- Details
Today I paddled an Xcite in the first test-session. It was ideal testing weather because the wind blew with 6-7 bft. from SW. This first time I paddled on the Alkmaardermeer; a good place to get used to a new kayak.
The kayak has a big key-hole cockpit for easy entering. And in spite of the big cockpit you have very good grip with the knees under the deck.
To me the cockpit was very comfortable thanks to combination of the big footrest, back-band and kneegrips.
After getting in, I turned the kayak in the harbour: it turns like a dime. A very manoeuvrable kayak.
With the wind blowing from behind, under an angle, she keeps course without problem en responded very good to the retractable skeg.
As the Alkmaardermeer is not very deep, a 6 bft. wind produces short, steep waves there. Paddling against the wind and waves, the Xcite splashes quite a lot. As this kayak is designed for heavy sea-conditions the bow has more volume than average which causes more splashing than with a sharp bow.
- Details
I decided that paddling in 7-8bft was representative enough for paddling the 18XS out at sea in 6 bft.
So no more test-sessions necessary and I returned her to Kanoshop.nl today.
Now the final step of testing comes close: the writing of a summary from all the blog-posts I produced about the Epic 18XS.
- Details
Having paddled the 18XS during a few months, I noticed a few issues that should be mentioned in my testreport about her.
During the last few weeks paddling the 18XS, I wondered why the fin did not drop to its maximum depth. It was if there was some obstruction. Taking a close look later, I discovered some corrosion inside the rudder. At the pivoting point of the fin a metal ring is mounted; which was corroded. My opinion is that the corrosion produces more friction. Probably the elastic has not enough power to pull the fin over this increased friction.
.
This is surely a point Epic can improve on with non-corroding rings!
- Details
Until now I collected already quite a lot of information about the performance of the 18XS.
The only issue I wanted information on was WIND. Tis weekend it was windy enough but unfortunately I could not find a buddy to organize a test-session. Although I must confess that the 8bft-wind was a bit too rough to go out at sea today.
So instead I went to the Alkmaardermeer where the wind blew at 7 bft with gusts up to 8bft.
I met Max there by chance and together we let us blow by the wind to the middle of the lake. Halfway Max waited in the lee while I went into the soup in the middle of the lake.
- Details
Today it was very foggy. When Jos asked me if I was interested in a Sunday-paddle I thought this to be an ideal opportunity for wet-exercises with the 18XS. May be even a last opportunity before weather and water turns nasty cold.
For today Jos organized hot chocolate-milk and I a film-camera.
For a test I usually try the following wet exercises with the testkayak:
the high brace
In fact I have no comments: the high brace is easy to perform in this kayak
- Details
As you probably know I would like to test-paddle a kayak at least during one session at sea in 6 bft. Today the wind was 6bft indeed, but she was SSW and blowing away from the coast. So no waves. So more sessions are necessary :wink:
BUT it was an ideal occasion to inspect the sandmotor today.
Along the beach were almost no waves but when we reached the south coast of the sandmotor there were interesting, cresting waves.
- Details
Plans are plans. Reality differs sometimes. For today the original plans were to paddle around Noorderhaaks near Den Helder. But the wind decided different: with an expected 6Bft this was not for all the participants a good idea.
So we decided to paddle on the IJsselmeer, starting at Wijdenes and crossing the Hoornse Hop; known for possible disturbed and/or high waves. For this area the expected wind was 4 bft.
- Details
Like I wrote in the first post about the 18XS, it was due to logistic issues not possible to test the 18x.
In theory it is mentioned by Kanoshop.nl that the XS has a better stability. Besides this no big difference in performance between the two kayaks was expected. The only visual difference is that the cross-section of the 18XS is a bit squared, giving more volume and stability. Other parameters are said to be equal.
As quite a lot of paddlers are interested in the 18X (because it is said to be faster), I was very eager to know more about the difference with the XS.
- Details
The original plan for today was paddling along the coast to the so-called sandmotor: A project in which an enormous amount of sand (20 million m3) is used to create a peninsula reaching into the sea for almost 1km.
For kayakkers this is a new experience where other waves and currents can be expected. I was eager to inspect these new conditions.
Unfortunately the wind had been very strong the whole week resulting in a very disturbed sea. Because today was also windy (predicted 6-7bft) and because thunderstorm was predicted, Hans and I decided to paddle on the river LEK. We expected nice waves with the wind blowing against the current.
- Details
Sometimes, when testing a seakayak, you hope that the weather will be challenging during a planned test-session. A wish like that is not always fulfilled: that was clear again today because it was magnificent weather for kayaking around Noorderhaaks.
Why I like challenging weather? Well I want to test a kayak in the realistic conditions which a kayakker can or will have to paddle in. For those conditions I would like to be able to give a reliable description of the performance of the kayak. A test is about these edges in paddling-world. In nice weather every kayak can do the job; but only in challenging weather it becomes clear what is good or bad.
However, today the wind was only 2 bft from SW. Sunny weather with a bit hazy horizon.
On our first crossing there were almost no waves to be seen. So there is nothing I can add to earlier comments on performance.