Strip-Planked Kayaks » Night Herons

A development of the original Guillemot line, the Night Heron family of kayaks are the result of Nick Schade's ventures into rougher paddling conditions. The Greenland Inuit influence is more explicitly evident with sharper, more angular end shapes, lower back decks, and more steeply raked cockpit profile.

The Night Heron family differs from traditional Inuit designs by maintaining a full waterline shape out to the ends instead of the "pinched" ends that are characteristic of the skin-on-frame kayaks made by the Greenlanders. The fuller ends create a long, effective waterline giving the Night Heron great efficiency at high speeds.

As seen in Small Boats 2008!

This volume distribution results in a boat that surfs very easily. This is further helped by a chine that starts up soft near the bow and hardens up at the cockpit and behind.

Although the beauty of the Night Heron shape has received attention outside of the kayak world, it is really on the water that the success of the design becomes most evident. These boats are fun to paddle.