Battle of the 16-foot "British-style" kayaks – Stellar “Nomad” first look

Not a review, just impressions from plan/profile photos of the new (soon to be released) Stellar Nomad kayak. In short - the seat is located closer to the bow compared to similar 16-foot "British style" kayaks. 

Stellar is a company that makes light-weight kayaks in carbon for less money than other manufacturers. 16-foot sea kayaks occupy something of a sweet-spot, they can be fun in rough water and are ideal if you mostly day-paddle and don't care much about maximum hull speed.   It's great to see another offering in this category. 

Using the term "British style" loosely, i.e. narrow, rockered sea kayaks with skegs, the Nomad fits right in with the rest.  Looking at the comparison photos below, the hull of the new Nomad (the green boat at bottom of Photos 1 and 2) looks just as rockered as the others, so should be nice for playing in rough water.  And it appears a bit more Swede-form (widest just behind seat) which could make it more efficient in the forward paddling department.   But the main difference I see is its seat position – the cockpit (and center of mass of seat) is located noticeably more towards the bow compared to other boats in this category.  That’s intriguing.  It’ll be interesting to see how that affects the way it paddles - center of mass towards the bow usually increases weather-cocking making a functional skeg important.  Lastly, compared to the other boats the Nomad has less upsweep at the bow and stern, which reduces windage and appears to add some waterline length (both helpful for speed and efficiency) but might make for a wetter ride in rough seas...time will tell. 

Here's an early video review of the Stellar Nomad by Alder Creek a retailer based in Oregon, and you can pre-order the Nomad from Offshore Marine, a retailer located in Illinois. (I'd personally test paddle of course before ordering a new boat.)

Photo 1

Photo 2

Valley Gemini SP Kayak Review

Turns out 15 feet is not too short for a sea kayak.  And it’s more maneuverable than all other sea kayaks I've paddled - even short ones like the Valley Avocet, the SKUK Romany, the P&H Delphin, and the Tiderace Xtra…

Valley Gemini SP

Take Home Points:

Pros:

·         Light weight (vacuum bagged fiberglass layup)

·         Super maneuverable

·         Super-easy to edge (low initial stability)

·         Comfy cockpit – better thigh braces, roomier than low volume boats

·         Surfs nicely, good volume/buoyancy and hard chine

·         New small day hatch – easy to attach, big enough

·         14’10” is not too short for a sea kayak

Cons:

·         Valley plastic seat (not comfortable or ergonomic for me)

·         Low initial stability (a pro for some, con for others)

·         Low speed – not a good choice for distance paddling
·         Skeg-dependent boat

·         Huge rear hatch – unnecessary in a play-boat, hard to put on

I demoed the Valley Gemini SP a few years ago and thought “wow, this is cool and different.” I'd paddled a lot of "play-at-sea" style kayaks by then and eventually bought a Gemini - am glad I did. If you're looking to make the move to a shorter boat, the Gemini SP serves the play-boat function better than most.

When I started paddling, unless you were a traditional Greenland kayak enthusiast, you really only had two categories of sea kayak to choose from:  British style boats (e.g. Valley/NDK/P&H), which were generally better suited to rougher water, and the American or "West Coast" style kayaks (e.g. Necky/Wilderness Systems) which tended to have rudders and less hull rocker so were more geared to distance paddling or island hopping/camping.  Since that time the differences between these two broad categories of boats has blurred – American kayak manufacturers have incorporated many of the elements of British boats (rocker, skegs, harder chines) as a larger number of people have become interested in bumpy water. On the other side of the Atlantic, some British manufacturers are branching out more into fitness/distance kayaks (e.g. Valley Rapier,Rockpool Taran) – adopting some of the elements of surf skis or revisiting elements of racing kayaks like the Kirton Inuk (i.e. less rocker, high-foredecks for knee movement, plumb bows).  So it’s all a mish-mosh these days - greater and greater diversity in design.

An additional new sub-category of sea kayak of late is the shorter play-boat style. If you find yourself diverging towards the "bumpy water enthusiast" sea kayaking camp, as opposed to the "distance/speed" or "Greenland" camps, you may choose to look for a shorter, more maneuverable boat. The first of these shorter sea kayaks was really the Romany – a shorter version of Nigel Dennis’s longer Explorer kayak that was intended (as I understand it) for coaches and students in the rough waters off Wales. That boat set the bar pretty high, and for some years (until Valley came out with its own version – the Avocet) no one else was making "real" sea kayaks under 17' in length.  Even recent play-at-sea kayaks inspired (probably) by the Romany have been reluctant to go any shorter than 16’ – the P&H Delphin is 16’, the Tiderace Xtra (their smallest boat) is still only 16.5’.  Sure there are plastic rec-boats for beginners (P&H Orca) or modified whitewater boats (P&H Hammer) that are under 16' in length - both would be excellent "park-and-play-boats" I expect, but whether these are true "sea kayaks" is debatable.   So with all this in mind, into the ever-widening assortment of sea kayak designs comes a fairly radical departure – the Gemini SP. It looks like a true sea kayak (narrow, fiberglass, pointy at both ends, skeg, hatches) but it is only 14’10” in length and has plenty of rocker.

Handling:

Maneuverability - The SP is a joy to maneuver in tight places, catch waves or explore the coast line. This is what the boat is meant for and where the boat shines. If you enjoy using all your strokes and edging and having an immediate response from your kayak - this boat is for you. That's something I value in a kayak and the boat doesn't disappoint. The combination of short length and deeper “V” cross section of the hull adds measurably to the SP’s maneuverability – edging the boat is effortless.  I've found this a lot of fun – you can turn this boat 180 degrees in a flash. Experienced paddlers with good support strokes will crank it around with ease, a definite plus when rock-hopping or playing in bumpy water.  By the same token, novice paddlers may find the boat somewhat tippy at first.

Tracking - The flip-side to maneuverability is tracking of course.  When not playing around in bumpy water or winding up a sinuous tidal creek, you may find yourself relying on the skeg in the Gemini SP. To prevent this unusually short boat from spinning like a top, Valley gave the SP a somewhat deeper “V” hull cross-section than other kayaks to aid in tracking. The result is a boat that paddles fairly straight on flat water but definitely relies on the skeg in wind.  I’d say its directional stability is somewhat better than the Valley Pintail on flat water with no wind (which is a good thing), but about equal to the Pintail (i.e. less than most other kayaks) under most conditions. For those who don't know the Pintail, this means it's very "turny". So, to a larger degree than most traditional sea kayaks, the Gemini is a skeg-dependent boat if you're trying to really "get somewhere" in a cross-wind - get a pebble in the skeg box and you’ll soon feel like clearing it. This is an acceptable trade-off for a short, maneuverable boat in my opinion. Valley's latest skeg setup itself operates flawlessly and the slider doesn’t protrude into the left knee too much.

Speed - If your primary goal in sea kayaking is to cover many miles on straight journeys (as is certainly the case for many sea kayakers) you wouldn't be looking at the Gemini SP in the first place. In mild conditions the Gemini feels somewhat slower than other boats, not hugely so, but enough that I wouldn't choose it for a journey.  But it keeps up fine with longer kayaks on shorter day paddles. When sea conditions pick up and the advantage of boat length lessens, the SP may even out-paddle the group. (Head-winds or following seas are the great "leveler" when it comes to paddling speed I find - as conditions worsen, how you paddle matters more than what boat you're in).

Surf - In the bumpy conditions I can find in my local waters (boat wakes and locally-generated waves in Long Island Sound) the SP excels - the boat can catch rides and turn on a wave more easily than other sea kayaks. The Gemini is "squirrely" on a wave and easier to change directions with aggressive edging. So the Gemini is excellent for steeper waves, playing in/near shorebreak or for riding shorter wavelength waves in following seas.  But to be fair, kayaks longer than the Gemini will catch more rides on longer-wavelength waves in following seas. I've found the SP's short length makes it a bit more of a struggle to get on the long-wavelength stuff, something some kayakers (and surf-ski paddlers) like to do. And if you have a strong upper body and bigger water is your primary interest, a slightly longer/bigger kayak would probably better fit your needs (Xtra/Xcite, Romany Surf, Avocet, Delphin). These boats would be easier to paddle out to the big features (tideraces/ ocean swell) and their added volume/length can probably take advantage of big conditions with less effort than the Gemini.  But for local bumpy water closer to shore, I'd say the SP is a better choice - more fun.  The SP’s easy maneuverability requires a bit more attention to rudder strokes and sweeps when paddling in conditions, but that's part of the fun.

One minor thing to be aware of, if you’re used to a flat-bottom boat that is a stable platform when entering/exiting your kayak, the Gemini SP’s “V” hull will be tippier than you’re used to. I was accustomed to plunking my butt down in my Romany in shallow water without the slightest concern for its stability and adjusting footpegs while on the water was easy. But in the Gemini, I have to take a bit more care since the “V” will tip the boat one way or the other – got me unexpectedly wet a few times.

Fit:

The cockpit has more room than many British style kayaks – more space for the knees in front of the seat. This helps forward paddling and will allow both larger and smaller paddlers to enjoy the boat. I’m 5’10, 185 lbs and size 10 feet – the boat fits me fine.  The cockpit coaming is decent in the Gemini but not as good as the Tiderace/Rockpool boats which (in my opinion) have a superior shape and design. These boats have more centered thigh grips set closer together, higher up, and located a bit closer to the torso than the Gemini. This allows a more knees-up position in these other boats (even moreso than in the Gemini) that adds to forward stroke efficiency and places the thigh-grip part of the coaming at mid-thigh - not down by the knee as is unfortunately more the case with the Gemini. So the thigh grips could be improved on the Gemini, but they are a definite improvement over many older keyhole cockpit designs.  If I had my way, all sea kayak manufacturers would adopt the design of the Tiderace/Rockpool cockpit coaming.  Lastly, the coaming height behind the seat on the Gemini is higher than some boats - if you do a lot of lay-back rolls you may have to adjust a little.

Construction/Outfitting:

Overall the construction and outfitting of the SP is excellent as in all Valley boats past and present.  One pleasant surprise is the roughly 7-inch day hatch. I’d thought it might be too small but it accommodates all the gear I need access to while on the water plus it’s actually easier than standard (larger) day hatches to close, readily doable with just one hand. The rear hatch, on the other hand, is huge overkill in my opinion – it’s actually larger than the large oval hatches on Valley’s big touring boats! Why such a big hatch on a play-boat?  Plus it’s heavy and hard to put on – instead I’d have put the same 10” round hatch as Valley spec'd for the bow. A mystery.  My second beef with all the current Valley boats is the one-size-fits-all plastic seat. Seat comfort and functionality are a personal thing - some may like the Valley seat, but for me it is a bad fit. I find it insufficiently deep front-to-back and not flat (level) enough, and rather than widening at the front to accommodate the spread of the thighs as you sit with feet on pegs, to me if feels constrictive at the front.  Discarding the removable hip-braces helped a bit but for me it was still no good. As a reference, I find the standard SKUK Romany/Explorer seats comfortable and even tolerated the old-style ocean cockpit Valley Anas Acuta/Pintail seats.  So I swapped out the standard plastic seat for a foam seat (available as an option from VCP) which is much better. Valley should revisit their plastic seat in my opinion – I remember when the Nordkapp LV first came out I loved it, amazing boat. A few years later I tried an LV again after they’d swapped out all their boats’ seats for the new plastic one-size-fits-all version – suddenly the LV became tight in the thighs (and I’m a pretty average sized person) and paddled poorly for me. I would strongly encourage Valley to make something like SKUK’s latest seat which is fabulous – the SKUK High Performance Seat is a flatter, neutral seat with an integral minimalist back-stop.  You can always swap out a seat in a sea kayak, so this was not a deal-breaker for me.  Lastly, the Gemini’s light weight is great – noticeably easier to haul around on dry land than all other fiberglass sea kayaks I’ve owned - a major plus in my opinion.  The trade-off is a somewhat more flexible hull than heavier lay-up boats. With the foam seat directly on the hull in the Gemini, I can feel the hull flex a bit under my seat in bumpy water and if you run over a submerged rock you'll definitely feel it. For me, this is an acceptable trade-off and the hull is certainly stiffer than some kevlar boats I've been in.  Some may want to keep the standard plastic seat for this reason (if they can tolerate it) because it’s hung from the deck so your weight is not on the hull. As a comparison, I also have a foam seat in my Romany and there’s no hull flex – of course the Romany is way heavier than the Gemini.

Final Thoughts:

For me the impetus to buy the Gemini SP was an injured shoulder. In order to stay in the sport I needed something lighter weight that would be easier to move around on land and that might also be good at poking around close to shore on low mileage paddles. My previous love was rough water sea kayaking, surf, tide races, etc. big water stuff.  Though that type of paddling is now largely in my past, my former preference for bumpy water factored into my interest in the Gemini SP. I’m glad I got the boat and would encourage all paddlers to try it.  If you have a longer touring boat, the SP would be a great second boat to have for playing in rough water.  It would also be a good “do-everything” boat if most of your paddling is rock-gardening, surf, and shorter coastal exploring. One last note – the “sister boat” the Gemini ST has a different hull – less rocker and volume.  I've never tried the ST, but expect it would suit those looking for a light, maneuverable boat with improved tracking and less emphasis on surf.

In Defense of the SKUK Romany Kayak – Review



Not that the Romany needs defending exactly, but it’s not a new design.  And I’ve written about other kayaks I’ve demoed on this blog, but not yet about the kayak I own. The two flagship kayaks of the SKUK (NDK) line remain the Romany and the Explorer – neither has changed much since their release in the early 1990’s. I’ve owned both and they are the only kayaks that I purchased new, custom ordered from the UK. Other boats I’ve owned have come and gone – good boats that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But I’ve still kept the Romany and am unlikely to part with it.  Here's why:

The hull is a friendly design – comfortable for those new to the sport and one that increasingly shows its value as a paddler’s skills improve. The Romany has enough rocker to be fun and responsive in conditions, while also remaining straight-running even without using the skeg. It has a boxy chine to carve and maneuver in following seas or when surfing, but is more gentle than some of the recent kayak designs that respond sharply to edging. The boat is reassuring in big conditions – whether your energy is high and you’re attacking the surf, or at the end of a long day and your goal is to get home.  Other kayaks may excel at certain times because of the choices the boat's designer made – some are better at distance paddling, some are more sharply responsive in surf, some may handle beam waves with a bit more ease. But these same kayaks can also become a burden at times – those with too much rocker are hard to keep straight, those with fully rounded chines lack a responsive edge to support aggressive sweep strokes, those with an even flatter cross-section may suffer more leeway in high winds.  The Romany hull is a thoughtful compromise that solidly performs all that a skilled paddler can throw at it while not excelling in any one area to the detriment of another. For this reason, having such a boat is (in my opinion) a good decision for all sea kayakers. Whether it is the only boat you own, or the “workhorse” in your fleet to use when you need a reliable craft, the Romany is a great choice.

They’re also pretty bomb-proof.  Though heavy, I’ve bashed my SKUK boats around and they’re solidly built and largely maintenance free.  In my experience the round hatches are bone dry no matter how rough the conditions are.  The boat doesn’t have any fiddly parts or an odd layout – the skeg slider is where it should be; the deck lines are well arranged – they avoid the day hatch area so you can put the cover back on easily (for example); the thigh braces and seat are simple, functional, and ergonomic for an active paddler.  The thing just works well – Nigel Dennis got it right the first time and clearly sees no reason to make substantial changes to the boat. And of course with the popularity of the SKUK boats among seasoned paddlers, it seems every other manufacturer has incorporated some of the Romany/Explorer design elements into their own boats - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Despite a lot of imitators, no one has created anything that's quite as good as the original – the Romany and Explorer remain at the top of the short list of rough water sea kayaks.

There are tons of Romany’s out there among experienced sea kayakers, yet you don’t see too many for sale.  The reason for this is obvious I think – once you own one you don't want to part with it. In fact, Sea Kayaker Magazine voted the Romany the “Best Day/Weekend Kayak” and “Best Rough-Water Kayak” in their 2011 Readers Choice awards.  For a design that hasn’t changed in 20 years, that’s saying something.

Sterling “Reflection” Kayak Review - Made for the Waves

Had the unique opportunity to paddle the "Reflection" by Sterling Kayaks last weekend. The attraction for me is its light weight – probably 10 lbs lighter than your typical British boat judging by its heft – and its maneuverability.  A boat for short local paddles that's easier to carry are key features for me these days. And something that puts a smile on my face if the waves/wind get big is good too.  After seeing a photo of the Reflection, the thing just looked like a radical departure in terms of shape as compared to other kayaks – so I wanted to try it out.

  

Sterling "Reflection" kayak - Groton, CT

Sterling Kayaks is a U.S. company out of Bellingham, Washington. Recent online videos of sea kayakers paddling the Skookumchuck tide race are well populated by this boat nowadays. Sterling is something of a custom shop, focused on specific designs and light construction. Lacking dealers on the east coast, I happened upon a local kayaker in Connecticut who may own the only Reflection east of the Mississippi!  I joined him and a few paddling friends of his – and he kindly let me paddle his boat while he paddled mine. 

Couple things about the Reflection – the boat is 16 feet long, has HUGE rocker and narrow/tapered ends. (Somewhat reminiscent of Derek Hutchinson's Gultstream/Slipstream kayaks if anyone remembers those, but with more rocker).  The bow and stern exhibit little volume below the waterline - their shape resembles narrow fins for gently engaging the water when the hull hits a wave or is surfing in the trough. To complement the fineness of the bow/stern, the volume of the hull is instead concentrated in the middle by the cockpit – at 23 inches with a rounded chine it pushes back forcefully when edged. A fun responsive feel.  The end result in calm water is a boat that is VERY maneuverable and fun to paddle along the shore, turning this way and that, edging around obstacles, etc.  In addition, the narrowness of the hull's bow/stern (low prismatic coefficient) allows this boat to get up to speed from a stand-still very quickly, which adds to the fun-factor when rock-gardening along the coast.  Of course there’s always a downside to every upside – the top end cruising speed in calm water seemed lower to me in the Reflection compared to more standard-shaped kayaks of similar length, boats which retain more hull volume below the waterline out toward the ends. This is an expected and reasonable trade-off in my opinion.

We had some following seas during my demo paddle – but nothing big to really show how the Reflection’s rocker and wide mid-section might dance and carve on a wave.  WAVES and SURF are certainly what the boat is made for.  I expect it would be exceptional as a park-and-play boat on a big standing wave or messing about in some long-wavelength shore break. Despite the narrowness of the ends below the waterline, the boat has a large amount of reserve buoyancy above the waterline. From the photos you can see the bulbous fore and aft decks that rise higher than the cockpit rim, somewhat like a whitewater creeking boat.  Am sure this buoyancy keeps it lively and maneuverable, resisting burying in a wave.  Unfortunately, most of these thoughts have to be conjecture since it was a mild November day in Connecticut when I tested the boat – but looking at west-coast videos of the boat in conditions gives you a sense how the fat mid-section, big rocker, and tapered hull make for a fun surfing machine. It seems to have a definite edge in the surfing department judging by this remarkable video of a coastal surfing competition showing the Reflection carving on wave faces (changing direction left and right like a surf kayak), spinning to paddle in reverse on the crests, even rising back up the wave to the sweet spot after it’s been down in the trough! All things that are tough to do in most sea kayaks in shore-breaking surf (paddler power and skill undoubtedly have a lot to do with the moves in this video, but you get the idea). See Video - note especially the guy in the lime green boat at 4:37 - wow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkO3Rsdi3dE

Fit/Finish:  The Reflection has a comfy keyhole cockpit, foam seat, and flat/lowish thigh braces – perfect for the snug responsiveness you’d want for a surf session.  This setup was OK for a regular day-trip (going from A to B), but I might prefer higher thigh braces for a somewhat looser cockpit feel if I was using the Reflection as my do-everything kayak. Distance paddling is not what this boat is made for so that trade-off is understood.  The skeg is located ODDLY directly behind the cockpit, taking up one side of the day-hatch compartment.  Deploying the skeg was smooth and flawless. The effect on the boat when fully deployed was quite mild – owing to its location. It did help some to fight weather cocking, but not nearly as much as a standard skeg.  Regardless, the boat’s maneuverability and stiff secondary stability makes edging the boat to fight weather cocking easy and effective. Am not entirely sure what affect the skeg would have on the face of a wave – certainly it would retain most of its turning ability.  The design, paint job, and finish on the boat are very cool – really looks like a custom kayak and not one off an assembly line as some boats do. 




Sterling Reflection cockpit

That’s it – something to consider if you’re in the market for a rough water kayak. Although more of a specialized craft than some, it was fun to paddle in mild conditions too.

Sterling Reflection kayak Groton CT

Kayak Hull Design – Hard and Soft Chines – VCP vs. NDK

Thought I’d post an email I sent to a kayaking friend who’s looking to buy a new boat. I’ve owned a number of kayaks over the years and had the opportunity to paddle a good many others when working for AKT. These are just my observations – I’m a fan of a lot of kayak styles so this isn’t an argument for any one type over another:

“Good luck in Boston and when you get around to trying the Chatham 17 let me know what you think. I thought it was bigger volume and more straight running (less rocker) than I wanted when I paddled it 4-5 years ago – but I’d recently come from the Pintail aka “Pin-wheel” which is very low volume and low directional stability, so any boat would feel like a big change after that.

You mentioned the Nordkapp, which is actually a great rough water boat, and excellent at paddling straight distances in rough water. But it wouldn’t be my first choice for a “carving, surfing, edging style” of kayak for rough water, if you know what I mean. To elaborate - the Pintail and Nordkapp both have a softer chine and decent rocker (especially the Pintail and Nordkapp LV). Because of this, they have a wonderful feel in rough water – they feel very stable as the water gets chaotic because they have the rounded, soft chine design. Despite their somewhat reduced initial stability or “twitchiness” in flat water (as compared to the NDK-style boats), they become more secure to the paddler in jumbly water in part because they lack the chine.

However, when it comes to surfing in following seas, or catching waves, or putting out an aggressive edge to carve a turn – the NDK-style boats (like Chatham, Romany, Tiderace, Impex Force, etc.) are good at that because of their harder chine and flatter hull in the mid-section. These NDK-style boats have hulls that grab the water with their chine (hence they carve turns when edged) and also get “stiffer”, i.e. more secure, as you edge them. As the chine is depressed into the water when you edge, the portion of the hull’s displacement volume contained in the chine resists (pushes back) as it is submerged, thereby giving more resistance to the paddler (something about righting-moment or center of mass vs. buoyancy – check a kayak book for that). It’s all relative of course and boat width is a huge factor. But with the exception of the super narrow Greenland boats, I find that the chiney boats add support as you edge them.

By contrast, the Pintail is easy to edge and it just keeps getting easier and easier the more you edge with little resistance until it capsizes! In fact, VCP gave the Pintail more width than its sister boat the Anas Acuta specifically because it lacked a chine and needed more width to have adequate stability. So that’s what people mean when they talk about the “tenderness” or “twitchiness” of the Pintail or Nordkapp. They seem not to resist edging as much. With no chine, the act of edging doesn’t submerge much hull volume down into the water because there is no chine to submerge. BUT one can sit incredibly securely in jumbly water (clapotis) in the Pintail, noticeably more so than in the NDK boats in my opinion, because the round, chine-less hull just “gives” easily when buffeted by incoming waves hitting it in various directions. Pintail and Nordkapp feel very stable paddling through rough water or sitting in rough water. In that sense, they are very fun to mess around in rough water – but are not as good at carving and surfing.

Hope that makes sense – seems counter intuitive I know. Sorry for the long diatribe. I enjoyed writing it. Lastly, the Nordkapp LV is really a new boat, different from the classic Nordkapp – it’s somewhere in between a Pintail and Nordkapp. I thought it felt like a faster, looser Avocet. So it’s fun and fast and would be a good play boat that can also go distances if you need it to. (If you can fit under the deck that is – try it if there’s one around – although I absolutely loved the feel of the Nordkapp LV when I first tried it, when they switched to their plastic seat I found it too tight for my legs). In some respects, you might find a boat like the Avocet or Pintail most "forgiving" in rough water simply because these boats have less volume above the waterline and so less boat for wind/waves to affect. (That's my personal bias, I like smaller boats). All that aside, from what you’ve told me about how you like the Explorer, I think the Chatham 17 is probably a better boat for your needs overall than these lower volume VCP boats. Who knows, coming from your non-rockered and long-length Epic 18 you might find the Chatham 17 small!”



JIM

Tiderace Xtra Kayak Review



Randy with boats, Hudson and NJ skyline in background

6/16/12
This weekend I had the opportunity to demo the brand-new Tiderace "Xtra" sea kayak down in NYC at the  New York Kayak Company owned and operated by Randy Hendrikson. The Xtra was the boat I made the trip for, but I was also able to demo two other Tiderace boats - the Xcape-S and the Xcite. In short, the Tiderace boats are great and I'm a fan.

Tiderace Xtra - take-home points:

• the cockpit will fit an average sized adult just fine, it is not a larger-person specific cockpit.
• the boat is very turny/maneuverable at my weight (175 lbs), somewhat more so than my current 16' boat (a standard Romany), it has a fun feel (see pronounced rocker in photo above).
• the hull is wide and high volume, making the boat very buoyant at my weight which adds to its easy turning and edging, but also adds to its initial stability.
• paddlers of various sizes should try the boat.
• specs: 16.5 ft length, 22.3 inches width, 13.2 inches depth.

About me: I've been sea kayaking since the mid-90's and have come to prefer shorter sea kayaks for poking along the shore and messing about in surf and bumpy water. I'm 5'10, 175 lbs, and size 10 feet.

There is some conflicting information out there on the Xtra based on the few reviews and descriptions of the boat I've found online. The Tiderace website lists its minimum paddler weight as 80 kg (175 lbs), but other sources say it is suitable for smaller paddlers. At 175 lbs, I'm at the bottom end of the listed weight range for the Xtra. But I've long enjoyed the feel of larger volume boats for their buoyancy and liveliness. Trouble is, the cockpits of bigger boats sometimes provide too much space and poor contact points. My current boat is small at 16 feet. It serves me fine size wise, but sometimes I wish it had more overall hull volume to feel more lively and more cockpit deck height to improve forward paddling efficiency and knee comfort.

My thoughts on proper boat size have evolved over the years. I used to prefer small volume cockpits, snug hips, firm low back band - the "locked in" feel. But after years of paddling, some back trouble, and a day paddling a surf ski, I've been experimenting with set-ups and boats providing more room in the cockpit. I find now that more looseness in the seat and knees helps forward paddling - and let's face it, that's 90% of sea kayaking - forward paddling. Why have a boat set up tight for the bumpy play spot when you're only paddling in such conditions 10% of the time?

I've been intrigued by the Tiderace boats since I paddled the Xcite a few years back. It was a bit of a revelation to me in the comfort and performance provided by an ergonomically designed cockpit. At the time, I wasn't in the market for an overall "do everything" kayak like the Xcite - I was looking to see what else was out there in the short, rock-gardening and surfing sea kayak market. I also tried the Xtreme a year or so ago - a big water surf boat - and really enjoyed it (see my review elsewhere on this blog). But my personal bias for smaller boats really got me intrigued when I saw the recent release of a shorter boat by Tiderace called the Xtra. It's about time - I've been waiting for a Tiderace line similar to the day/play boats I've enjoyed like the Avocet, Romany, Pintail, and Delphin but with the ergonomic Tiderace cockpit.

My fear was that the Xtra would be a big person's boat and I'd know this immediately upon sitting in it. I was happily surprised - the cockpit fit me just fine. The seat width is similar to the other two boats I demoed (Xcite and Xcape-S) and the deck height only a slight bit higher. In a word - it fit me perfectly and I'm not a big guy. Like all the Tiderace boats, the thigh hooks are shaped to provide nice contact points and are more centered (closer together) and higher than many boats. This allows a higher and more centered knee position. Far from being a problem, this higher deck height is a benefit. You're not "reaching" up to make contact with the deck - just set the footpegs properly and you're there. Higher knees allows for more paddling power, torso rotation, and comfort. More kayaks should have cockpit size/shape like the Xtra.

Xtra profile

Nice deck graphics, Empire State in view

I took the Xtra north on the Hudson against some 2 knot current, messed about around a few pilings and jetties, even managed to catch a few waves when the Circle Line tourist boat went by. I enjoyed the boat very much. It has very hard chines - most like the Xtreme than the other models. And the hull is wide in the mid-section. At my weight with no gear, the bow/stern were very loose which made the boat turny. A heavier paddler would probably experience more straight-line performance from the boat if that's what they are looking for. The hull shape and volume make the boat responsive, not twitchy, but more quick to edge than my current boat. But the width (1" wider than my current boat) provides good support the more you edge. I'd say its secondary stability is stiffer than the Xcite and perhaps equal to the Xcape-S. Speed is not much of a factor for me, but the Xtra seemed to move right along, had to push it a few times to fight the current near the jetties. The other boats I tried (Xcape-S and Xcite) seemed a bit quicker based on my limited time in them. Very easy to catch waves in the Xtra and very maneuverable in tight corners - all things I like.

Of all the Tiderace boats I've tried thus far, the Xtra is the one that checks off the most categories I'm personally looking for. Maneuverable, comfortable, and fun. If I could tailor the boat to me, I might reduce its hull volume a bit but leave the cockpit room and deck height completely as-is. I'm used to a more rounded hull chine, so might prefer some softening there too - but then the trade off would be less of a loose, "on-off" edging response that is fun in the current boat. If Tiderace comes out with a slightly smaller volume Xtra I'd be interested to try it, but my sense is that any substantial reduction in hull volume or cockpit room would put it in the category of a small-person's boat rather than an average sized person's boat.

Cockpit showing thigh hook and seat/coaming flange

Outfitting of the Tiderace boats has been written about before - they're all top of the line, stiff hulls, superb finish, adjustable seat (fore/aft), excellent hatches, etc. The one extra thing I noticed yesterday is that the coaming of all their boats has a gradual curve allowing the rand of the sprayskirt to fit snug. Some kayaks have sharp curves or indents to accommodate the keyhole which can compromise the water tightness of the skirt.

Xcape-S: This boat is similar to my current boat the Romany in some ways - a softer chine and friendly (familiar) feel. It is part of Tiderace's more standard kayak line made for a wide range of paddlers. I liked it a lot - surfed some swell as it came rumbling in by Pier 40 amongst the many Downtown Boathouse free kayak paddlers that share the Pier with New York Kayak Company. (Hudson River Park has created a real renaissance on the River, subject for another post for sure). The Xcape-S seemed to have less rocker and longer length than my Romany. The seat is the same width as the Xtra but the front deck height is lower. I prefer the higher deck height of the Xtra.

Xcite: I'd paddled this boat before, trying it again confirmed to me that it fits a person of my size well - I remember feeling at home in the cockpit immediately. It's Tiderace's most all-around boat for the average-sized experienced paddler, very responsive to edging, decent speed, turns and surfs nicely. It runs straighter and with more speed than the Xtra. For me, it would be a tough choice between the Xcite and the Xtra for a fun sea kayak for all around use. I also briefly tried the Xcite-S, which I found did not suit me. The cockpit was too tight and the boat felt twitchy for my weight and weight distribution. A smaller/lighter paddler would find it entirely different I'm sure.

Seeing all the offerings from Tiderace Kayaks and talking with Randy it's clear to me that Aled Williams (the founder of Tiderace Kayaks) has created a unique entity in the paddling scene. They've put out a lot of different boats and I expect more designs still to come. Why so many? Is it over saturation? I don't think so. In the competitive world of top-end sea kayaks most companies come up with a limited number of designs. By contrast, in a relatively short period Tiderace has put out many disparate boats - for the average paddler, for the big water fanatic, for the fitness racer, for big/small paddlers. The reason is clearly that differences in paddler size, experience and focus require different boats to suit the whole paddling community. The Tiderace boats are not cheap. They're made to high standards. If one wants a cheaper boat, there are many companies that create perfectly fine kayaks for less money which are more likely to be a "vanilla" boat meeting a sweet-spot that the manufacturer feels suits most paddlers. Tiderace has gone a different route, and the result is a larger quiver of boats. It's an interesting business model and one I hope continues because I think it has allowed experimentation in design that can advance the sport of sea kayaking.

One last word about NY Kayak Company - Randy runs a great shop with top-end gear and boats. He's a very experienced paddler himself and it would be hard to find a more helpful, patient, and informative kayak retailer. I bought my first drysuit from him when he operated out of a nearby loft - now his shop is ideally located on the Hudson and his business has matured into a top-of-the-line center for instruction, trips and retail. Give him a call about the Tiderace boats, he's very happy to talk.

SKUK Pilgrim Expedition Sea Trial – Fishers Island Sound – June 2011

Had the opportunity to demo the SKUK Pilgrim Expedition this past weekend with Greg Paquin and Paula Riegel who together make up Kayak Waveology, a BCU sea kayak instruction business and retailer of Nigel Dennis’s line of sea kayaks. I’ve known Greg for a few years and have run into him and Paula on the occasions I’ve paddled out of Stonington CT to hit the tide races east of Fishers Island. Greg has also organized some great instructional symposiums in eastern CT in recent years (Rough Water Symposium and November Gales out of Stonington) that I’ve attended and have enjoyed. Greg heard I was considering getting a different boat and thought the Pilgrim Expedition might fit the bill so suggested I meet him up in Stonington to give it a try in conditions.

I’m 5’10” and 175 lbs and currently paddle a Romany. I like the way the boat handles very much, especially its maneuverability, its surfing ability and handling in following seas. But I often think that if I could change the Romany, I’d raise the front deck a bit to help my forward paddling and I’d increase its length a bit to give me a little more speed. The Pilgrim Expedition is described as an expedition kayak for the smaller or slimmer paddler. Although I’m not particularly “small” or “slim”, the boat’s specs and the pedigree of great boats in the SKUK line intrigued me. The Pilgrim Expedition is 17 feet in length (519 cm) and 19.5 inches in width, which makes it a foot longer and slightly more than an inch narrower than my Romany. Things like rocker, chines, and volume aside, the Pilgrim Expedition’s length/width put it in the same range as a lot of boats I’ve enjoyed paddling. In addition to the Pilgrim Expedition, Greg brought along an Explorer and Romany Surf so I had the unique opportunity to switch quickly between all three and get a good feel for their differences. My thoughts on all three boats below.

Greg and Paula with Pilgrim Expedition

Pilgrim Expedition: The concept of a “smaller Explorer” is a great idea and I think this boat could be used by many paddlers, not just small/slim ones. We paddled out to Wiccopesset Passage to catch the tail end of the flood current and were able to find a few waves to play in. As I expected, the Pilgrim handled somewhere between an Explorer and a Romany. I could end the review there actually. To me, it’s more maneuverable than an Explorer, easier to turn the boat around to quickly jump on a wave. I found that waves broke over the deck more so than when I paddle the Romany/Explorer – the Pilgrim Expedition is narrower so sits more solidly in bumpy water which adds to stability – similar to Anas acuta or Pintail at my weight – but still with plenty of freeboard. Breaking out of an eddy and staying on the front wave in a wave-train seemed easier in the Pilgrim due to its longer length as compared to the shorter Romany. The front deck of the Pilgrim Expedition has “knee bumps” to increase the height of the deck that allow a solid contact and provide as much or more room under the deck as compared to my Romany - a pleasant surprise. The one downside for me was the width of the seat - it was too small for me, painful actually. I had to sit slightly angled so my hip bones would fit. (As a benchmark, I fit fine in the Romany seat but find Valley's Anas Acuta seat a bit too narrow). The seat is something that can be remedied - a foam seat is one option. The new SKUK fiberglass seats come in two sizes (Small and Large) and are moveable fore and aft – so we measured the width of a large-size SKUK seat to see if it might be swapped in the Pilgrim – no dice. The larger seat was perhaps 1” too wide to fit. (Greg will get back to me on whether there are alternatives). Perhaps Nigel should make a “medium” size seat for the Pilgrim to accommodate larger paddlers. Overall a really nice boat and one I'd like to try again with a larger seat.

Explorer: I owned an Explorer and it was a great, solid boat with predictable handling. It’s a good boat to paddle first as a benchmark to see how Nigel’s other boats differ from his central work-horse. For me, the Explorer was a boat that helped me move up the BCU chain and learn fundamental skills. The biggest difference I experience when paddling the Explorer is when edging the boat – unlike the Romany/Romany S which loosen up when edged but will turn equally readily upwind or downwind, edging the Explorer alone even without corrective strokes will turn it away from the edge – handy when fighting weather cocking. Perhaps this is due to the longer length and therefore greater turning influence of the chine. Greg also points out that the flat hull and increased length are helpful in staying high on a wave when surfing. The Explorer is his preferred boat for tidal races and even beach breaking surf. If I was paddling big conditions regularly, I’d revisit the boat for sure. I sold my Explorer some years ago because most of my paddling is in more sheltered conditions in Long Island Sound where I found shorter boats more fun.

Romany Surf: Of all the SKUK boats the Romany Surf is the most comfortable for me in the cockpit. The higher deck and new fiberglass seat allow me to assume a more forward paddling posture. (Photo of new SKUK seat below). I noticed it right away. Greg has his Romany Surf seat set up in the most forward position so forward sweep strokes really cranked the boat around, fun in the wave and manouvering around some small eddies east of Fisher's Island during the demo. The boat has more volume in the chines and more volume aft of the cockpit than the standard Romany. The chines make it a little stiffer to edge than my Romany and more grabby on waves for carving - which has pluses and minuses depending on what you're looking for. The extra volume in the stern makes it well balanced fore-and-aft, which seemed to improve speed and glide a bit as compared to my standard Romany which has a lower volume stern that sits a bit low in the water for me. The Surf's cockpit coaming isn’t may favorite - doesn’t provide the same thigh-hook design I’ve come to enjoy in other boats. This is my only criticism of the boat. Greg had his cockpit foamed out nicely which helped a lot.


New SKUK Fiberglass Seat on Explorer



The current line of SKUK boats now has enough variety that I expect most paddlers would be able to find one that works for them. The hull designs are all “friendly” and can accommodate a range of abilities. And Nigel’s focus on making subtle changes to his basic design to offer improved fit for different sized paddlers appears to be unique in the industry.

P&H Delphin demo paddle on Hudson River May 2011 - it's all about the Cockpit!

Was working up in Newburgh NY last friday, so decided to stop a bit early and demo the P&H Delphin at the nearby River Connection kayak shop in Hyde Park, NY. It's been on my short list of boats to demo as I'm looking for something a little more comfortable in the cockpit that is also a shortish day-paddling sea kayak. The owner Marshall set me up with a demo.  First impressions are - fun, turny, even moreso than my Romany. Also a fair amount of yaw with the 1' following waves in the center of the river without the skeg down - to be expected for a short rockered boat. Very manouverable in tight corners as I messed about near shore.  Expect it would be very fun in tidal races or shore-breaking surf.   Didn't take any photos but grabbed the one above online to show cockpit.

Cockpit:  The primary reason the boat was on my short-list was the feel of the cockpit. Unlike my current boat, the Delphin has knee-hooks that are placed further forward away from the torso and adjustable fore/aft. The knee-hooks are also somewhat closer together than other boats. I was pleased to find that this allows a higher and more centered knee position that was very comfortable and solid feeling.  On my current boat, the thigh grips are set quite low and out to the side - this forces the legs out in an Indian-style position that I have come to find (after 15 years of paddling) bothersome to my lumbar back and not the best position for sitting up straight (at least for me). The Delphin and Tiderace boats (see reviews below) allow my knees to be perhaps 2 inches closer together and 1 inch higher up - not much, but enough to make a noticeable difference (to me anyway). More power in forward stroke, more freedom to maneuver the boat around, more comfort.

Boats I've Owned - Seven (7) and Counting

"All kayaks are a compromise of one type or another" - i.e. no such thing as a perfect boat.

Necky Looksha IV (Purchased in 1995/1996): My first kayak - I really lucked out with this one. I bought it used in great condition and at the time knew very little about what makes a good sea kayak.  Had it as my primary boat for several years and sometimes regret selling it. Learned to roll in this boat, did a bit of kayak fishing for stripers and bluefish. It's no longer made by Necky in plastic version.  The Looksha IV was maneouverable and really fun. Not sure the kayaking-bug would have grabbed me as much if my first kayak had been something less inspiring to paddle. Sold it in 2000.

CLC North Bay (Built in 1999): A great project but not my favorite boat to paddle.  I got inspired by local builders and emailed Bobby Curtis, Jay Babina, and Nick Shade in 97/98 for advice on building and to get my courage up to tackle the project. Installed some inlay and hatch.  Eventually sold it in 2006 as it wasn't getting enough use.

NDK Explorer (Purchased in 2002): Decided to get more serious about moving up the BCU chain so got this boat. Helped me build skills, used it a lot, some camping. Eventually found myself using my next boat more (Pintail) so sold it in 2005- would have definitely kept it if I had more room in the garage. Often think of getting another one - very solid.

VCP Pintail (Purchased around 2004): Although the seat was always too small for me, in all other ways the boat "fit" me well and reminded me of the fun turny-ness of my first boat the Looksha IV.  Once I got the Pintail, it's all I paddled. Totally fell in love with the boat. No other boat I've tried handled wind and rough water so well.  Nothing else as fun to paddle. Rope skeg (used often) was sometimes a pain to fiddle with. Ocean cockpit so secure and comfy as compared to keyhole - but a minor struggle to enter/exit. Bought used (a '96 Pintail) and sold it in 2010 due to loss of my boat storage. New owner was thrilled to get it. Had to flip a coin between selling the Pintail or Romany. Chances are good I'll buy another one someday. UPDATE!: Valley stopped making this boat - if you can find one, grab it!

NDK Romany (Purchased in 2008): Wanted a 2nd boat as a loaner and something more "vanilla" than the Pintail.  A Romany was the boat I would usually grab when staffing programs with AKT no matter the venue.  Familiar feel after owning the Explorer. Surfs straighter and handles following seas better than the Pintail. But surprisingly more volume in front than Pintail - had to expand my front cradle straps more than a little when switching to the Romany.  

Epic V8 Surf Ski (Purchased 2013): Bought a used surf ski to work on forward paddling form. The V8 is a beginner ski, stable and 18 feet long.  Great to work on forward stroke, knees-up helps torso rotation. Shoulder injury prevented me from doing much distance paddling so sold it.

Valley Gemini SP (Purchased 2014):  Wanted something for shorter local paddles and lighter to be easier to move around.  Great boat - shorter play style kayak but has enough of the "standard" sea kayak features to be appropriate for any type of coastal day paddling.  Full review on my Gemini SP blog post.

Tiderace Xtreme Review - Norwalk Islands

Been thinking about getting a new boat for awhile – something that’s fun in waves and maneuverable but also a bit faster and more comfortable in the cockpit than the smallish boats I’ve owned recently. Not sure such a boat exists, but I saw the Xtreme online some months ago and it’s been on my short-list to demo. The boat just came in at the Outdoor Sports Center  in Wilton CT (Call Mark Bodian who runs the kayak department there). Yes the descriptions of the Xtreme describe it as more of a surf-machine than I need, but what the heck, it might be a decent all-around boat too and so worth a look. So I took the Xtreme for a test paddle around the Norwalk Islands in CT on Sunday, April 17th 2011.

Xtreme on Ram Island, Norwalk, CT

The day of my paddle, the wind had shifted from east to west overnight but without enough time to create any real waves – according to NOAA, steady 20 knot west wind with higher gusts and no particular waves, not my preferred paddling conditions to say the least. But there are only so many weekends in the year so I went for it.  I’m a local Long Island Sound weekend-warrior and not someone who ventures regularly into the conditions the boat was built for. For that review – check out this website: http://paulkuthe.blogspot.com/2011/04/tiderace-xtreme-review.html He’s got some amazing photos of the Xtreme in big surf on the west coast. My overall impression is that this boat would be best appreciated by a very well-conditioned paddler who can really throw some strong moves at the boat. That’s not me (at this point). But what I could assess paddling in heavy wind around the Norwalk Islands is it’s general behavior, and in my opinion, despite being a “specialty” kayak geared to bigger conditions, the Xtreme is also a very viable all-around boat for general use. (I’m 5’10”, 175 lbs).

The boat is hard-chined and heavily rockered. Like the Maelstrom Vaag, the rocker is evident as a bend/fold in the boat at the rear of the cockpit rather than spread out across the length of the boat. My guess is this keeps the boat sensibly straight-running overall but then maneuverable when edged or on a wave. The cockpit is noticeably further aft of center than many kayaks – less boat behind the cockpit means less boat stuck in a wave as one paddles forward. As I understand it, this is intended to help the boat keep a straight course on a wave rather than broaching, and make it easier to turn the boat when riding a wave. The boat is 17’ but relatively high volume overall. There’s a lot of boat there – noticeably more than my most recently owned boats (Pintail and Romany). The cockpit is again the very positive-feeling design typical of the Tiderace boats. I would say the Xtreme has a noticeably lower deck than the Xcite, but the knee position is still higher and more centered than in a Romany or Pintail. This cockpit arrangement is my favorite part of all the Tiderace boats – and due to some lumbar-disk issues I’ve dealt with this past season, it is a more comfortable position for me than more extreme Indian-style, splayed-out knee positions on other boats. To me the Tiderace seat/deck/thigh-hook arrangement helps with forward paddling and allows me a more upright posture. I think more boat manufacturers should consider something similar.

This boat is purpose-built for bigger waves and tidal races. Not having the opportunity to try the boat in these conditions, I can only make observations about how the boat behaves as a general sea kayak. But I had glimpses of how the boat might do in bigger stuff. Rounding the south side of Chimon with the wind behind me, some 2’ waves lifted the boat in a way I haven’t felt to that degree. Got some nice rides there. Rather than being pushed out in front of the wave or struggling to match the wave speed to get a ride, the Xtreme was picked up and held on the crest with much less effort than other boats I’ve paddled. Very maneuverable in that position too. I have to assume this is due to the comparatively wide/flat hull shape and to the reduced amount of boat aft of the cockpit. Waves can tuck under the boat easily and its planing hull wants to sit on the wave. Very cool. The hard chine and flat hull make for more responsive edging/turning on a wave than other boats I’ve owned. Like the Maelstrom Vaag which has similar up-turned rocker in the stern, the Xtreme yawed a bit more than some boats in small (1’) following seas. But once on the wave it was a pleasure to paddle.

In my paddling around the islands, the Xtreme felt reasonably fast and tracked well. I’m used to boats that more readily weather-cock as compared to the Xtreme. Perhaps due to the comparatively large amount of boat forward of the cockpit (center of mass more to the rear), I found that the Xtreme didn’t weather cock at all and had some minor lee-cocking in the 20+ knot winds when the wind was at the beam or front quarter. Edge and sweep correct this. It’s a compromise I suppose – a kayak that readily weather-cocks can be corrected with a skeg (but that can be a pain if too skeg-dependant). One that doesn’t weather cock as much is great unless you want to turn into the wind and might even be a chore if you’re constantly doing sweep strokes to aim up-wind. I’d need to have the boat out many more times in variable conditions to make any solid observations about the Xtreme’s directional stability. Battling big winds on the day of a test paddle (as I was) limits one’s ability to objectively observe a new boat’s handling. I also took it into the marina to see how it would feel in more sheltered conditions – it was nice, maneuverable, fun to carve turns, etc.

Headwind, Norwalk, CT

Finish on the boat is great as in all Tiderace boats. One minor caveat – the hatch covers are tethered on the inside, but unlike an earlier Xcite I paddled, the tethers are permanently glassed in (see photo) so if it breaks you can’t easily replace it.

Hatch cover tether

Made this graphic (below) in powerpoint showing how the cockpit of the Xtreme appears to be set a bit further back than some other boats - both the Nordkapp LV and Tiderace Xcite have more boat aft of the cockpit (extend beyond line). Seems to confirm what I saw and what I've read about the design of the Xtreme. It's not intended to be as balanced fore-and-aft as these more general purpose sea kayaks. 

Review of Maelstrom Vaag (and Tiderace Xcite)

Maestrom Vaag - Norwalk CT

Maelstrom Vaag - "fold" aft of cockpit for rocker

Hi Mark –
As promised, a few thoughts on the Vaag and Xcite:
1. General/Stability: Like the Tiderace Xcite, the Maelstrom Vaag is longer and more of a straight-running boat than my Romany or Pintail (two boats I’ve owned most recently, though I also owned a hard-chine Greenland-style boat, an Explorer, and a Necky Looksha IV years ago. Have also paddled a range of other boats on the Hudson w/ AKT). The Vaag had similar initial and secondary stability to the Xcite, maybe a little more “solid” feeling in initial stability than the Xcite. But essentially both the Vaag and Xcite are noticeably more “loose” in stability than the very solid Romany and Explorer – which is actually nice, having some easier hip looseness. Some of this may be due to hull shape (both boats may be less flat in cross section than the romany/explorer) but also may be due to my weight – at 175lbs, 5’10” and size 10 feet, I’m on the top end for the Romany so it sits low in the water and as a consequence is a very stable platform, sometimes too stable. The Xcite and Vaag have more buoyancy so feel more loose to edge at my weight.

2. Tracking/Edging: As I said, the Xcite is more of a game-changer. Its hull seems sufficiently different from the Explorer (and Explorer knock-offs I’ve paddled) that’s it’s really a new type of “feel” on the water – straight running, but maneuverable when edged, carvable turns on a wave face when you shift from hard edge to edge. Xcite also side-slips (hanging-draw) with almost no effort, miraculous really. On the other side, to me the Xcite is stiff tracking when not edged. The Vaag on the other hand is less of a radical departure, like a “tweaked” Explorer or P&H boat (Capella, etc.). The Vaag has a smooth, rounded hull with less chine. This gives it a more familiar feel to me than the Xcite. Vaag may actually be less chiney than my Romany.

3. The Stern: The real new thing about the Vaag is the hull shape behind the cockpit. Obvious when paddling and obvious once you take a look at it on dry land. It appears to have noticeably more rocker than NDK boats, and the rocker is not spread out along the hull gradually, but instead begins just behind the cockpit as if someone bent/folded the boat there at a pivot point. What this does (at least today, paddling out and around Sheffield in some 5-10 kt west wind - head and tail winds) is loosen the rear end considerably. I was shocked really – the boat is substantially longer than my Romany (and feels it when paddling straight), but give it a little edge and it cranks a sharp turn faster than I’ve experienced in a boat in a long time (get an Anas acuta or Pintail on edge and it’ll do the same). What adds to this effect is the tapering of the stern too – looking at it from above, the Vaag tapers much more quickly from the cockpit backwards as compared to most boats. So when you edge it, almost the entire stern is out, above the water! This turns a 17’ boat into an 11’ boat instantly and it cranks a turn on a dime. However, a consequence of this rocker and stern shape I noticed is that with some mild following seas today, it yawed readily back and forth with each wave – even more readily than my Romany. This was fun today and easily corrected with the skeg or strokes, but would it be fun on a bigger day? Probably. Would have to test it. In any case, the tapered shape of the stern and more radical rocker makes the Vaag maneuverable. [I had the Xcite out in bigger conditions (20kt winds)so hard to compare tracking stiffness to the Vaag fairly, just impressions.]

4. The Vaag cockpit overall wasn’t my favorite due to low deck height – as I said to you, the Xcite cockpit is the most functional and comfortable cockpit I’ve ever sat in. If I was being really picky, I’d lower the Xcite front deck maybe 1” but that’s being picky. The Vaag would benefit from the knee bumps of the Xcite or Romany Surf or XL in my opinion. [By the way, the Vital (the smaller Maelstrom boat) should definitely be offered in a larger/taller cockpit. I’m an average sized guy and could not fit comfortably in the Vital – but it’s 6” longer than a Romany!?? Why limit it to tiny paddlers? It might just be the perfect day/play boat average paddlers are looking for if they could fit in it!] The awesome part of the Vaag cockpit was the foam back support – amazing. I’ve shaped a bunch of foam supports for various boats but these guys got it right. It is the perfect size and shape, placed at the perfect height to hit you at the base of your spine. It provides a supportive vertical surface but also allows a bit of lean back if you want and lateral movement for hip rotation. It gets an A+ in my book. I typically like the variability of a ratcheting back-band - you can crank it tight for wave play, but loosen it on the fly from the cockpit for the paddle home. But the Vaag’s foam backrest is really nice – I wouldn’t miss the back band.

5. The tiny front hatch by the cockpit isn’t necessary – I’d lose it in both the Vaag and Xcite. What can you hold in there – a VHF? I keep that on my person near to use. Might fit a candy bar in there? It’d be OK if it was a “neutral” add-on, but if you have a foam footrest to have your feet more centered (something a lot of paddlers like) the hatch box there may get in the way of your feet. I’d remove it entirely. Also, the Vaag’s hatches looked a little “iffy” in terms of water tightness – I prefer the new style of Kajaksport hatches on the Xcite.

6. What I’m looking for in a boat may be unique to me – all boats are a compromise. I’d take some volume away from the Xcite and maybe give it more rocker. I’d add more deck height to the Vaag and maybe shorten its length. But you can’t go wrong with either boat. As I said I think the Xcite is a more significant change from boats out there, so if I was buying a boat for big water that might be it, simply to try something “new”.

Take care - JIM (Saturday - 12/11/10)