Tahe Marine Reval 16.0 Kayak
The Tahe Marine Reval 16.0 is a boat of choice among those wanting an all-round sea kayak with performance to handle any conditions. With rocker and an upswept bow to provide a dry ride over waves and precise and confidence inspiring handling and stability, the Reval family of kayaks are elegant. The relatively low rear deck helps prevent weather cocking in windy conditions and allows easy rolling.
The Reval Mini LC was designed as a higher volume version of the scaled-down Reval Mini. And while a larger version of their smaller design may seem like a long way back to the starting point, the designers have developed a unique package in the Mini LC: With a wider hull and more volume, this kayak is suitable for any medium sized paddler who wants to enjoy a roomier cockpit area, whilst paddling. The LC cockpit with thigh braces provides an easy entry and good support. The hull is designed with similar rocker and the upswept bow and stern seen throughout the Reval line-up. The initial stability of the Reval Mini LC is higher than on the regular version providing a secure feeling.
Tahe Marine Reval 16.0 Kayak Features and Specifications:
At 18’2” the Reval is a touring / expedition boat. It features a typical three-hatch set-up for storage, providing 140 litres of space. The rear hatch is oval shaped, the day and front hatch round. The deck is well-equipped with thick bungees and decklines and a compass recess is provided forward of the front hatch, although some additions would be needed to stow split paddles on the front or rear deck.There are, however, plenty of spare attachment points to allow for personalisation of the decklines.
On the left-hand side a skeg slider sits in an easy-to-reach position and has a very smooth action. At either end of the kayak a moulded rubber handgrip for easy carrying can be found. Finally, the sliding footrests have reasonably sized pegs and can be easily adjusted when seated in the kayak due using long ‘arms’ that click the pegs up and down the settings.
The Reval feels big and roomy. I would not class myself as a small paddler by any means; although the cockpit opening itself is not huge, I would certainly be adding the optional hip pads to ensure a snug fit.
The seat and backrest combination are, however, very comfortable with good padding fixed to a GRP seat. The cockpit coaming itself is on the thinner, sharper side and did get chipped carrying the kayak on my shoulder after the first paddle. I would be happy to see a slightly ‘beefier’ coaming utilised.
- Shallow V-shaped hull.
- Low Profile.
- Upswept.
- Bow hatch 24 cm.
- Day-hatch: 15cm.
- Stern oval hatch: 44×26 cm.
- Optional Retractable skeg or retractable skeg + rudder.
Specifications:
- Length: 555 cm (18’2” ).
- Width: 54 cm (21” ).
- Approx. capacity: 155 kg (340 lbs).
Weight:
- Fiberglass: 23-25 kg (51-55 Ibs).
- Carbon/aramide: 21-23 kg (46-51 Ibs).
Storage:
- Front: 60L, hatch: 25 cm (10”).
- Rear: 60L, hatch: 43×26 cm (17×10” ).
- Small:20L, hatch: 15 cm (6”).
Options:
- Retractable skeg / rudder / skeg + rudder / Heavy duty lay-up.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Construction.
- Wonderful stability.
- Easier entry into compartments.
Cons:
Conclusion
Tahe Marine Reval 16.0 is a tough and ideal choice for adrenaline seekers, as this kayak has a wonderful stability and navigability even in breaking waves and strong winds. The hull is designed with rocker and upswept bow and stern to handle any challenging conditions of the sea. Made of high-density polyethylene, this is a very tough and durable kayak.
