The Albatross redefines the concept of a double-seater sit-on-top. It combines exceptional stability and comfort with a high carrying capacity, all while incorporating performance features that ensure tandem paddling is a joy, not a chore. Despite its recreational classification, the Albatross boasts impressive speed and maneuverability, easily handling ocean swells and currents. Its versatility makes it the ideal choice for adventures with friends and family, whether you’re exploring calm lakes or tackling coastal waters.
WHAT THE ALBATROSS IS ALL ABOUT
Hull design
The Albatross’ hull is engineered for exceptional stability and balance, accommodating heavier paddlers comfortably in either the front or back seat.
It has a rather long waterline to maximize speed, but with a touch of rocker and a sloped bow to keep it maneuverable and able to climb over waves.
Full-length hull grooves enhance structural rigidity and improve tracking performance.
The hull’s convex sidewalls seamlessly blend into rounded rails, optimizing secondary stability and making it insusceptible to side impacts from rocks and waves.
The Albatross comes standard without a rudder, but a rudder option is available. Most paddlers will find the Albatross highly manageable without a rudder; it’s primarily recommended for use in significant swells or strong winds.
Deck design
The Albatross’ deck design is clean and lean, while incorporating all necessary features for high functionality.
The bow boasts substantial volume, making it easier to punch through and over waves. The mid section of the boat is relatively high to ensure the driest possible ride, while also helping to keep paddlers inside when hitting rocks or waves. The stern deck slopes down to reduce wind interference. The lower stern also make it easier for a swimmer to grasp the back handle, and easier to climb aboard from the back too.
Two identical open cockpits are widely spaced to prevent paddle interference. This design allows paddlers of any size to comfortably occupy either the front or back position.
Extended paddle cutaways ensures a comfortable, efficient paddling style despite the generous width of the boat.
Hull-matching indents on the deck make the Albatross stackable, perfect for when you have a fleet of them.
The front and back handles are positioned off-center, improving carrying ergonomics given the width of the hull, and accommodating rudder installation. Dual side handles on each side facilitate solo manhandling of the boat and assist with re-entry after swimming.
10″ hatches provide access to internal storage compartments. These hatches are recessed into shallow “tankwell”-style indents, allowing for additional on-deck storage.
D-rings are added for attaching backrests. The seats are designed for maximum comfort and support without backrests, but if you prefer to use backrests, we got you covered. D-rings are also added for thigh straps, which is recommended when paddling in rougher conditions.
The design is finished off with adjustable footrests, paddle holders, bottle holders, bungees and bungee hooks. All fittings have been recessed properly, to prevent snagging.
Finally, there are two well-places surfaces for attaching rodholders, if that’s your vibe.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 428cm / 14′
Width: 83cm / 32.5″
Height: 42cm / 16.5″
Weight: 34kg / 74 lbs
Carrying capacity: 230kg / 500 lbs for best performance (260kg / 570 lbs possible)
Centre hatch size: 10″ round
Centre hatch volume: 90L
Stern hatch size: 10″ round
Stern hatch volume: 60L
FROM THE DESIGNER
Designing the Albatross was a blast. Since my first sit-on-top design back in 2003 – the Fluid Synergy, which became SA’s best-selling kayak ever – and then the Vagabond Mazowe in 2018, I’ve learned a ton. I got substantial feedback from various paddlers and commercial operators who used these and other designs on the market in all sorts of conditions. It was a real pleasure and a great opportunity to take all this knowledge and experience to create what I believe is the ultimate recreational double-seater sit-on-top.
In essence, the Albatross is a super-refined version of what I’ve done before. All the little glitches and niggles have been ironed out, while everything that worked well have been improved.
One major departure from my previous sit-on-top designs is ditching the large, deep tankwells for stowing gear. These deep tankwells is a standard feature of most sit-on-tops on the market, and I followed suit in the past. But having used these boats (my own past designs and others) on longer trips, I’ve come to resent these tankwells. Sure, they seem handy for easy packing, but it is a pain to tie everything down securely and keep it all dry. More than that, it increases the centre of gravity with gear loaded on top, making kayaks less stable, and it also increases wind resistance, which can be a real hassle when paddling on open water. I believe these tankwells were seen in the past as the logical option; if the paddler is sitting on top instead of inside, then the gear should be on top too. I’ve come to realize that it is a fallacy, there is no good reason for doing that, unless the goal is to cut manufacturing cost to the bone. That is not my goal; I want to make the best possible craft at affordable prices, not the cheapest thing that floats.
I now have very shallow “tankwell” type cavities, so you still have the option to tie things on top if you really have to, but recessed into these cavities are hatches. The goal is to load things inside the boat, which is more secure, keeps the centre of gravity low and doesn’t turn your kayak into a sail.
The paddle cutaways, which I’ve used on previous designs, have been extended on request. I now know that on recreational sit-on-tops, these don’t just act as paddle cutaways, but also hand cutaways. It turns out that a lot of folks smack their hands on the deck when paddling, so I solved that problem.
The seat positions are optimal from a trim point of view, but also from a divorce point of view… No more paddles hitting each other when paddling!
I really sweated the small stuff: designing seats that give great support without backrests, but work just as well with them. I added simple but effective paddle holders that don’t clutter up the deck. All the fittings are properly recessed to avoid snagging when you’re climbing back on after a dip, and to make the boat slide smoothly on roof racks when it’s upside down.
All things considered, I believe the Albatross offers the perfect combination of versatility and performance, rich in functional features while keeping the deck as clean and uncluttered as possible.
Celliers Kruger
COLOURS
Yellow – Orange – Light blue – Lime green- Yellow/Orange combo – Yellow/lime combo – yellow/blue combo – pink
Note: the actual colours might look somewhat different from what is shown here. Just roll with it.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The Albatross is one of the largest seabirds on earth, known for their excellent flying skills. They can glide for miles on end without having to flap their wings a single time. This makes Albatross an apt name for this double seater. It is not small by any means, but it is agile with good glide.
The Albatross is now available in South Africa, and will be available in the USA from March 2025. Prebook yours now!
