Romany

The Classic sea kayak - made in Wales, paddled the world over.

The Romany was designed as Nigel’s school boat in the early ‘90s, and quickly became the new standard. At 16', it is a playful all around performer. The Romany brought the keyhole cockpit, confidence inspiring stability, easy rolling, three hatch "shaped ski" design into the general market, spawning numerous new models. It has received Sea Kayaker Magazine’s Readers Choice awards three times.

ROMANY CLASSIC

The award winning Romany Classic is a short 16’, responsive, stable kayak - both empty and loaded - with super high secondary stability, and neutral in winds and following seas. Designed for rough water and ease of handling in conditions, it is very comfortable for the athletic novice, yet many coaches also choose it as a work boat for its all day comfort in varied conditions. With one of the first and best keyhole cockpits offered in sea kayaks, it provides a wide range of fit for medium sized paddlers. The Romany tracks well for its length, and is easily controlled in wind with a minimum of weather cocking. Its high volume bow reduces plunging into waves. The maneuverability allows for good control in bumpy water or when playing in surf and rock gardens. Mostly it shines with its high secondary stability and keyhole cockpit providing a high level confidence and comfort in rougher, challenging waters. The up-on-edge secondary stability makes the Romany one of the easiest rolling boats we’ve experienced; you don’t have to roll as far ‘up’ to be stable. Originally designed as Nigel’s school boat for his Centre in North Wales, its broad function and high secondary stability have kept it as one of the baseline all around sea kayaks since its introduction in 1993.

The Romany Classic has won Sea Kayaker Magazine Readers Choice Awards for Best Roughwater Sea Kayak and Best Weekend Sea Kayak three times.

Recommended paddler weight: 120-200 lbs.

ROMANY PLUS

The new Romany Plus is the proven Romany Classic with knee bumps: raised areas on either side of the cockpit, facilitating a higher leg position and more knee room. The cockpit opening of the first generation Plus was 1/2" longer than the Romany Classic; in 2025, the second generation Plus further lengthened the cockpit opening by 1.4", providing easier entry and exit. The Romany Plus has the exact same hull as the original Romany Classic. At 16' in length, it is a  responsive, stable kayak both empty and loaded, with super high secondary stability, and neutral in winds and following seas. Designed for rough water and ease of handling in conditions, it is very comfortable for the athletic novice. The Romany tracks well for its length, and is easily controlled in wind with a minimum of weather cocking. Its high volume bow reduces plunging into waves. The maneuverability allows for good control in bumpy water or when playing in surf and rock gardens. Mostly, it shines with its high secondary stability, and its keyhole cockpit provides a high level confidence and comfort in rougher, challenging waters. MIKCo has both the Plus I & II; come demo to determine which fit is better for your physique.

Recommended paddler weight: 140-210 lbs.

Romany Review

"As an instructor, I needed a boat that was nimble enough for those quick rescues and for providing "poster-boy" demonstrations, fast enough for those impromptu teachable moments, and solid enough for landing in a variety of shorelines. Now, six years, nearly a hundred rescues, landings and many more miles later, it [the Romany] remains as my craft of choice. Skegless, it tracks adequately for an intermediate paddler and there's an ample amount of room for weeklong expeditions. Nigel really thought this boat through, with forward mounting for compass, recessed deck fittings, ample thigh braces, an angled rear cockpit bulkhead, and heavy lay-up.

This is the best all around sea kayak. Goes fast, tracks straight, turns great, and it's easy to roll. It just does everything well."

-paddling.com

ROMANY SURF

Based on the Romany Classic, the Romany Surf is designed for rough water and ease of handling in conditions. The Surf combines comfort, stability, and responsiveness in a high performance kayak for the medium to larger sized paddler. It is 2” longer and ½” wider in the stern than the Classic, supporting the extra weight and power of a larger paddler, hence doesn’t “squash down” as early at speed. It’s hull design is a larger person’s Romany with the same high stability, while the re-shaped foredeck allows for large feet: up to size 11/12 (Europe 46.5). The Surf offers extra knee height and leg room due to a raised area either side of the cockpit (the knee bumps) for those with longer femur bones or tighter hip/hamstring muscles. The seat is adjustable, and a wider seat is available. This kayak has a slightly wider keyhole cockpit that gives excellent grip, contact, and control while offering quick and easy entry and exit. The Surf has more volume in the rear compartments than the Romany Classic.

The sloping bulkhead behind the seat allows the kayak to be emptied by lifting only the bow; no x-rescue is necessary.

Recommended paddler weight 150-220 lbs.

Romany Surf Review

"I am: 6'2, 235 pound male with size 12 feet.  The Romany Surf is a boat marketed for surfing and day touring. The boat succeeds with both. The cockpit is large and makes entry and exit a breeze. I have no trouble getting in seat first. There is lots of room for my size 12 feet. The bump outs on the top deck fit my knees comfortably giving me a good contact with the boat.

This boat is so much fun to paddle in challenging waters. It is stable and predictable enough for a novice, but it is sporty enough for an expert."

-paddling.com

ROMANY EXCEL

The NDK Romany Excel is truly a larger person’s performance kayak, yet provides comfort for the novice seeking extra stability for general touring due to its wider, flat hull shape. An ideal kayak for the 220+ lb paddler. This kayak has a larger and wider keyhole cockpit for good contact but ease of entry and exit. Its extra leg room is complemented by the raised area, knee bumps, either side of the cockpit, and a wider high performance seat is fitted.

As with all NDKs, the Excel has a low rear deck for easy rolling, a cockpit offering safety and good contact, and the sloping bulkhead behind the seat allows the kayak to be emptied by lifting only the bow; no x-rescue is necessary.

Recommended paddler weight 200-250+ lbs.

ROMANY EXCEL EXPEDITION

The NDK Romany Excel Expedition brings all the benefits of the Excel into a true expedition's vessel. It is a larger person’s performance kayak, yet provides comfort for the novice seeking extra stability for extended touring due to its wider, flat hull shape. An ideal kayak for the 220+ lb paddler seeking to travel longer distances and carry ample gear.. This kayak has a larger and wider keyhole cockpit for good contact but ease of entry and exit. Its extra leg room is complemented by the raised area, knee bumps, either side of the cockpit, and a wider high performance seat is fitted.

As with all NDKs, the Excel Expedition has a low rear deck for easy rolling, a cockpit offering safety and good contact, and the sloping bulkhead behind the seat allows the kayak to be emptied by lifting only the bow; no x-rescue is necessary.

Recommended paddler weight 200-250+ lbs.

MIKCo has a Romany, Romany Plus, Romany Surf, Romany Excel and Romany Excel Expedition for you to test paddle.

We suggest reading Tom's article, Thoughts on Fitting, Demoing and Choosing a Sea Kayak, to give you an understanding of our emphasis on boat fit and function.

At Maine Island Kayak Co, all new full-price composite boat sales include custom foam fitting at a substantially reduced cost. This personalized process brings our world class boats into a league of their own.

See our Sport & Sportive page for Nigel Dennis Kayaks' only Rotomolded (RM) plastic sea kayaks. (Formerly the Romany Surf RM.)