- Best for: rock-hopping, surfing and fun
- Sizing: up to 1.8m/6′ tall. Small to medium frame
- Max shoe size: UK9/EU43
- Length: 475 cm
- Width: 53 cm
- Depth: 30 cm
- overall volume: 270 litres
What’s it like?
It’s the little sister of the massively successful and popular Romany Sport. Smaller paddlers have found the full-size Sport just too big so the team at Sea Kayaking UK produced this little beauty. It features all those great attributes that are proving so popular like the tough plastic shell coupled with a glass-fibre cockpit rim and seat.
This extra rigidity allows you to be more connected than in other rotomoulded sea kayaks. Why is this good? It means that you’ll be just as skilful as you would in a composite sea kayak. However, the tough plastic shell will soak up those crashes and protect you and your wallet too.
It has excellent outfitting – a fully adjustable seat and back band is fitted as standard so you’ll be able to get properly comfy. Thick foam bulkheads provide built-in buoyancy. A proper day hatch with a composite rim lets you keep all your safety essentials accessible at all times. It’s a superb option for leaders and guides who need to put their clients before their kayak. You can afford to have real fun in a Sportive.
Just like the Romany Sport it’s available in a range of colours, all with contrasting cockpit rim and seat. Hot pink is only available as a special order! No other manufacturer in the world offers a hybrid construction sea kayak like this.
My opinion?
I think it’s quite pretty and certainly lighter than the Sport but my feet are too big to fit in this one so I haven’t paddled it. So can only say what I’ve been told… It responds well to dynamic changes in body position and edged turns can be tightened just by leaning forward. It’s good in surf and easy to roll. The front deck is quite low so good for effective sweep strokes and bow rudders. Don’t expect to pack much camping kit!
How the designer describes the Romany Sportive
This kayak is an excellent choice for rock hopping and touring. The plastic is very strong, stiff linear plastic. Double bulkheads are fitted each end of the cockpit. Designed for the small to medium sized paddler.
Price: £1800