Pilgrim

British Sea Kayaks Pilgrim NDK kayak
  • Best for: playfulness, day trips and light camping
  • Sizing: up to 1.7m/5’6″ tall. Slim build
  • Max shoe size: UK7/EU41
  • Length: 480 cm
  • Width: 50 cm
  • Depth: 30.5 cm
  • overall volume: 250.5 litres
  • front hatch volume: 62 litres
  • cockpit volume: 117.5 litres
  • day hatch volume: 36 litres
  • rear hatch volume: 35 litres

What’s it like?

If you’re svelte then this is the boat for you. It’s responsive to your body and blade control and due to the slim hull shape is able to accelerate well. This slimline design also makes it a very easy boat to roll when you want to. It features knee bumps just forward of the cockpit, giving extra room for long legs or if you want to sit a little further forward. Smart design guarantees a comfortable fit that you can lock into when needed, thanks to the well-placed thigh braces in a cockpit rim that’s just the right size.

This is not really a kayak for extended camping trips. There’s plenty of space in the places where you need really it such as the day hatch but the overall volume of this kayak is quite low. It’s every bit as tough and well-made as all the other boats in the range – small yet perfectly formed. It performs brilliantly in tight spots and is quick to turn on a wave.

The Pilgrim can be fitted with two sizes of seat designed specifically to work with the reduced width of this kayak.  One is a slightly smaller version of the high-performance seat than fitted to the other sea kayaks in the range. The second is much narrower and has a different profile. It’s not just a woman’s kayak – there are some properly slim guys out there paddling a Pilgrim and they’re doing it very well.

My opinion?

Absolutely no experience whatsoever. I’ve tried, but even on the beach I can’t get my big backside into this incredibly narrow kayak and would probably be stuck in it for ever if I did succeed. I’ll leave this one for someone else to review.Is there a downside? If you’re slim enough, come along for a demo then you tell me!

How the designer describes the Pilgrim

  • A responsive kayak designed for the small or slim paddler. The hull is narrow, offering speed and is very easily turned and controlled in wind with a minimum of weather cocking even in strong winds. This kayak is as easy to roll as any Greenland style kayak. Pilgrim fits the small kayaker and also the taller and slim kayaker. This multiple-fit option is due to a raised area either side of the cockpit.

Price: from £3378 for standard construction. See the price list for options