As I picked up the 16X yesterday I was very eager to learn more about her. So for a first impression I made a small tour, together with Tiny, in "my backyard": the "Wormer- and Jisperveld'.
Tiny accompanied me in her fast flatwater touring-kayak. That brings me immediately to the subject "speed". Normally a slender touring kayak is much faster then a seakayak. But paddling the 16X in the shallow waters next to Tiny I did not have any indication that I had to work hard to keep up with her. The speed of both kayaks seemed quite equal .
Of course this is quite an subjective impression. But later I will investigate speed better. Anyway: the X16 feels fast and accelerates quickly.
While sprinting at maximal speed it feels if the X16 could accelerate for ever. For me it was impossible to reach the maximal hull-speed.
After getting into the cockpit the kayak felt very stable from the beginning; both the primary- and the secondary stability are good. It felt like a rock in these calm waters.
When changing course the X16 responds very good to edging and sweep-strokes and was more manoeuvrable than many other seakayaks. Not that it turns on a dime but still: it's OK for me.
I even had the feeling that I would not need he rudder at all. In fact I had to get used to the rudder because I over-compensated in steering the kayak when trying to keep straight course without sweepstrokes. Having only seldom paddled a seakayak with a rudder this certainly is something I will have to learn using it the correct way.
The rudder works perfect and I think a smart way using it will be to use it as a trim-rudder if necessary to compensate for weathercocking or other influences effecting your course.
The steering system, which is integrated in the footrest, is not influenced by feet-movements while paddling. If paddling with the knees centred in the middle of the cockpit this could well happen but the system subdues your feet-movements thus maintaining the course you go.
When positioning the knees under the deck I found perfect support for them. It is a nice feature in this kayak that you can adjust the position of the seat forward or backwards. I used this to trim the seat to a position from where my knees got the best support at the underside of the deck. May be the adjusting-feature was also meant to trim the kayak when loaded of for certain weather-conditions. But I would like to say that when you need a perfect grip on your kayak choose for your knee-position.
The seat and backrest are comfortable. The backrest pivots a bit along with your trunk-rotation which felt pleasant for my back. I discovered that you can easily tighten the backrest with 2 straps while seated. When tightening maximal you have very good contact with the kayak but you can not rotate your trunk as easily any more. So you will have to find a compromise or just adjust it to what the sea requires at a certain moment.
The cockpit is quite long and thus also suitable to paddle the 16X like you paddle a racing kayak: the knees next to each other in the middle of the cockpit for maximal efficiency. Doing so I mist some hip contact. Not for stability on this flat water of course but when I wanted to steer the kayak with edging and a sweepstroke I could use better hip-contact. Now you tell me that the kayak has a rudder;-)
Yes I know but that's what I am going to find out: how this kayak is best steered out at see in waves? With the rudder or also with some technique? And do I need some hip-contact or not? (something you can easily arrange with some padding next to the hips).
To be continued.