Over the past 2 months, I have had her out on sea kayak rock garden play days, coastal exploration tours, kayak crabbing, and BCU 3* Training Sessions. Here are my thoughts and recommendations. (I am 5'4", 120 pounds and a skilled paddler who likes a responsive boat).
Review of the Valley Gemini SP - poly:
Lightweight: The plastic Gemini is light for a plastic boat. Having hefted around many a plastic sea kayak, I was instantly impressed with the weight of the Gemini. I guess I was expecting a beast like many of the newer plastic sea kayak play boats but was pleasantly pleased. |
| Valley Gemini SP at home among the rock gardens and sea caves of the Mendocino Coast. |
The cockpit is a little bit long to my liking and I find getting my snug fitting spray decks on a bit cumbersome. For teaching, I have switched to using a larger spray deck that is easier to put on. When heading out to play in the surf or rock gardens, expect to see my contortion act of getting a snug spraydeck on (or perhaps give me a hand).
The hatches are well configured. YEAH - it has a day hatch!!! I found the day hatch to be accessible while on the water.
Stability: Right off the bat, I noticed the primary stability of the Gemini. Students who have paddled the boat have noticed the same thing - "Its not as tippy" (compared to our Avocets). After paddling the soft chined poly Valley Avocet for years, I am still getting used to the hard chines of the Gemini. The Gemini definitely responds to skilled paddling and loves to be edged for turns.
On the Water: The Gemini is a comfortable, stable craft that feels nimble in dynamic waters. The bow volume, stability, and looseness of the stern make her quite playful in bouncy waters and really fun for rock gardening. She feels like she was designed for rock gardening.
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| Sea Kayak Rock Gardening on the Mendocino Coast photo by Bryant Burkhardt |
The poly Gemini isn't a speedy boat. I was surprised by the speed of the composite Gemini and a little disappointed that the plastic version isn't a little bit faster. Although, she isn't any slower than the other plastic sea kayaks made for play (P&H Delphin, P&H Hammer, and Dagger Alchemy).
Edging and speed aren't the top priority when kayak crabbing. A flat deck that one can attach crab pots to and a day hatch for transporting dinner are nice features on the Gemini for those of us who use a sea kayak to get dinner.
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| Crabbing in the Gemini SP sea kayak. Photo by Bryant Burkhardt |
The poly Valley Gemini SP has become my go-to sea kayak for rock gardening. I foresee the Valley Gemini SP joining our fleet as an instructional boat. I like the primary stability for inspiring confidence in beginners yet it is a boat that responds to dynamic and skilled paddling. It will be a good "school boat" for teaching sea kayak skills like edge control, carving turns, and paddling backwards as well as a great boat for rock gardening classes.
If you are looking for an opportunity to demo Valley Sea Kayak's Gemini SP, they will be available at the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium. We will also have a couple in the Liquid Fusion Kayaking fleet for our rock garden and sea kayak classes.
If you have any experiences or questions about the Valley Gemini SP, please post them in the comments below or contact me through Liquid Fusion Kayaking. I anticipate adding more to this review when we have more experience paddling and having students paddle the Gemini.
Sylvia has a Gemini RM also now. She can't effectively compare its performance to the other boast she has used (most recently the Alchemy S), as she just didn't fit those boats well. But she fits the Gemini.
ReplyDeleteAt 5' 0.5", she is at the closest peg on the foot braces. Anyone shorter definitely should test fit.
I find that the Gemini is a faster boat for her than her Alchemy was, just going by the effort I need to put in to stay even with her.
Hi Peter,
DeleteI would definitely concur that the Gemini is a faster boat than the Alchemy. I found the Alchemy lacking in many areas including speed and edging. I am glad that Sylvia got the Gemini. I think it will be a great boat for her!!! Best, Cate
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ReplyDeleteHi Cate, How does the Gemini SP compare to the Avocet RM, particularly from a speed-wise standpoint?
ReplyDeleteHi Joe, I too have spent a lot of time in the Avocet RM. The Gemini SP poly seems to be slower which would make sense considering the shorter waterline. It is a night and day different boat in many aspects. It is way more playful. I am enjoying it more and more as I get used to the harder chines - especially playing in rough waters and for rock gardening. Best, Cate
DeleteCate, Thanks for your input. I purchased an Avocet RM as a 'play boat' back in 2007. I found that it worked great as a teaching platform, but it wasn't all that sporty. True rock gardening/sea play boats did not really exist seven years ago. I've parted with the Avocet RM and I have been shopping for a replacement. I tried both sizes of the P&H Delphin, but I just couldn't fall in love with it. The Delphin is really barge-like in flat water. I'll see if I can find a Gemini SP RM to demo. Safe paddling, Joe
ReplyDeleteThe Gemini is so much lighter than the Delphin both on and off the water. It definitely responds to skillful paddling. Definitely find one to demo.
DeleteHi Cate, just wondering if you can help with this one : I paddle a greenland LC, but also like rock hopping,surf and chopy water....Also not very woried abot speed matters , but would like to know how does the Gemeni compare to greenland (which is not a fast kayak at all, similar to annas acuta). That kind of speed is ok for me to gat around. Oh , I use GP, probabily James Manke can also give an opinion. thanks. Ruskin.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruskin, Thanks for checking out my blog. I am not familiar with the Greenland LC so I don't feel that I can give a good comparison. I find the speed of the Gemini SP to be adequate. The more that I paddle the Gemini in dynamic waters, the more that I like it. Of the sea kayaks on the market, would be my first choice for a rock gardening boat. Definitely get out and paddle one to see if it is a good fit for you.
DeleteBest, Cate
Yet another brilliant review. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow would you compare the SP GF to the SP RM? I have only been shortly in the RM. I felt it lacked some of the "playful dolphin" attitude, I was looking for (or expecting?)
Hi Steen, Thanks for checking out my blog. I too was disappointed in playfulness of the RM version. It feels it needs more stern rocker. It is also a slimmer fit than the composite. Possibly less volume. The composite is a fun playful sea kayak. If you are looking for a plastic play sea kayak, my top choice is the Dagger Stratos or the P&H Hammer. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Cheers, Cate
DeleteSo it was not just me being peculiar. :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing your opinion.
Where would you place Jackson Karma in this equation?
ReplyDeleteThe Karma RG has a whitewater hull - very different from the hull design of play sea kayaks like the Gemini. I have one and love it for multiday whitewater river trips and use it for kayak fishing. I have rock gardened in it but is not my steed of choice for ocean play. For me a playful ocean kayak needs to surf well. The RG does not. It is slow to accelerate to get on a wave and takes a lot of energy to do so. It also needs more bow rocker.
DeleteCheers :-)
Delete