Unfortunately I have not yet had the pleasure of paddling the Pyranha Scorch X for myself. As soon as an opportunity arises I will hop in and share my thoughts on how the Pyranha Scorch handles some different situations on the river as well as some other information that may be of use to beater boaters like myself.
Pyranha Scorch X Whitewater Kayak
Take the Scorch to the next level
Pyranha recently added a new model to the Pyranha Scorch lineup. Not only do paddlers get the option to choose between the Pyranha Scorch Small, Pyranha Scorch Medium and the Pyranha Scorch Large, there is now an additional configuration that is designed for speed and maneuverability. What is the name of this awesome new boat? Let us introduce you to the Pyranha Scorch X. The X does not stand for extra large, instead it is the roman numeral for the number 10. Ten representing the length of this innovative new design. The Scorch X is a ten foot long river running machine is built for both speed and agility. With the release of the Scorch X, Pyranha has essentially created a new category of whitewater kayak. We have seen 9 foot creek racing boats that were designed for speed and we have seen 12 foot long boats but never before have we seen a modern 10 foot long whitewater kayak. The Scorch X is an incredible addition to the Pyranha Lineup. Here is what you can expect when you hop in the cockpit of the Pyranha Scorch X whitewater kayak.
Pyranha Scorch X Overview
Pyranha designed the Scorch X to bridge the gap between the extremely popular 9 foot creek boat designs and the lightning fast long boats that can exceed 12 feet long. After releasing the Pyranha Scorch the designers at Pyranha, with influence from Dave Fusilli, wanted to create something that took the speed to the next level without sacrificing too much maneuverability on the water. Thus the Pyranha Scorch X whitewater kayak was born. At 10 feet long, the Scorch X offers extreme speed that allows you to literally fly off drops. This boat has more bow rocker than any other modern boat on the market today which helps keep your bow as dry as possible. Boofing a 10 foot long whitewater kayak may seem like a tall task but special features were added to help make the Scorch X a dream to boof.
When designing the Scorch X the designers were careful to not get so focused on speed that agility was handicapped. Some paddlers may be weary of paddling a boat with so much length as it is. They needed to make sure that the Scorch X had the speed of a ten foot long whitewater kayak but with the quickness and control of a nine foot whitewater kayak. To do this the designers at Pyranha had to get creative and come up with the perfect solution. The solution that they devised was a sporty stern design that took some elements from the popular Pyranha Ripper. When you look at the stern of the Pyranha Scorch X you will notice that it is tapered. The stern gradually gets more narrow both horizontally and vertically to come to what looks like a pretty slicey stern. While the stern is obviously not as slicey as the stern on the Pyranha Ozone or the Pyranha Ripper, it is slicey enough to sink the end of the stern under the water when turning the boat. This slicey stern also makes boofing all ten feet of the Pyranha Scorch X that much easier. For the hull of the Pyranha Scorch X, you can expect a planing design with fairly sharp edges. This again will provide boaters with a better ability to turn on a dime, carve in and out of eddies, and enjoy maximum speed on the water.
If you are looking for a whitewater kayak that offers pure speed without completely sacrificing the ability to zip all over the river, you need to try the Pyranha Scorch X.
Pyranha Scorch X Specs
The Pyranha Scorch X is a unique blend of length and agility. It fills the gap between ultra popular 9 foot creek racing kayaks like the Pyranha Scorch, Dagger Phantom and Jackson Nirvana, and longboats that are designed purely for racing. At 10 feet long the Pyranha Scorch X is a unique boat to say the least. Here are the Pyranha Scorch X specs.
| Sizes | Medium |
|---|---|
|
Length |
10 ft |
|
Width |
25.5 in |
|
Volume |
90 gal |
|
Weight |
Unknown |
|
Paddler Weight Range |
Unknown |
Pyranha Scorch X Comparisons
The Pyranha Scorch X has pretty much established a new category of whitewater kayak. It does not fall into the same sub 9 foot category that the Pyranha Scorch, Dagger Phantom, and Jackson Nirvana fall into. At 10 feet long the Scorch X doesn’t even qualify as a short boat. It falls into a grey area between a long boat and a 9 foot creeker. If you had to compare the Pyranha Scorch X to another whitewater kayak it would have to be the Pyranha Scorch medium. Pyranha has always been a leader in the world of performance whitewater kayaks. When they introduced the original 9R it started a trend that every other manufacturer replicated. It will be interesting to see if Dagger, Jackson and Liquidlogic follow up the Scorch X with their own 10 foot designs.
- Pyranha Scorch X vs. Pyranha Scorch
- Pyranha Scorch X vs. Pyranha 9R II