Product Overview
In 2014, the Ehukai (meaning sea spray in Hawaiian) had become the next generation in OC1 outrigger canoe innovation. In addition to its novel features and striking design, Puakea Designs teamed up with Outrigger Zone to take advantage of the most sophisticated manufacturing technologies available. The Ehukai, designed by Johnny Puakea, is a super strong yet light canoe that has been described by many as zippy and effortless to paddle.
The Ehukai design, built by Outrigger Zone, has a very narrow bow and low volume allow for easy pick up and jump over of bumps. So while it picks up swell easily, it also maintains max speed while on the swell. This design enables quick acceleration and maneuverability on swells, with great glide in the flat. Its narrow foot well allows blade entry closer to the canoe, giving better leverage with each stroke. In the surf, the footwell cover keeps the water from filling the foot wells and weighing the boat down. In the flat, the footwell drains can be plugged to keep cold water away from your feet.
Construction
Whereas conventional canoe manufacturing methods use vacuum bagging technology, Outrigger Zone’s pre-preg one-piece bladder mould and autoclave technologies enable superior material strength. Unidirectional pre-impregnated carbon composite fibers around core-cell foam create an ideal resin-to-fiber ratio for a cleaner lamination with less material waste, while the autoclave uses atmospheric pressure and high heat (220 degrees) to create a stronger material bond with greater PSI. This strong bond also minimizes lamination distortion from the heat and sun over time.
Reviews
“You know when you get that car of your dreams that keeps up with your lifestyle and you say to yourself, “Wow, I’ll never have anything but a Subaru. Or… “I’ll forever only drive a truck.” That’s how I feel about my Ehukai. The Ehukai is hands down, my all time favorite canoe out of any model I’ve tried. I started with the standard Ehukai, and I now have the Ehukai Pro and I will probably never own anything else (no matter how much Johnny teases me for it).
This boat is the all around best canoe for the conditions we have here in California. It glides effortlessly in the flat, and it easily jumps waves on a downwinder. I feel like I fit in this canoe perfectly as well. The cockpit is secure and snug with a streamline feel. Whereas a canoe like the Kahekai feels too big for me, and I can’t maneuver it as well as I can with the Ehukai. It’s lightweight, and most importantly its comfortable!
Sometimes life throws you curveballs and you can’t get the water time you had wished for. With the Ehukai, it allows you to get back in the saddle at any level and still feel comfortable and have the ability to make the boat do what you want. I’ve paddled this canoe at my peak fitness level, and at my lowest, and the canoe has been the constant at both periods. After trying other models, I’ve felt an expectation to weigh a certain number of pounds, and go a specific speed to make the canoe do what its meant to do. There’s no expectations with the Ehukai, there’s no learning curve, it just does what you put into it.”
- Cora Wolfe (Southern California)
“Every few years in the world of outrigger, a new OC1 comes on to the market that changes the course of OC1 design throughout the industry. These designs are quickly noticed by other designers and the entire industry gravitates to similar designs.
The first such design was the Hurricane. It was revolutionary in acceleration and speed for an OC1. Another such design was the original Pueo. It took downwind surfing on an OC1 to a whole new level. The next revolution in OC1 design is John Puakea’s Ehukai.
The Ehukai seamlessly blends a canoe with flat water speed and downwind surfing excellence.
The Ehukai’s major strength is it jumps waves easily and carries its speed much further then previous designs. This leads the Ehukai to really excel in the small to medium waves found in Hawaii and California. My flat water speeds are noticeably better in short burst and over long distances. In big surf the canoe continuously wants to accelerate down and across the wave you are riding on, making paddling across the waves much easier and more rewarding then before.
The quality of production is as impressive as the design of the canoe. The new manufacturing process is second to none. The boat is noticeably stiffer, and more durable than previous canoes. For those of us that use their canoes often, or load and unload off our vehicle often are very grateful.”
- Danny Ching (Southern California)
Specs
Type: Standard OC1 (Single Outrigger Canoe)
Length: 20 ft. 8 in.
Width: 15.875 in.
Hull Weight: approx. 18 lbs.
Rigged Weight: approx. 23 lbs.
Material: 100% Carbon Fiber
Manufacturer: Outrigger Zone (Ozone)
This model is no longer in production, but parts are still available through Ozone.
