Very hard to judge. If you mean speed that needs to be over a timed course as it is too easy to introduce "it feels faster", "it handles better" etc. Glass hulls - I was paddling a Nadgee and an un-named in Australia last year and the year before, both possibly both slower than my ply kayak. The Seaward Tyees in BC, Canada that we were paddling were simply poor design, especially when there was a bit of a chop, they pounded where as a Mac50 cuts through and lifts only enough to keep dry. In similar conditions I watch/study my partner's Mac50 and know how it handles.Winch wrote:Mac50L have you ever noticed a performance difference with ply kayaks over composite hulls
I did own a glass kayak for a couple of years, got it free vs royalties. I was happy to get back into my ply boat as there were no worries about hitting rocks with wood where as it is too easy to ding a glass boat and crack the gel coat.
My own kayak is the narrow Mac50 (Mac50L) and because it is only 510 cm beam it should be really quick. The previous kayak (totured ply) looked like a K1 racing hull if inverted. Down the Wanganui a few years ago I had a drag race with someone in a Penguin and he was using a Wing paddle. He didn't have a chance, my kayak and a Greenland paddle just took-off like a rocket, despite both being loaded for a 3 day trip.