Kai Wa'a Vela

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  • Regular price £4,200.00
Tax included.


Best of Both Worlds

In designing an all around canoe, it is a battle of give and take. Traditionally surf canoes did not perform well in the flat, and flatwater canoes did not perform well in the surf. With the Vela, Kai has tried to find a balance between the two, taking lessons from both the Ares and the Draco that allow paddlers to get on bumps easier and hold the glide longer. Recommended for both novices and experienced paddlers alike, the Vela is streamlined and efficient, needing energy to keep moving.


Refined Design

Kai has a longstanding reputation for designs that perform in the surf and the Vela is no exception. And seeing how well the Draco performs in the flat, Kai brought those lessons to his next OC1. As a result the Vela features a blunt nose, pinched bow, and less volume than the Ares for a streamlined glide in the flat without compromising surf performance.


Comfort & Connection

The Vela has a deeper footwell than previous designs alongside slightly raised gunnels, keeping water out and locking in the paddler. It also features an ergonomic seating position, a wider seat well, and a longer cockpit to allow for a wider range of heights.


Measurements

Length 

20ft 11in    6.394m

Beam 

16.25in    410mm

Nose width 

7.75in    199mm

Tail width 

8.75in    222mm


Standard model for customization, Pro model for weight

The Vela comes in two versions: Standard and Pro. Standard Vela allow more freedom for personalization while Pros are made as light as possible.

STANDARD

In designing a Standard Vela you can choose from 16 colors for the hull, ama, and logos in any combination you'd like. And you can add customizations, like a deck-hull split, a colored cockpit, graphics from our catalog, or ones of your own. Standard Vela also come with fitted dust covers for the hull, ama, and iakos.

Average Weights
Hull 

16.9lbs    7.67kg

Hull and Accessories 

18.2lbs    8.27kg

Fully Rigged 

24lbs    10.87kg

PRO

Vela Pros are lighter than Standards by an average of 1.8lbs|0.82kg. The layups are essentially the same - almost all of the weight reduction comes from limiting the amount of paint used and sanding what there down to a thin layer. This gives Pro models a distinctive sanded-through look. Because of this, Vela Pro hulls can only be 5 colors (Pro Grey, Pro White, Pro Blue, Pro Green, and Pro Yellow) and hull customization options are limited to coloring the cockpit and logos. However, the ama can be any color and, unlike standard models, so can the iakos. Vela Pros also come with a second rudder and a set of UV-resistant fitted marine canvas covers for protection from long-term outdoor exposure.

Average Weights
Hull 

15.1lbs    6.85kg

Hull and Accessories 

16.4lbs    7.45kg

Fully Rigged 

22.2lbs    10.05kg


Kai Wa'a 3.0 Ama

The Vela comes with the popular Kai Wa'a 3.0 ama, which was introduced with the Draco in late 2021 and included with all Ares produced since then. It has less rocker and more evenly distributed volume than it's predecessor, providing extra stability when needed while staying light.


Safe, Responsive, and Feather-light Steering

The Vela features lightweight carbon pedals with titanium hardware that will never corrode. The steering cables are Dyneema, an ultra high-strength, low-weight composite fabric that's twice as strong as stainless steel cable at 1/5th the weight. It has a covered self-centering rudder mechanism that keeps the canoe moving straight when the paddler stops pressing the pedals - especially important in the unlikely case that your cable breaks mid-paddle. And you can choose from 6 prepreg carbon-titanium rudders to fit conditions: from a 4" for minimal drag in the flat to an 11" for grip in the biggest conditions, plus swept-back options to keep weeds off.

Ozone 4" Flat Water Rudder - Vela
Ozone 4" Flat Water
Kai Wa'a Flat Water - Vela
Kai Wa'a Flat Water
Ozone Weed Rudder - Vela
Ozone Weed
Kai Wa'a Mid Water - Vela
Kai Wa'a Mid Water
Ozone Standard Rudder - Vela
Ozone Standard
Kai Wa'a Gale Force - Vela
Kai Wa'a Gale Force

Outriggerzone construction

Outriggerzone canoes like the Vela are unique in being built as a single, seamless piece, reducing weight and eliminating weak points like glue lines. Outriggerzone canoes are also made with prepreg carbon fiber, a construction method adopted from the aerospace industry, which has high-tempature-curing resin impregnated into it. This allows us to carefully control weight, eliminate dilutents, and deliver a canoe that doesn't deform over time.