P&H Cetus (MV)

I recently switched to a Cetus MV in Expedition Kevlar-Carbon, but this time to the brand-new Infusion version, which I am eager to talk about! This one is the black and green one I currently paddle with.

I paddled the Cetus in conditions from flat calm up to Force 7, and corresponding sea state. I’m using it as a coaching platform, for day trips, offshore trips, surfing, downwinders and rescue training. The thing I’m most proud of is that the Cetus accompanied me during my second North Sea crossing in 2018. So that’s the ship we are going to talk about!

Some history

Most of us know that the Cetus is a design that has set the standard for expedition sea kayaks during the last decade. P&H developed this boat, and prototypes were shown to the public at Trade Shows in 2006. The first Cetus deliveries to customers started in February 2007. At the beginning there was just a Cetus MV (a rather big MV), the updates followed soon afterwards to the complete gamma as we now know it, having three sizes that will fit any individual (HV, MV & LV).

Most names of P&H boats are from constellations, same counts for the Cetus (no plural, there is only one). Cetus is the Constellation of the Sea Monster or Whale (check Wikipedia for more information). The Cetus is the most successful production model in P&H’s history.

P&H Cetus (MV)

Performance/behaviour

With the Cetus, P&H took sea kayak design away from the earlier deeper V-designs, that only worked when fully loaded and were not playful at all. This boat has a low profile and slightly fuller ends. As a result, the Cetus can be leaned, so the ends disengage from the water. That way, it becomes like a ballet star as it plays around rocks, obstacles, or a rugged coastline.

This is extraordinary for an 18ft sea kayak! Also, one of the reasons why I can use this boat for almost anything. No hard chines on this boat, so it is very forgiving and can be steered around while putting it on edge with some knee pressure. This is one of the faster sea kayaks, not to be mistaken for a type ‘fast sea kayak’. Whether you paddle the Cetus on flat calm water or in more advanced conditions, speed can be maintained.

Want to see the boat in action? We have a video on our NORTHSEAKAYAK YouTube channel…

It is also a very stable boat, which is the reason why you can keep your focus on forward paddling instead of keeping yourself upright in rough seas. Stability is for every single sea kayaker slightly different, but I must say that I’m very comfortable in it during filming with my camera in those mentioned conditions. I rarely make use of the skeg; the Cetus tracks very well. Only on longer trips and when exposed to a stronger wind coming from the side, or a bit more from the back, I will drop the skeg a wee. When the wind and waves are coming from the back, I never use the skeg.

The Cetus is way too agile not to play in waves coming from the rear. So, during downwinders (even mild ones with only small waves) the Cetus will put a smile on your face. When one is new to sea kayaking, and you are not used to picking up locks like that, you can drop the skeg a bit, and the Cetus will track in a straight line, taking you anywhere you want! That is one of the cool aspects of this boat. It will please both the novice paddler, as it will the wintered coach or expedition sea kayaker.

It is very difficult to come up with numbers and exact speeds as we move on waters that are affected by tides and waves. I can only say (compared to paddlers with the same abilities and strength) that the Cetus does not keep up with other similar boats; it will lead the way! Also, one of the reasons why this boat is so popular with such a broad audience.

Now, a little about manoeuvrability. I’m using the Cetus also as a coaching platform for a few specific reasons. It is fast so that I can move from the back of the group to the front rather speedily. But and this is equally important, I can move around very quickly between places or paddlers. I can turn the Cetus on a dime, making my way back to a capsized teammate and saving essential time. The secondary stability gives a lot of trust, making you lean or edging the boat to the fullest. When that happens, you are no longer ‘just paddling’; you become a ballet dancer! Man, this boat is agile for its length!

Equipment/outfitting

The Cetus is expedition ready. That is a mouthful since only a small percentage of paddlers is effectively using their sea kayak for expedition use. It will swallow all your kit and take you to the end of the world in comfort. However, this doesn’t do this boat much honour – there is more to it than ‘just expedition ready’.

The Cetus is a complete boat (which I like way more than expedition ready). Let’s start with the deck itself. It comes with four hatches as standard, where the oval rear hatch can take the larger stuff, not just tent poles; I was instead thinking about a larger kayak cart and my emergency shelter. Same for bow hatch. Equally important are the mini hatch (right in front of the cockpit) and the day-hatch (right behind the cockpit). Those two compartments are well in reach of you whilst on the water.

That means you can put a complete safety kit in it; the space in the day-hatch is rather generous. The mini-hatch is ideal for smaller equipment, a snack, GPS, cell-phone…. All hatches are waterproof; I had no leakage during all those years. Don’t forget to lubricate (silicone-based sprays work best) the edges so that the hatches open and close easily. Deck lines and elastics are well placed, perfect for performing deep water rescues, also, in an excellent position to put your spare paddle or other safety equipment underneath. There are enough attachments, so no loose hanging lines all around.

compass recess

One of those details that I find essential is the compass recess. You don’t see this on all high-end boats. On an expedition boat, this is a must-have, and it should be standard like it is on the Cetus. The compass is installed on the bow, giving you the option to keep one eye on the course and the other on where you are going.
I can be very brief but thorough about the cockpit! This is P&H at its best! I’ve been using the Connect seat for years now – it is like putting a sofa in a jet fighter!

The seat, thigh braces, hip pads are connecting the paddler to the boat, period. Same counts for the Twist-Lock footrests. These are adjustable whilst sat in the cockpit. P&H boats are now delivered with some extra adhesive knee pads. You can stick those at the right place yourself, where your knees are touching the deck, very convenient.

Build quality/construction

The build quality is excellent, no question about it. You cannot find sharp edges; there is detail in this hand-built boat. When checking the inside, the seams, the hatch rims are all well placed without a single remark. Composite is for the lover of craftmanship. There are a few choices to consider when it comes to construction options. There is a choice between performance Kevlar-diolen and expedition diolen. You can even customise further, letting P&H make reinforced areas on your boat or mix things up to your wishes.

A while ago, P&H came up with a new advanced lay-up process called ‘lightweight infusion system constructions’. This process takes more time, an exact amount of resin is infused into the Kevlar/carbon weave excluding air pockets or other inconsistencies from the hull and deck structure. Now, this is where things come interesting.

Mostly, the tougher the boat, the more the weight increases. In my case, the weight of my Expedition Kevlar/carbon Cetus is exactly 30 kgs. When I ordered a new Cetus in the Expedition Kevlar/carbon infusion lay-up I was a bit reserved; would it just make a few kilograms, and will it be as stiff?

Upon receiving this Infusion layed-up Cetus, I immediately checked the weight; a little less than 25 kgs! This is a lot of weight-saving on such a boat. Still, I wanted to field test this kayak before starting to cheer. I did a few coaching sessions with it, I went surfing (force 5-6 and an average wave height of 1.5 metres), and I did some distance. After that, I felt it was time to sum it all up – and to cheer – a lot!

Compared to my first Cetus, the ‘infusion Cetus’ has the same stiffness, the same strength in construction but with the loss of more than 5 kgs. It gives a tiny bit of better acceleration, and it is super convenient when loading it to the roof rack of the car. This new infusion lay-up is built to quality, not as most do, to a price.

Is it worth it?

My answer if you are not on a budget; definitely! As for options – I would advise you NOT to look on the P&H website! Please don’t do it, I mean it! There is a so-called ‘kayak customiser’ that will keep you shackled to it until you finally composed the boat of your dreams! I have been busy for hours and days on that, looking at options, changing colours and making comparisons. There are a lot of things you can change or add to the Cetus!

After picking your lay-up, you can start thinking on seams, keel strips, cockpit rims and the constructions and colours of that all. You’re not finished by then! Choices to make on the outfitting, seat, bulkheads, footrests, rudder or skeg (no, we’re not going to start this debate). Do you want a built-in pump, compass, or another deck outfitting? Think about it!

Conclusion

The Cetus ticks all the boxes, making this a very versatile platform for expedition use, coaching, weekend, or day trips and even surfing. When spending your hard-earned money, rest assured that you will become more prosperous. Richer with memorable trips, fantastic views, and exciting experiences. You will travel in a high end, hand-built boat that takes you anywhere. Options will become standard for he/she who is paddling the Cetus. This boat is eye candy and performs at the same time, and you can customise the Cetus to all your wishes.

It is manoeuvrable when put on edge, fast when paddling straight. It will please the novice paddler and tease the more experienced kayaker to move boundaries. With the new Infusion lay-up, P&H has advanced the standard even higher. This boat has proven itself during the years, earning its place at the top of high-end sea kayaks.

Even better, try this boat out yourself! Have fun and take care of each other on the water!