Pyranha's Ripper 2 is the second generation of the Ripper whitewater kayak. It is a half-slice style kayak which means that it has a slicey stern with a more bulbous bow. It is designed to offer a great combination of river running and playability. But is the Ripper 2 the great all-around kayak it promises to be? Let’s find out in my unbiased, in-depth Pyranha Ripper 2 review.
Pyranha Ripper 2 Review: The Ripper 2 Specifications
The Pyranha Ripper 2 comes in three sizes; small, medium, and large. So, as per usual, I am testing the large version. The specifications are as follows:
Price: $1700 (USD)
Length: 9’ 1”
Width: 26”
Weight: 46 LBS (21 KG)
Capacity: 175-275 LBS (80-125 KG)
Best Use: River running and play
The key features of the Ripper 2 compared to the Ripper 1 include:
- More bow rocker
- Slightly wider hull
- Slicier tail
- Ovalized cockpit for better skirt fit
Comfort
White water kayaks are typically much tighter than other kayaks because you need them to fit like a glove to maximize control. Despite this, I did not need to get out of the Ripper 2 once during my two-hour session to stretch. The seat, the hip pads, and the back band are all very comfortable. There is plenty of room for your feet. The Pyranha Ripper 2 certainly is a comfortable boat.
The outfitting that the Ripper 2 came with includes shims to raise the height of the seat and shims for the hip pads. So I used these to get more leverage in the kayak and fit it to me. The fact that it took a couple of shims for me means there is plenty of butt space in the kayak for people with different body shapes and sizes.
Even the water bottle holder in the Ripper 2 is excellent. It stopped my water bottle and dry bag from banging around all day. So, overall, I am very impressed with the comfort of the Ripper 2 whitewater kayak.
Stability
There is not much to say about the stability of the Ripper 2. It is a very stable kayak, much as you would expect from a kayak like this. The Ripper 2 has great secondary stability when you put the kayak on edge. It sits there comfortably and makes river running and surfing an absolute pleasure.
Performance
This kayak is designed to perform well as a river runner and as a play boat.
River Running
The Pyranha Ripper 2 was awesome for river running. When I tested the Ripper 1 last year, I liked it. However, I was not blown away by it. So, when they released the Ripper 2, which had several changes from the Ripper 1, I was hoping it would be the type of boat I love. And this is precisely what happened.
So what are the changes that have, in my opinion, improved the Ripper 2? Extra rocker in the front of the kayak makes a difference. In the Ripper 2, it is easy to keep the nose above waves and boof over holes. Combine that with a very slicey stern and you can get the nose up aggressively.
The stern is very slicey. I love having a high-performance, slicey stern because I am used to it. However, if you are not used to a slicey stern, then you need to make sure that you are either in a kayak that is a size up, or at least plenty big enough for you. Otherwise, the stern edges can catch you.
Playboating
The Pyranha Ripper 2 exceeded my expectations for a couple of reasons: the extra rocker and the slicey stern. With these, I can cut the bow back under the foam pile when necessary. A lot of the time in half-slice kayaks the stern is not slicey enough to be able to force it underwater and cut back in the other direction. However, with the Pyranha Ripper 2, you can do exactly thar.
The slicey stern was great for surfing waves. It was well-balanced and easy to spin around in circles. It was, as promised, just a fun, all-round whitewater kayak.
Who is The Pyranha Ripper 2 For?
This is a kayak for someone who wants a river runner that they can play with. It is my style of kayak. I will be using this specific kayak a lot more in the future because I enjoyed it so much.
When using a kayak with a slicey stern like this, you do have to be mindful of catching your edges. A more bulbous stern will be more forgiving. So the Pyranha Ripper 2 is not as forgiving as some whitewater kayaks. If you can manage that and want to give up some forgiveness for increased playability, this is a kayak for you to consider.
Quality whitewater kayaks cost between $1600-1800 these days, so the value, at $1700, isn’t a big consideration. It costs exactly the amount you would expect for a kayak like this.
The Pyranha Ripper 2 is, in my opinion, a real upgrade from the Ripper 1. It is a fun, all-around whitewater kayak.
Kayak: Pyranha Ripper 2
PFDs/Life Jackets: NRS Zen Whitewater Vest
Paddle: Aqua Bound Shred
Shirt: NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts: NRS Benny Board Shorts
