Swift Canoes Cruiser 13.8

A Super Lightweight Touring Pack Boat

The Cruiser 13.8 is one of the lightest pack boats on the market, originally called the Swift Canoes Pack 13.8 this has gone through a rename thanks to its hull design to take its rightful place amongst the Cruiser Range. Swift have used a shallow arch bottom to create a nice stable platform that still paddles well and flows through the water. With it's well rounded chine the Cruiser 13.8 is able to deal well with waves/chop coming from side on to the pack boat, this gives a very predictable ride in most adverse conditions. The straighter keel in the rear allows for real top level tracking, while the slightly more rocker in the bow allows it to ride well over chop and gives it the ability to be pulled around corners when needed. The biggest change swift have made when creating this new masterpiece is the above waterline shape. Taking inspiration from the Swift Cruiser range of boats, they have given the Cruiser 13.8 an S-Bend gunwale. This makes the boat narrower meaning the paddler doesn't have to reach as far over the side when paddling and gives a much nicer on the water paddling feel.

Created ideally for slightly larger paddlers or paddlers wanting a that bit more leg room from their Pack Boat to make life more comfortable, but it can also be used for those paddlers looking to load up their pack boat with plenty of gear, a small child occasionally or even a dog. This Cruiser 13.8 is well suited to all of these as well as those paddlers looking for a boat with great stability and brilliant on the water performance.

The Cruiser 13.8 can be paddled using a range of paddles, the most popular is a longer length kayak style paddle around 225-240cm, this allows for the easiest most relaxed paddle stroke. Many also like to paddle with a bent shaft single bladed canoe paddle such as the Grey Owl Sprite for a switch and hit style of paddling. This style of paddling is great for performance paddlers and or someone looking to paddle as a form of intense sprint style exercise. To mix it up even further you could use a regular straight shafted open canoe paddle like the Badger Paddles Badgertail, this is normally done with a much shorter length straight shaft canoe paddle to ensure the blade is efficiently close to the surface of the water. Being able to paddle in so many different ways comes from its design which incorporates an S-Bend gunwale and aggressive tumble home through the stroke section of the side of the boat. All of this allows the paddler to keep the paddle close to the side of the Cruiser 13.8 without feeling as if they are reaching to get to the water and this really helps with the ability to drive forwards when training or just be efficient when cruising along making the Cruiser 13.8 a super versatile pack boat.

Swift Canoes offer a range of excellent lightweight materials and top trim options. Kevlar Fusion is the most popular material in the Swift Canoes range of exquisite laminate canoe materials. It offers the best strength to weight ratio of any laminate canoe material. Kevlar Fusion Pack Boats are made with a urethane resin system for top durability and longevity along with a thin layer of exterior gel coat. The hull is constructed of an exterior layer of polyester as well as S-Glass and kevlar cloth layers sandwiching a durable foam cored ribbing system. The laminate fused together with a high impact and flexible urethane acrylate resin system injected during high pressure infusion process produces an optimal dispersion and laminate consistency. Based on a laminate material construction Kevlar Fusion is a popular material as it offers great abrasion and impact resistance. These canoes can be spec'd in some wonderful finishes giving them all a real vibrant, clean exterior look especially with a 2 tone hull colour scheme. Swift Canoes now have a superb UV shield that they now use on all their current hulls! This adds even more protection and better scratch resistance which all laminate canoe owners crave. This UV shield helps to reduce the impact of the sun/uv on all Swift Canoes laminates as well as allowing them to reduce the overall weight. The UV shield adds scratch resistance to the hull, while scratches will initially still be visible, after applying a coating of spray on and wipe off 303 aerospace protectant to the hull, scratches are much less visible - if visible at all. Scratches are far less of a concern on Swift Canoes anyway, due to the laminate being impregnated with the resin, this means the laminate material of a Swift hull is never exposed with a need for repair, unlike other brands using laminates for construction. Don't forget as with any laminate boat, a single application of 303 aerospace protectant will only last for a couple of trips so to keep that new shiny look re-application is required.

With an Pack Boat made of a superbly lightweight Kevlar Fusion laminate, a trim level that looks as good and also keeps that lightweight nature while still remaining tough is key. The Carbon Kevlar Trim not only makes a Swift Canoes Cruiser 13.8 one of the lightest Pack Boats both on the market and in the Swift Canoes range, but also using their unique manufacture process enables them to infuse the boats hull and foam filled gunwales as one part by making a bond between the hull and trim. This stunning looking Carbon Kevlar trim is maintenance free meaning this Pack Boat is easy to move both on and off the water.

Swift Canoes are one of the leading manufacturers in lightweight laminate canoes & Pack Boats and can also offer as huge range of bespoke custom outfitting options, so you really can make your dream canoe or pack boat. For some of the custom options in materials, trims and optional extra outfitting's take a look out our ' Materials & Trim' or 'Custom Options' Tabs. We import and advertise the UK's top selling Swift Canoe models, specs and colours this is based on current UK paddling trends, however we are always more than happy to help if there is a custom model, material, trim or outfitting option you require for your dream canoe or Pack Boat.

Please Note: Custom option lightweight Swift Canoes & Pack Boats generally have a longer lead time and it is best to Contact Us to enquire about spec, price and current lead times. For more UK stock options check out the Swift Canoes Range.