The ALAW bach
When the ALAW arrived as the first of a new generation of high performance, fast and comfortable sea kayaks the ALAW BACH was set to follow closely behind. The ALAW BACH is a boat for those who are looking for the same responsive, fun but forgiving nature of the ALAW, but with a more conventional lower knee position. The ALAW BACH has the same hull shape as the ALAW but with a lowered, more gently sloping cockpit/front deck. Like the ALAW this is a boat that happily fits into the role of touring weekend boat but also comes alive playing around in the surf and tide races.
The ALAW BACH demonstrates a refreshing combination of stability, speed and responsive handling. It is an easy going, forgiving boat but with the ability to glide through the most testing conditions and put a smile on your face. It is a sleek, modern, high performance sea kayak that will suit most tastes.
Between the Lines:
The ALAW BACH suits the paddler who likes a bit of a tighter fit than the ALAW. Though still a very comfortable boat the more snug fit gives a very precise level of handling. The choice between the ALAW BACH and the ALAW is purely down to personal preference; come and try both before taking home the one you like the best.
ALAW BACH - In the Detail:
Hull: Length: 17 feet 1 inch (5.21m) - Width: 21 inches (0.53m) – Volume: 325 litres
The ALAW BACH is a high performance sea kayak for medium to larger size paddlers but designed with a lower knee position than the ALAW. The hull is closely based on that of the ALAW and so retains the excellent handling characteristics. The hull configuration gives high forward speed due to its long waterline relative to the overall length. The hull shape maintains good directional stability when moving but the flatter centre section and chined hull gives good manoeuvrability in confined spaces and tight turns. The ALAW BACH is designed to have neutral directional stability in most wind conditions and requires minimal use of the skeg. The bow has good shape and volume to maintain a dry ride through choppy conditions. Similar to the ALAW, when paddling the ALAW BACH you really notice the dry the ride when paddling out from the beach through surf. The buoyant bow is nicely balanced with a fine stern to give a gentle ride over large, steep waves. The fine section in the stern also allows the ALAW BACH to accelerate nicely when catching a wave without the nose tending to bury. The ALAW BACH surfs well; it catches waves easily and then is responsive but forgiving when riding the wave.
The fullness of the centre section gives confident and predictable edging with high levels of stability even when under an extensive lean. As the boat is leaned the stern progressively lifts from the water, making the turn progressively easier and quicker. When combined with the hull chines this gives a smooth and fast turning boat.
Deck:
The ALAW BACH has a lower front deck than the ALAW - the leading edge of the cockpit has been lowered to provide a more conventional knee position. The cockpit rim is keyhole shaped with integrated thigh braces.
The cockpit rim and footplate have been adjusted accordingly to match the lower deck and maintain a comfortable and efficient paddling position. The ALAW BACH is fitted with the Rockpool Kayaks designed adjustable plate footrest. This is angled for a strong natural ankle position which allows the paddler to finely adjust their leg alignment. The lower cockpit rim gives a more snug fit for the paddler which provides excellent feedback, demonstrated by the precise and crisp handling. Matched with the adjustable seat this places the paddler in a dynamic, comfortable and efficient position for paddling.
The combination of padded backrest and choice of seat widths makes the ALAW BACH a most comfortable kayak for extended use. The seats are moulded GRP shells which are adjustable front-to-back at 10mm intervals. The adjustable seat and footrest are mounted on internal hull fixings without drill holes. This relieves the cockpit rim and deck of unnecessary stress and provides a variable seat position for increased feedback to the paddler. The foam hip pads, located within neoprene pockets, may be foam shimmed to fine tune hip fitment. The backrest integrates with the seat to prevent diving while entering.
The low rear deck and flexible back strap makes the ALAW BACH easy to roll. The ALAW BACH retains the fitting layout of deck lines and elastics of the ALAW and incorporates fittings to carry split paddles on either the front or rear deck. All deckline fittings are recessed for a neater, smoother look and to make life a little easier during rescue drills.
The appearance of the ALAW BACH is of a sleek, smooth and distinctive kayak; one that is built to glide easily through both the rough and smooth.