TOURING Pearl 501

Summary

The Pearl 501 is a medium length touring kayak, giving the perfect balance between speed and maneuverability. It is stable enough for beginners, fast enough for covering long distances, and has enough packing space for extended multiday trips. It’s a great all-rounder that is suitable for both flatwater and ocean touring.

Hull design

The soft V and rounded edges gives a smooth ride in calm and rough conditions. Keeping it flat, the hull holds it course. Put it on edge, however, and it turns with precision.

The hull has moderate rocker; enough to climb over waves easily, but not so much that speed is compromised.

The width and hull profile creates good stability, making the Pearl 501 a good option for beginners who are buying their first real touring kayak. At the same time, the stability is appreciated by experienced paddlers who want to cruise for hours on end without having to worry about stability when the going gets tough.

The Pearl 501 is standard fitted with a rudder, while a drop-down skeg is available too.

Deck design

The deck offers everything you could look for in a touring kayak, and then some. We have taken great care to add all the important features, while keeping the deck as clean as possible for safety reasons.

The relatively low deck minimizes wind sensitivity, while also making rescues and re-entering easier. The paddle cutaways in front of the cockpit enables efficient paddle strokes close to the hull.

Both the front and back deck feature 44x26cm oval hatches, which give access to ample storage space for long expeditions. An 8” round hatch behind the cockpit gives access to a day hatch too. All these compartments are sealed off with 50mm close-cell foam bulkheads, glued in with 3M adhesives.

In front of the cockpit is also a 8” hatch with a moulded-in pocket for a phone and snacks. We call it the lunch box.

As with the other models in the touring line-up, two paddle holders are offered: one in front of the cockpit, where the paddle can be secured with a bungee, and one behind the cockpit which is handy when re-entering the kayak after a capsize.

The positioning of the bungees on the front and back deck have been optimized through years of experience, including a bungee system behind the cockpit for paddle float rescues. Safety deck lines, toggle handles, a compass pocket and two security bars round off the deck.

Specs

Length: 501cm

Width: 56cm

Cockpit front height: 35cm

Weight: 30kg

Cockpit size: 92x49cm

Bow hatch size: 44x26cm oval hatch

Bow hatch volume: 68L

Lunch hatch size: 8” round

Day hatch size: 8” round

Day hatch volume: 24L

Stern hatch size: 44x26cm oval hatch

Stern hatch volume: 76L