Representing the future of sea kayaks, the TARAN 18 is a revolutionary design with a world-class resume.

The TARAN 18 brings a radical new look to the world of sea kayaking; it is fast and sleek and has friendly handling characteristics that will appeal to fitness and distance paddlers alike.

Hull: Length: 18 feet 0 inches (5.5 m) – Width: 20.5 inches (0.52 m) – Volume: 101.2 gallons (383 liters)

Designed for the intermediate to advanced paddler, the Taran 18 steps away from the traditional British sea kayak model to yield a high performance craft with surprising levels of maneuverability and stability. The Taran 18 can easily maintain 5.0 knots, while still being a very comfortable and user friendly kayak. The handling is adept enough to navigate rock gardens, stable enough for taking photos, and confident enough for open water crossings. The Taran 18 is fast but has an easy and predictable handling even in the most challenging of conditions. While the form is sleek and streamlined, it disguises one of the largest storage volumes in the Rockpool lineup. This unexpected feature affords more than ample storage for week-long camping trips or multi-week expeditions.

Innovative Design

A fast touring kayak that incorporates a plumb bow, a peaked foredeck and a flattened hull.

World Record Holder

Ireland Circumnavigation, United Kingdom Circumnavigation, Isle of Anglesey Circumnavigation, Isle of Mann Circumnavigation, Isle of Mull circumnavigation, Irish Sea Crossing, and the North Channel Crossing.

Long Waterline Length

With a plumb bow and stern, the Taran 18 provides exceptional hull speed by using every inch of its eighteen-foot length.

SmartTrack Foot Controls

SmartTrack adjustable foot controls are the best in class and provide confidence and ease of steering. The ergonomic design places your feet, legs and hips at the optimal angle for comfortable, efficient movement.

The cockpit is roomy and comfortable with a fixed ergonomically-designed performance seat and backband. Standard layup kayaks are manufactured with glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) seats while the premier models receive full carbon seats. The seat pan is easily customizable and comes with optional bolt-in hip shims, hip pads, and optional upper and lower seat padding. The tuned thigh braces with minicell pads allow for ease of entry and exit while providing a very comfortable and solid seated position.

The high volume bow gives a dry ride and punches through rough conditions. The flattened U-shaped center section ensures the fast hull is not compromised in terms of stability or maneuverability. All Taran 18 kayaks are fitted with the SmartTrack rudder system, enhancing the handling and giving easy and precise heading changes. Without the rudder deployed, the Taran 18 responds positively to a slight edge.

The hull section begins with a deep V at the bow and blends into a tapered and flattened U-section for the center before fading back to a buoyant V section for the stern. A combination of rocker and deadwood shaping gives good maneuverability and positive reaction to steering and edging. The stern is blended smoothly to give low drag whilst maintaining plenty of volume for enhanced handling in following seas. The hull was designed to enhance downwind performance while minimizing the tendency to broach.

The high front deck is designed to stay above the waves and to quickly shed any water that does make it over the bow. The large front compartment is accessed via a round hatch. Forward  of the cockpit is a small day hatch that allows for storage of small essentials. The rear compartment is fitted with a large oval hatch. Installation of a day hatch just behind the cockpit is an available option for the Taran 18. Standard items include a security locking point that is located at the rear of the cockpit, internally tethered Kajaksport hatches, and Rockpool flat-tab, recessed deck fittings.

Standard Layup: $5,230.00

Weight: 57lb

Hand-laid construction
Polyester resin matrix
Fiberglass cloth hull
Chopped strand mat deck

The standard layup gives a robust and hard-wearing kayak at the lowest cost.

Premier Layup: $6,855.00

Weight: 44lb

Vacuum bag construction
Epoxy resin
Carbon/Kevlar fabric
Spheretex flush-laid reinforcing keel and ribs

The Premier layup provides the greatest amount of weight reduction.  This construction provides an ease of handling on and off the water as well as a significantly increased hull speed.

Gel coated Kevlar front crash guard | $90

Gel coated Kevlar rear crash guard | $75

Reinforcements for sail kit | $90

Fitting of sail kit (sail kit not included) | $160

Custom bulkhead location | $180

Extra Deck/Hull Color (per color) | $140

The kayaks shown below are samples of Rockpool’s unique colorways, custom graphics, and metal flake options.