LPB Kayak
Length: 16′-4″ to 17′-2″
Width: 22″ to 23.25″
Weight: 34 to 38 lbs
We currently offer the LPB in 4 scaled sizes to fit paddlers 160–230lbs, see sizing chart below. Outside that range? We can make you a custom plan. Check out other options to expand the capability of your LPB.
The beautiful boat with the stupid name, LPB stands for Long Pointy Boat. The LPB is my answer to those who feel the need for speed. For the few who really are cranking along at 5+ mph everywhere they go, the LPB is every inch an athlete’s kayak. Pulling much of its genetics from race rather than sea kayaks, the LPB features a narrow catch for superior power delivery, a rounder hull for less wetted surface, and a long thin knifing bow that will cut oncoming chop and reduce bobbing.
Retaining about seventy percent of the handling capability of the F1 while adding about 1 mph of hull speed to the top end, the LPB is a good choice for the dedicated fitness paddler who still wants a touring capable sea kayak. Want to know if the LPB is right for you? Jump in any normal sea kayak, grab a GPS and go paddle for two hours. If you can easily hold 4.2 mph for the entire 2 hours, you need an LPB. If not, the extra wetted surface from the increased waterline will just slow you down. Trust me.
Watch: The LPB Kayak, in Detail
Watch: Skin-on-frame Outfitting Options
Sizing + Specs
The LPB is currently available in 3 standard sizes and one larger size, covering paddlers from 160–230lbs with the option to request a custom plan set if you are larger or smaller than that. The listed weight for each size is the paddler weight and the kayak can carry up to an additional 50lbs of gear.
With the LPB we discourage choosing a smaller kayak than your listed size for a “low volume” version because it negatively affects performance. Choosing the next size up, however, adds significant volume for longer camping trips, at the expense of a heavier boat that will sit a little high when unloaded. Looking for a different size? Just let us know.
For more information on sizing, check out the LPB sample plans. All sizes are included in your LPB plan purchase, and we encourage you to get in touch for a sizing consult to help you choose the best boat for your body and goals.
| Paddler Weight* | Length | Width | Weight** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160 lbs | 16′-4″ | 22″ | 34 lbs |
| 180 lbs | 16′-4″ | 22″ | 36 lbs |
| 190 lbs | 16′-4″ | 22.5″ | 37 lbs |
| 230 lbs | 17′-2″ | 23.25″ | 38 lbs |
** Final boat weight can vary based on wood used and modifications chosen
LPB kayaks on the Student Builds blog
Paddler feedback:
“20 knot winds and the resultant chop, along with 3-5 foot swells coming in on the starboard front quarter…had no effect on this boat’s tracking! It tracks like it’s on rails, yet a lean and a paddle stroke and it turns extremely fast for a 16 foot boat! ….The surfing abilities of this boat are amazing when you consider that : 1. It’s a sea kayak. 2. it’s a 16 foot long sea kayak without a rudder. This is the first sea kayak I’ve ever paddled that didn’t immediately broach and start side surfing. Once you get on the wave, you can pretty much sit back and it will track along the wave face. Once the wave closes out and you do find yourself side surfing, lean back and the bow gets pushed around and you’re surfing the soup with the bow pointed at the shore! Not once did I have to muscle the boat to stay where I wanted to on the wave. The only downside to surfing this kayak is turning it around once you decide which wave you want, so I have to line the boat up so that I am looking over my shoulder a bit. Then it’s just a lean turn and an extended paddle stroke and I’m ready to go. It punches out through the surf w/o getting knocked sideways, too. Once again, thanks for designing such an amazing boat!”
— Dan
“The LPB has been out on the Hudson close to 10 times so far. Here’s a little feedback: Very comfortable, most stable boat I own. Does not weathercock standing still or cruising at any angle. Lightest boat by a long shot. Despite 20 yet unsealed holes in the gunwale, it it the driest boat I own! Handles waves from any angle… Quiet, barely makes a ripple of a wake. Quick. I’m calling its top cruising speed 6mph—this is not sprinting! …The LPB is like an 18′ boat in front of the cockpit and a 14′ boat behind the cockpit. Everyone who has seen the LPB loves it. I keep noticing people taking pictures of my while I paddle by with the sunset shining through my boat.”
— John