Support American Whitewater! Support American Whitewater!

[please login to make this ad block disappear]

Articles

My favorite gear:
Login first to add this to your Likes or Haves.

I4 L

 
4.3 (3)
27622   0   2   0   0  
 
Write Review
I4 L - boats_260-1
I4 L - boats_260-2

Short Facts

Brand
Pyranha

Pyranha Mouldings Unit 1 Premier Point Aston Lane South
Whitehouse Industrial Estate
Runcorn, Cheshire
WA7 3DP
UK

Phone: US +1 828.254.1101 UK +44 1928 716 666

· Show brand details.
· Show all Pyranha products.
Model Year
Intended Paddling Environment
Type

Stats

Please login to see full stats.

An evolution of the popular i3 series, the i4 has been finely tuned with the river play kayaker in mind.

This is our 'one boat option', designed for those wanting to take the same boat they use at their local playspot over to the rivers, or out in the surf.

This new design is playful when it needs to be, but still has the classic Pyranha predictability you need when you want to run clean lines through harder rapids. A slightly narrower hull and stepped release stern give faster edge to edge response and overall speed. This is combined with a modified double rail and improved volume distribution to enhance the user friendly feel of the i4. It's proven 'Form Lift' bow lets the i4 ride over features that just bog down other boats. Quick and responsive the i4 is a true evolution on from the ever popular i3 series.

User reviews

3 reviews

Overall rating 
 
4.3
Design 
 
4.3  (3)
Perfomance 
 
4.7  (3)
Quality 
 
4.0  (3)
Value / Money 
 
4.0  (3)
Already have an account? or Create an account
Overall rating 
 
4.5
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
4.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

One of the best river running, surf kayaks of the past decade. Smooth, fast, well balanced, predictable and in a range of 3 sizes. This kayak can handle up to grade 4. It's at it's best on big waves.

Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Paddling in NZ & Australia for 25 years. I love pressure waves/wave trains and surfing big water.
Pros / The Good
Fast and stable. For someone 183 cm tall, weighing 90 kg, it's perfect! I can wear shoes comfortably. I don't sink this boat and it has a very even waterline. The hull is fabulous for surfing. Prior to the i4 I have several i3's. I had a love had relationship with i3's, especially the 222; fast & nimble and a delight in grade 3, but often unbearably uncomfortable. I sold my first i3 222, went to a Dagger Juice, didn't like it, bought a replacement i3 222 and so on, owning 4 x 222's in the process. Then I finally found an i3 223, this was fabulous. Then last year I found my current i4 L for sale. I compared the i4 L & i3 223 over time and found the i4 to be superior - it just sits better in the water, it's better balanced and seems to be more comfortable.
Cons / The Bad
Basic outfitting. I've added Jackson 'happy feet', because the closed cell foam foot blocks were too basic. Also the standard hip pads needed bolstering. I recommend 'Salamander hip pads.'
Recommend
Yes
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: September 30, 2008)
Overall rating 
 
4.5
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
4.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

i4 A great Allrounder!

About the reviewer

I've been paddling two years and this is the first boat I bought - I'm now a 3-star and paddle mainly grade2/3 whitewater when the chance arises

Test environment

nene WW course, lower Tryweryn, river Teifi, local playspots, anywhere with a wave...

Review

The Pyranha i4 is no longer in production but can still be found on ebay for around £250-£350. The boat is attractive to look at and still quite modern in design. It is sold as the only boat you will ever need but I find it is way too heavy and big to be a playboat (not that I have the skills) but it is an excellent river-runner! I initially had a problem with broken fittings but pyranha did send replacement parts for free (sent the wrong ones several times but at least I now have some extra free spares). This boat is a river runner par excellence and has handled everything I have put it through and still comes back for more - very stable and very easy to roll - also good in the sea (but the fittings will rust so wash it down properly)

Conclusion

I would recommend this kayak to anyone looking for a good allrounder but especially for running whitewater grades 2-4

Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Location: Bedford, england
Age: 45
Weight: 95 kgs
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: October 05, 2004)
Overall rating 
 
3.8
Design 
 
3.0
Perfomance 
 
4.0
Quality 
 
4.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

Too big for me!

About myself



I'm a fifteen year old paddler who is quite new to playboating, but I have bought a Pyranha Prozone recently. I can hardly do flatwater tricks because of my weight and I am learning to paddle on moving water @ Holme Pierrepoint. My hand roll is bombproof (just in case you wanted to know that).


About the test environment



This was at a Desperate Measures demo day and the location was at the pond (practice gates) near the slalom course, OK hardly the place for a playboat but I am only a relative novice.


Review



As you can probably tell by the title this boat practically swamped me but that is what you expect from a demo boat. It went quite quickly in a straight line for a playboat and turned fairly well. Burying the nose or even wetting the front was an impossible task for me so double pumping it was well out of bounds.


Conclusion



The I4 L is for someone a hell of a lot bigger than me. It is made for big water, I would probably use it for that but I wouldn't be playing in it. If it is comfort you're after, I would recommend this as the outfitting is as good as we have come to expect from Pyranha. But for me, the bad points seriously outweigh the good so I'm sticking to my trusty Prozone.


Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Location: holme pierrepoint
Age: 15
Weight: 80 kgs
Was this review helpful to you?