayaks (Reasonable Options):

Intermediate Class (Avoid for Your First Race):

  • Ruahine Swallow
  • Ruahine Gladiator
  • Ruahine Opus
  • Sisson Esprit
  • JKK Total Eclipse
  • Barracuda Waimak
  • Flow Rockstar

Elite class? Don’t even think about it.

I'm not wasting finger juice typing all those out.

That leaves about a dozen stable-class boats to choose from… but not all of these are created equal.

Here we go...

Barracuda Beachcomber 

The Beachcomber is by far the single most popular kayak for Coast to Coast first timers.

No other boat even comes close to the level of stability, forgiveness, and manoeuvrability offered. 

If you’re not fussed about being slower off the start line, you’ll later enjoy the schadenfreude of overtaking paddlers emptying their kayaks on the riverbank.

As a bonus – being a lightweight plastic, they are all but indestructible.

And with sealed compartments, you won’t need airbags, you can train in the ocean, and use it for Abel Tasman missions after you’ve ticked Coast off your bucket list.

Around half of the clients I work with (wisely) choose the Beachcomber for their first Coast to Coast. And judging by how many paddlers are falling out every year, I think many more probably should.

I think the Beachcomber works best for paddlers over 70 kilograms, but if that’s not you, do not fear... the next boat on my list could be just what you need.

Barracuda Enigma

Originally designed and marketed as being the step up from the Beachcomber, the Enigma is a little narrower than the Beachcomber and features a lower deck (top of the kayak).

Most people think of the Enigma as the logical next step up once you’ve outgrown the Beachcomber…

But I think they’re wrong.

For the 80-90kg paddler, the Enigma feels significantly less stable than the Beachcomber, while not offering all that much of a speed improvement.

If you’re in this medium to larger weight-range, I don't think it's a good deal.

Either embrace the Beachcomber, or make the slightly bigger leap to the Aspire, Shadow, or Eclipse 5.7 (all of which I’ll cover soon).

But for the smaller paddler under 70kg, the Enigma is bloody fantastic.

If you like the idea of the Beachcomber but find it too big, the Enigma is the answer.

The slightly narrower footprint of the Enigma will feel just as stable to you as a Beachcomber feels to a larger paddler, but you won't feel like you're paddling a "bathtub" quite as much.

The Enigma's lower deck will feel comfortable to brace your knees on, and you won't be doing the splits to reach those wee legs of yours to the wide pedal position of the Beachcomber.

If you’re small, and want the easiest thing to stay in during the Coast to Coast, an Enigma is a safe bet for you. Do it.

Ruahine Whio

If you often bang your head on doorframes and weigh about the same as a juvenile Moose (at 5–6 months old, moose calves can weigh around 110 kg) then you’ll probably struggle to fit into a Beachcomber - and even if you can, you’ll probably sink it.

For you I suggest you try a Ruahine Whio.

The Whio is kind of like a Beachcomber, except a little wider, and a little longer. 

This larger hull is exactly what you need.

Through seeing clients of mine paddle the Whio, I only notice 2 real downsides:

1. Carbon, not plastic construction. So it will break when (not if) you hit rocks.
2. I think the rudder is either too short, or mounted too high. Because of this, many of my clients have struggled to steer this kayak on the Waimak. I suggest you modify the rudder somehow so that you get a lot more blade down in the water.

Other than these these two minor drawbacks, I would recommend the Whio for beginner paddlers over 100kg. Unless you can loose the weight of course. Then just buy a Beachcomber and get training.

That is it for the truly forgiving kayaks.

The anti-swim squad.

Pictured below (left to right): Enigma, Beachcomber, Whio

If you have a need for speed, read on...

But be warned, the next few boats are not for everyone.

Try as you might, you simply may not be able to get good enough to handle one of these puppies within your first year of river kayaking.

So place your ego in the checkout basket of this website (along with a few other Coast to Coast goodies) and proceed with caution.

In the “ambitious beginner” category for 70-100kg humans you basically have 3 models battling it out:

The JKK Eclipse 5.7, the Flow Aspire, and the Ruahine Shadow.

Of these, the Flow Aspire is my personal favourite - so much so I convinced Flow Kayaks to give me one to coach out of. I like it a lot. And am clearly biased as hell.

I think the speed to stability ratio of the Aspire is perfect – and the handling is to my taste. For the novice who wants to maximise their performance this is it, baby.

The JKK Eclipse 5.7 is also very good. And very popular. But as they are no longer made, your only option is to look second hand. 

And the price these old JKKs still go for on Facebook Marketplace is eye watering. Good luck.

Those with wide hip bones and big thighs will appreciate the extra cockpit room of the Ruahine Shadow. But with my knobbly frame, I do not.

I prefer the more snug cockpit of the Aspire and Eclipse 5.7 – so I can brace my knees under the cockpit rim for better control - but each to their own.

The Ruahine Shadow is comparable to the Aspire and Eclipse 5.7 in performance. But more different in shape than the other two. A lot of paddlers love the Shadow. Worth checking out for sure.

If you're are under 70 kilograms and want to have a crack at the more competitive end of the “Stable” class boats, then it’s hard not to recommend the Eclipse 5.2.

But again, being from JKK, they’re no longer being produced, and there is nothing else similar – except the Paddling Perfection Saracen 5.2 (also no longer made) – which has a hull that looks suspiciously similar to the Eclipse 5.2. Interesting...

Anyway, Eclipse 5.2 hunters should prepare themselves for Facebook fist-fights and TradeMe tantrums trying to get their paws on one.

And that brings us to the end of the “good” boats.

But let’s (briefly) go over a couple more options...

Ruahine Intrigue

No faster than a Beachcomber, but less stable and poorer handling. Only suits small athletes. Often found cheap second hand. If you can afford it, get an Enigma or Beachcomber instead. But if you're a struggling student that's now under 70 kilograms because you can no longer afford to buy meat – an Intrigue will probably be fine.

Sisson Eliminator

Recently acquired by newly formed Nautique Kayaks (and built quite well – might I add) they renamed it the “Reliance”. I keep changing my mind about this kayak. As of writing, I’m honestly not that into it. It's a backwards kayak. Literally. Unlike every other multisport kayak, the nose is wider than the tail (like a fish - by design). An interesting concept, but I think it makes it handle weird on whitewater. If you’re considering one, they're not terrible, but I’d recommend you just get a Beachcomber.

There.

That should cover it for all the boats in the stable class you should be looking at – if you're sane.

But just to be thorough, and in case you're insane, here are some last minute additions:

Ruahine Swallow: Often mistaken for a beginner boat. It is 100% intermediate-class. And takes the prize for my "Sam Milne's #1 least favourite kayak" award. Most people who start in a Swallow just end up swallowing a lot of water. Don't do it.

Sisson Esprit: Another boat beginner paddlers often mistakenly purchase. This is an intermediate class boat. For tiny people. Avoid. Unless your a very skilled tiny person.

Total Eclipse (6, 6.2, XL, and SS versions): Bloody awesome intermediate class boats. Popular for good reason. If you've got a mate who's done Coast to Coast 5 times, he (or she) probably has one. If you're a beginner, you'd be tempted to borrow it. It will be a handful. Something to aim for later perhaps.

Ruahine Gladiator: Similar to a Total Eclipse (above). Its a good boat. Good for bigger paddlers - who can already paddle. Intermediate class.

Flow Rockstar: High end of the intermediate class. A step up from the Total Eclipse and Gladiator. About the fastest kayak anyone would ever need until they're ready to step into the pro league (though some professional athletes have famously won the Coast to Coast in a Rockstar). This should not be your first kayak.

I could go on…

If you’d like to speak with me one-on-one about preparing for the kayak stage of the Coast to Coast, then for a limited time I’m offering FREE 30-minute phone calls.

Book a free 30-minute call with me.

I promise not to try and sell you anything – just honest advice you can use now.

The reason I offer these for free is that it often leads to people wanting to work with me later on, or they might order some gear through our website down the track. So it make sense. But if you just want some free advice and nothing else, that's fine too. I'm still happy to help.

Schedule a call here.

Sam Milne

PS. Book your grade 2 course here.

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