Anadyr Specifications
Janautica has been designing and building a wide range of canoes and kayaks since 1982, with a specialization in ocean craft since 1984. At Janautica a full-time staff of ten work with their directors and customers to build quality kayaks.
The Anadyr was designed in 1985 as a coastal ocean touring kayak. The brief for this boat demanded a fast, seaworthy kayak with a carrying capacity of around 150 kgs. (330 lbs). We wanted a design in which a fine bow incorporates a pronounced flare above the waterline to give a dry boat in a chop. We were looking for a good compromise to respond quickly to turning strokes of the paddle and to track well.
Janautica kayaks are built from the lightest and strongest fiberglass available on the market. We produce a strong product by controlling the amount of resin in the laminate. The ratio of approximately 34 percent fiber to 66 percent resin yields a stronger kayak due to the high fiber content.
The hull and deck are joined with a double 10cm mat fiberglass stripe inside and with a 3cm gelcoated textile fiberglass belt outside. Bulkheads are made from fiberglass mat laminate. They are bonded in place with a mixture of resin and fiber which secures them in place and allows easy access to making them leakproof.
Attilio Taglialegami
Reviewers
TH 6'0", 210-pound male, 4-day trip in light to moderate winds, 3-foot swell, 2-foot wind waves, surge and clapotis. Gear load of 40 pounds.
CC 5'7", 140-pound female. Day trips in winds to 10 knots, one foot chop, three knot currents. Gear load 20 lbs.
DM 5'10" , 180 lb. Male, Day trips in winds to 8 knots, light chop.
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TH and CC thought that the lines of the Anadyr were "pleasing," "graceful and appealing." DM noted that the "gel coat finish is good. The interior is slightly rough, indicating a hand layup, but the layup quality appears to be good." The hull to deck seam is glassed inside and out. The outside seam was rough and needed some sanding to make it less abrasive. The outside seam at this time was very sloppy. There has been a big improvement in application of the seam. The coaming also needed sanding to keep it from cutting into the spray deck. The coaming has been improved, and has been lowered to a position closer to the deck. This makes it considerably stronger. The screws used to secure deck hardware, protruded into the hull and posed a risk to gear inside. (The importer had warned us that the boat would need some hand work when it arrived.)
The Anadyr is well balanced for a solo carry and its 52 pounds (it's now 50 lbs.) makes it an easy lift. The grab loops at the ends of the boat were lengths of rope threaded directly into the deck. They worked well enough for a two person carry with the boat empty, but the line would be hard on the hands when the boat is loaded. In rough water the handles could injure a swimmer's hand if the boat were rolled by a breaker. The rope handles have been replaced by plastic toggles at each end of the boat.
The cockpit was easy to get in and out of. The lower edge is not faired into the deck, requiring padding for comfort and making it difficult to drain water from the boat when inverted. DM thought the cockpit was "roomy, but the opening is a bit small for me to be able to lift my knees when seated. Smaller paddlers who find many cockpit openings too large will appreciate this one." The cockpit has been completely re-designed. It previously measured 27" X 16.5" it now measures 26.3" X 17". Thigh braces assure a secure fit. A new backrest will allow the paddler to scoot back and lift those knees while seated.
The seat was a comfortable fit for all of our reviewers. TH found water collected in the seat during normal use and DM and CC thought the seat back needs a more positive means of adjusting and securing the seat back. The seat has been completely re-designed. It now has an ergonomic shape and instead of being built into the kayak - it is installed with 4 bolts so that it can be moved forward or back. A removable fabric and foam seat back is fitted giving maximum comfort during long paddles. The seat back is fitted with fiberglass battens to prevent it collapsing under the rear deck.
The underside of the deck provided secure if uncomfortable thigh bracing, especially at the lower edge of the coaming. "Most owners will want to install some padding" (DM). The nuts and bolts under a pair of deck line fittings interfered with TH's knees. He recommended padding over the fasteners. Molded-in thigh braces are standard as of 2002; they contribute to paddler comfort as well as to the initial stability of the boat. The thigh braces are the single most important change to enhance paddler comfort and performance.
TH and DM had the foot braces set at their longest setting. Paddlers with longer legs wouldn't have enough legroom unless they reinstalled the foot braces farther forward. For CC the foot braces were "solid, not mushy" and were easy to adjust while seated in the cockpit. DM thought the "foot platform was uncomfortable in soft booties or bare feet." It is pivoted to adjust to the angle of the foot. TH liked this feature - it kept his feet comfortable - but DM and CC thought its "tendency to move is a bit disconcerting" (DM). The footbraces have been improved. They are stronger and do not pivot. The front bulkhead has been changed from a flat shape to a "V" shape to allow the footrests to adjust further forward. This in addition to the adjustable seat will accommodate paddlers up to 6'2" with no modification required.
The deck rigging didn't work well for our reviewers. The chart holding bungies ahead of the cockpit had an awkward spacing for holding a chart. There are no lines for spare paddle nor for paddle float rescue. There are grab lines at the ends of the boat but none in the midsection. The Anadyr now comes fitted with fore and aft crossed bungies. No lifelines are fitted in the cockpit area because the cockpit is easier to grab than a line. Elastics on deck are a personal preference and I feel best left to the owner. The Anadyr has a molded-in paddle groove behind the cockpit, and is now fitted with plastic hooks which are used to fasten the paddle across the deck with the rear set of bungies to facilitate boarding and/or re-entry.
On the water the Anadyr's stability was rated from "stable, secure" (TH) to "initial stability is on the low side, but the secondary stability is adequate to allow tilting the boat with confidence" (DM). The thigh braces improve the stability dramatically.
The Anadyr is not equipped with a rudder and as our reviewers agreed, it doesn't need one. The reviewers agreed that the Anadyr tracks well "with only a little tendency to yaw…a good balance between tracking and ability to turn" (DM). The Anadyr is now equipped with a rudder mounting block on the stern. It is "rudder ready" and an optional rudder kit is available for those customers whose paddling style demands a rudder.
It responds well to light leans for quick and minor course corrections. Throw it on its side and this kayak comes around well enough" (TH). DM noted the Anadyr "responded adequately to carved turns with even paddle strokes, and responds well to leaned, paddle-assisted turns." In the winds our reviewers encountered, the Anadyr was well balanced, showing no tendency to weathercock. TH: "Loaded or unloaded this boat performed well in the conditions I was in. It simply went where I pointed the thing."
To CC and DM the Anadyr felt fast. "I found myself getting ahead of the group." (CC). TH gauged his speed with a GPS and "easily sustained a 4-knot pace for a little over two hours in a moderate chop with a light head wind." In flatter conditions he held 5 knots for 20 minutes.
In a light chop both DM and CC had a dry ride. In rougher conditions TH noted that if big waves get over the bow they "tend to explode as they hit the hatch cover." CC surfed some small waves finding the Anadyr fast enough to catch rides on following seas and slow to broach.
There is "plenty of room" for cruising gear, though access to the bulkheaded compartments is through 7-inch hatches. None of the reviewers were pleased with the hatches. The hatch covers screw on and were "easy to cross thread" (TH) and "sand can jamb them up and a tightly fastened hatch can be hard to unscrew" (CC). The screws that attach the hatches "stick down into the hold and can rip dry bags" (CC). The aft bulkhead is well aft of the cockpit, providing a space to stow bulky gear in a dry bag. Only TH reported any leakage in to the compartments, and suspected cross threaded hatches may have been the problem. Once he got the boat loaded TH reported the "boat performs well with a load aboard. The Anadyr was originally fitted with British "Henderson" hatches which are 1/4 turn hatches and are high quality leakproof hatches. They are double threaded which means that the thread starts in 2 locations across from each other and a 1/4 turn of the the locking ring will lock them. They were not suited for the American market - so the Anadyr is now fitted with Kajak-Sport hatches which appear to be the most desirable hatches in this market with their rubber (tupper-ware style) lids. The front hatch is 10" in diameter; the rear hatch is 11" X 18" with an oval shape.
In general the reviewers were impressed with the Anadyr's hull design and performance, but found it lacking in outfitting details. "The best thing about the Anadyr is the hull design. It performed well in a variety of conditions. I would not hesitate to paddle it in challenging conditions. The drawback is a lack of quality in detail and finish" (CC).
"This is a very well designed hull that performs admirably in a variety of conditions. It is fast and stable. Too bad the hatches, deck fittings, and other details detract from that" (TH). "The Anadyr was designed to be a fast seaworthy coastal touring kayak. I feel that it meets those objectives" (DM).
Since this boat was tested, I am happy to report that the detail quality and finish has improved considerably. Every complaint detailed in this evaluation has been addressed. and In addition the selling price has been kept at a level which makes it the best value on the kayak market today.