KataKanu
The KataKanu is a uniquely designed, twin-hulled canoe that blends catamaran stability with a genuine canoeing experience.
Built for up to 6 paddlers at once. Hand-built at The Boathouse in Norfolk, it's trusted by outdoor centres, canoe clubs, schools and families who want exceptional stability without giving up the feel of paddling a canoe.
A Twin-Hull Canoe Built for Groups, Not Just Solo Paddlers
The KataKanu is unlike anything else in UK canoe retail: a twin-hulled, catamaran-style, sit-on-top canoe built to carry up to 6 paddlers at once. Where a conventional canoe asks a group to balance as one narrow hull, the KataKanu's twin-hull design brings the stability of a catamaran to a genuinely open, sit-on-top canoeing experience — you still paddle it like a canoe, you just don't tip like one. It's why the KataKanu has become a go-to boat for outdoor centres, canoe clubs, holiday parks and school groups running sessions for several paddlers at a time.
Hand-Built at The Boathouse, Norfolk
Every KataKanu is hand-built here at The Boathouse in Norfolk — this isn't an imported or white-labelled boat. That matters if you're comparing suppliers for a fleet purchase: spares, support and any warranty query come straight back to the people who actually built the boat, not a third party.
Where the KataKanu Performs Best
The KataKanu is designed for canals, rivers, lakes, estuaries and sheltered coastal water — the kind of calm, controlled conditions most outdoor centres, hire fleets and family days out actually paddle in. It isn't built or rated for open coastal or tidal water, so if your sessions run on exposed coastline, this isn't the right boat for that specific use. Within its intended water types, the hulls are designed with reserve buoyancy — even if the seating areas take on water, the boat is built to keep supporting its paddlers rather than losing stability outright, which is worth knowing if safety sign-off is part of your buying decision.
Who the KataKanu Is For
The KataKanu earns its keep with outdoor activity centres and holiday park operators running multi-person sessions, canoe clubs and hire operators building out a fleet, and schools — including SEN programmes — that need a stable platform for a paddler and an instructor or helper together. It's also genuinely usable by families with the space and water access to make the most of a boat this size, though it's worth being honest: at this size and price, it suits a family with regular access to suitable water and somewhere to store and transport it, rather than an occasional-use purchase. If you're paddling solo, or only ever need a boat for one or two people, a standard canoe will suit you better and cost significantly less.
Construction and What to Expect
The KataKanu weighs around 100kg — worth planning for if you're launching, storing or transporting it, particularly for a family buyer used to handling a lighter single-hull canoe. If you need an exact figure for a formal risk assessment or fleet safety sign-off, get in touch with our team directly and we'll confirm current guidance.
Why Choose a Katakanu?
- Unrivalled Stability & Safety – The twin-hull design provides superior stability, making it ideal for beginners, group paddling, and inclusive water activities.
- Multi-Person Capacity – Designed to comfortably carry up to 6 paddlers, making it a versatile choice for group expeditions, coaching sessions, and accessible paddling.
- Ultra-Durable Hull Construction – Rotomolded from premium, UV-stable polyethylene, our hulls are built to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions—whether in rental fleets, outdoor education programs, or expedition paddling.
- Made in the UK – Handcrafted by passionate paddlers in Norfolk, ensuring top-tier quality, innovation, and access to spare parts & repairs whenever you need them.
- Easy Maintenance & Repair – With a full range of spare parts and accessories available online, keeping your Katakanu in top condition is simple and cost-effective.
- Adventure-Ready Design – The integrated trampoline provides extra space for storage and passengers, while the ergonomic seating and hull shape deliver a smooth, controlled ride on any waterway.
Colours and Ordering
The KataKanu is available in a range of colours to suit a centre, club or family's preference — get in touch with our team for current availability, including for multi-boat fleet orders. Whether you're equipping a single centre or building out a hire fleet of six or more, we're happy to talk through options and lead times before you order.
FAQs
Yes. Every KataKanu is hand-built at The Boathouse in Norfolk — it isn't an imported or third-party-built boat.
A KataKanu is designed to carry up to 6 paddlers at once. We're finalising the exact weight-capacity rating for publication on this page — if you need a precise figure for a fleet purchase or a formal safety assessment, contact our team directly for current guidance.
A standard canoe has a single hull, so stability depends on the paddlers' balance. The KataKanu has two hulls in a catamaran-style layout, which gives it much greater side-to-side stability while keeping the open, sit-on-top feel of paddling a canoe — it's a different way of getting the stability of a wider craft without losing the canoeing experience.
Yes — its twin-hull stability and reserve-buoyancy design make it a popular choice for first-time paddlers, and it has a track record of use by outdoor centres, holiday parks and SEN and forces cadet groups needing a stable, confidence-building platform. As with any watersports activity, appropriate supervision and safety equipment still apply.
Yes — many outdoor centres and hire operators already run KataKanu fleets of six or more. Get in touch with our team to talk through fleet quantities, colours and lead times.
The KataKanu is designed for canals, rivers, lakes, estuaries and sheltered coastal water. It isn't rated for open coastal or tidal conditions, so it's best suited to calmer, more controlled water types.
A Twin-Hull Canoe Built for Groups, Not Just Solo Paddlers
The KataKanu is unlike anything else in UK canoe retail: a twin-hulled, catamaran-style, sit-on-top canoe built to carry up to 6 paddlers at once. Where a conventional canoe asks a group to balance as one narrow hull, the KataKanu's twin-hull design brings the stability of a catamaran to a genuinely open, sit-on-top canoeing experience — you still paddle it like a canoe, you just don't tip like one. It's why the KataKanu has become a go-to boat for outdoor centres, canoe clubs, holiday parks and school groups running sessions for several paddlers at a time.
Hand-Built at The Boathouse, Norfolk
Every KataKanu is hand-built here at The Boathouse in Norfolk — this isn't an imported or white-labelled boat. That matters if you're comparing suppliers for a fleet purchase: spares, support and any warranty query come straight back to the people who actually built the boat, not a third party.
Where the KataKanu Performs Best
The KataKanu is designed for canals, rivers, lakes, estuaries and sheltered coastal water — the kind of calm, controlled conditions most outdoor centres, hire fleets and family days out actually paddle in. It isn't built or rated for open coastal or tidal water, so if your sessions run on exposed coastline, this isn't the right boat for that specific use. Within its intended water types, the hulls are designed with reserve buoyancy — even if the seating areas take on water, the boat is built to keep supporting its paddlers rather than losing stability outright, which is worth knowing if safety sign-off is part of your buying decision.
Who the KataKanu Is For
The KataKanu earns its keep with outdoor activity centres and holiday park operators running multi-person sessions, canoe clubs and hire operators building out a fleet, and schools — including SEN programmes — that need a stable platform for a paddler and an instructor or helper together. It's also genuinely usable by families with the space and water access to make the most of a boat this size, though it's worth being honest: at this size and price, it suits a family with regular access to suitable water and somewhere to store and transport it, rather than an occasional-use purchase. If you're paddling solo, or only ever need a boat for one or two people, a standard canoe will suit you better and cost significantly less.
Construction and What to Expect
The KataKanu weighs around 100kg — worth planning for if you're launching, storing or transporting it, particularly for a family buyer used to handling a lighter single-hull canoe. If you need an exact figure for a formal risk assessment or fleet safety sign-off, get in touch with our team directly and we'll confirm current guidance.
Why Choose a Katakanu?
- Unrivalled Stability & Safety – The twin-hull design provides superior stability, making it ideal for beginners, group paddling, and inclusive water activities.
- Multi-Person Capacity – Designed to comfortably carry up to 6 paddlers, making it a versatile choice for group expeditions, coaching sessions, and accessible paddling.
- Ultra-Durable Hull Construction – Rotomolded from premium, UV-stable polyethylene, our hulls are built to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions—whether in rental fleets, outdoor education programs, or expedition paddling.
- Made in the UK – Handcrafted by passionate paddlers in Norfolk, ensuring top-tier quality, innovation, and access to spare parts & repairs whenever you need them.
- Easy Maintenance & Repair – With a full range of spare parts and accessories available online, keeping your Katakanu in top condition is simple and cost-effective.
- Adventure-Ready Design – The integrated trampoline provides extra space for storage and passengers, while the ergonomic seating and hull shape deliver a smooth, controlled ride on any waterway.
Colours and Ordering
The KataKanu is available in a range of colours to suit a centre, club or family's preference — get in touch with our team for current availability, including for multi-boat fleet orders. Whether you're equipping a single centre or building out a hire fleet of six or more, we're happy to talk through options and lead times before you order.
FAQs
Yes. Every KataKanu is hand-built at The Boathouse in Norfolk — it isn't an imported or third-party-built boat.
A KataKanu is designed to carry up to 6 paddlers at once. We're finalising the exact weight-capacity rating for publication on this page — if you need a precise figure for a fleet purchase or a formal safety assessment, contact our team directly for current guidance.
A standard canoe has a single hull, so stability depends on the paddlers' balance. The KataKanu has two hulls in a catamaran-style layout, which gives it much greater side-to-side stability while keeping the open, sit-on-top feel of paddling a canoe — it's a different way of getting the stability of a wider craft without losing the canoeing experience.
Yes — its twin-hull stability and reserve-buoyancy design make it a popular choice for first-time paddlers, and it has a track record of use by outdoor centres, holiday parks and SEN and forces cadet groups needing a stable, confidence-building platform. As with any watersports activity, appropriate supervision and safety equipment still apply.
Yes — many outdoor centres and hire operators already run KataKanu fleets of six or more. Get in touch with our team to talk through fleet quantities, colours and lead times.
The KataKanu is designed for canals, rivers, lakes, estuaries and sheltered coastal water. It isn't rated for open coastal or tidal conditions, so it's best suited to calmer, more controlled water types.
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