Nucleus 80 Racing Kayak

December 2019. Production continues in Winton. Email Rikki Griffin – rikki@nautiquekayaks.co.nz – find out more.

An Evolution styled boat that has just the right volume for most paddlers around 80 kg.

Relaxed Esprit owners will find the Nucleus 80 much faster at all levels of effort.

The hull of the Nucleus 80 is derived from a carefully scaled down Evolution Classic. Early on in the planning stages it was decided to widen the hull waterplane adjacent to the cockpit area sufficiently to provide exceptional stability for the paddler making the transition to narrower boats. For it’s waterline beam, the Nucleus 80 is even more stable than the Nucleus 100. This is due to the flared hull side design which widens the waterplane considerably as the boat is leaned.

New Zealand Multisport Magazine rounded off their Nucleus 80 test by saying “Fast boat for mid-level folks of around 80kg. Ideal step up from the Esprit or Centrix”

The waterline length of the Nucleus 80 is optimised to minimise the effects of ‘wetted area’ drag. Experience has shown that multisport kayaks paddled aerobically (endurance intensity) are most affected by water drag caused by wetted area. Wave making drag is more a factor with boats that are sprinted anaerobically. In order to minimise the ‘wetted area’ of a boat that has been made wider, the length is best made shorter. Recent speed testing reinforces that the Nucleus hull is actually fast at low power inputs.

The deck styling of the Nucleus 80 is absolutely scaled off the record setting Evolution Classic. The whole concept is to maximise water shedding after wave penetration whilst presenting the lowest possible profile to wind grab.

The Nucleus 80 cockpit coaming is the same as the Evolution.

Posted in: Multisport Racing Kayaks