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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Normally I would be very happy with the beautiful weather today: sunny and a SW-2bft-wind.
For test-paddling the Epic 18XS more wind would have been nice.
However the paddle-day was planned so we took of at DenOever for a trip to Oudeschild. Not following the tidal stream but traversing two 2,5 knot streams.
The first leg stream was from the side and the wind from behind. To keep course during this leg, I had to use the rudder very frequently because the kayak wandered of course. It could however well be that this was due to the circumstances because my paddling mate in en Mariner encountered the same. Nevertheless I mention this because it has an effect on the steering: Although the rudder worked very well and very direct, the frequent operation made the feet tired and a bit cramped when the knees are tucked under the deck. This has to do with the difference in angle between feet and the ruder-operation-flaps. May be, as a suggestion, these flaps should have the same angle as the feet.
When the knees are not tucked under deck everything is OK; logical because the angles of feet and flaps are the same in that situation.
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Today the wind was blowing with 5 bft: an ideal opportunity to check different courses in the wind. I left home paddling with the "Alkmaardermeer" as destination.
Total distance was 17 km which I paddled with an average speed of 8,5 km/h. Paddling directly into the wind reduced it to 7-8 km/h while in a sheltered stretch I easily reached 9 km/h.
Paddling with the fin retracted the 18XS weathercocks significantly. If it is blowing like today you have to work hard to compensate for this. With the wind blowing less sharp, the kayak responds better to your paddelstrokes.
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Today in a few free hours I paddled 10 km in light conditions with a 3bft wind.
I used a midwing-paddle and I cruised at approx. 9-10 km/h. Sometimes reaching 11 km/h when the wind helped me a bit by pushing me.
A sprint over 125m brought me at 11 km/h. Certainly, when a strong paddler has the power, a higher speed can be reached. I write this because having read about 14 km/h.
The kayak always responds instantly to the rudder!
After blocking the rudder, by retracting the fin, the kayak weathercocks slightly. I compensated this with sweepstrokes and edging.
I also tried to use the fin as a retractable skeg by retracting only a bit. This however is not very easy to adjust very accurately with the rope. Certainly not when you are paddling in bad weather.
I prefer however using the rudder.
The operation of the rudderpedals with you feet is convenient; especially when you paddle with the knees unlocked (not tucked under deck)
When I walked home, carrying the kayak in one hand, I noticed that there are no more sharp edges on the inside of the cockpit-rim.
Further, but that is no surprise under the current conditions, I was happy with the stability of this kayak: primary as well as the secondary stability.
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This evening, the kayakclub planned a surfing-session at sea. Although I did not paddle the 18XS yet, I decided to join in. Conditions were calm: almost no wind, BUT with a lot of swell from a storm at sea a day ago.
To get used to a kayak normally I paddle a testkayak at inlandwaters first, but this seemed a perfect situation to start testing right away.
I started with the rudder locked wich is, to my opinion, the way for leaving the beach. This possibility, to retract the fin, is an enormous improvement compared to the fixed fin in the older versions where the fin ploughs through the sand.
With the fin retracted, the kayak was very lively on the waves. Much more than I expected from such a long craft. This evening the waves were not very high; somewhere between 0,5-1 m. But the waves ran quite long before tumbling over. Surfing was real fun. The 18XS was fast enough to pick up a wave easily. Having picked up a long wave surfing is real sensation. Especially when you unlock the rudder and use it to maneuver on the wave.
The waves were not very steep but now and then, when a higher, steeper wave came by, I got the impression that the 18XS will not pearl very easily. Instead the bow stays high on the water instead of diving, thus making surfing more safe. A pity for you if it is you hobby trying to pearl (don't forget your helm;-))
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Today I picked up the Epic-18XS at Kanoshop.nl for testing.
