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Although I didn't have the whole weekend to my disposal for paddling, I could spend the afternoon for wet-exercises with the 16X. Not a bad day as the weather was very friendly; almost spring 
For testing I took a very familiar paddle (an old Schlegel Racing) with the purpose to be able to concentrate only on the kayak.
Rolling
Rolling is very easy, both rolling completely backwards as well as bending forward while rolling up. Rolling backwards I was not hindered by the backrest; which I adjusted as low as possible, like I wrote before on the site.
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This evening I chose the 16X together with the Greenland-paddle for my “weekly” trip to the club on Wednesday-evening.
It was about time to use the Greenland-paddle again as the last strokes were about 2 months ago due to holiday and the test with the 16x which came by.
As conditions (almost no wind) were similar to 2 weeks ago this was a good opportunity to compare the influence of the paddle on the speed reached in the 16X.
After a few strokes, to get used to Greenland-style again, I was astonished about how easy it went: no fluttering, no splashing but soundless, powerful strokes.
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Today the Dutch kayak Association (NKB) organized a trip to Borkum; starting at Eemshaven. This seemed an ideal occasion to paddle the 16X;expecting bigger waves than I encountered until now.
However the weather-forecast wasn't too good with only a small weather-window in the afternoon. When looking out at sea this morning at 8.30h we all had the feeling that this trip was not a good idea with the SE-wind already blowing at 5-6bft and not being sure when OR if the wind-force was going down. Local marifoon forecasts did not mention any decrease.
Thinking about an alternative tour, another island in an less exposed area, seemed a lovely idea but timing was difficult as we had to travel by car again risking too low tides. This could be worse than the normal tides because the easterly wind was lowering the waterlevel in the waddenzee.
So after some discussion we chose for the Lauwersmeer nearby.
As this lake is a bit inland the wind was much lower in force: I estimated only 4 bft. What a pity for my waves ;-)
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After the surf-session yesterday, while cleaning her from sand and salt at home, I discovered 1,5 liter of water in the back compartment. I could not believe that the strapping system (with a lever to reach high tension) of the hatches failed in keeping the compartment dry.
Inspection of the compartment showed that at the spot where the tubes ,containing the rudder-commanding-ropes, passed the bulkhead were three holes through which the water could enter freely into the compartment.
Because the holes are at the topside of the bulkhead the water can only have entered from the cockpit while carrying her in a position that the water in the cockpit reached the holes.
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Today the kayakclub planned paddling in surf near Bakkum. Anoushka, who normally initiates these surfing events, did a good job as conditions were challenging in the 5-6Bft NW-wind. Perfect planning.
To leave the beach there were enough hands to push me off into the waves. Normally you appreciate this with a warm "thank you". Today however I asked not to push off because I wanted to learn how the 16X handled this with the fin at the underside of the rudder while dragging the fin through the sand. At first while pushing myself with 2 hands, like a seal, this went very well. In fact the fin only partially digs itself into the sand. When where was enough water under the kayak to start paddling the problems begun: when the fin touches the sand the bow pivoted away immediately under the pressure of the current along the beach. I had to work very hard not to wash ashore again while fanatically scraping the sandbottom with my paddle to keep bow pointing out at the sea.
Most short surfkayaks have also 1 or more fins at the stern. These fins will also plough into the sand, but may be the problems are less because these kayak are much shorter and very maneouvrable. But I guess that paddling such a kayak must be learnt as well.
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Today we had a beautiful evening: clear skies and no wind. Perfect conditions to try how fast I can go with the 16X.
As it is Wednesday I choose the kayak-club as destination: 18 km vv.
The first 9 km I averaged 10 km/h. In the 16X this is a fitness-level-pace as I started sweating and realised I worked hard. To feel the difference I slowed down till 9km/h shortly: that was a world of a difference because it felt as if you could maintain that for hours. A very relaxed pace.
Halfway after 5 km I also made two sprints to try what maximum speed I could reach: 12,5 km/h. Honestly I did expect to go faster than that, but the short length of this kayak (under 5 meter) might be a restriction for the maximum speed. Later I will try the sprint again, being fresh myself, to take a look how much faster I can push the kayak.
After a pause of 45minutes I went back home and did promise myself to paddle not faster than 9km/h. However while paddling this became a variation between 9 - 9,5 km/h; feeling as a comfortable speed.
I must confess that I did have to work harder over the last 2 km’s to maintain at least the 9km/h; probably you can become a bit tired after paddling a distance of 19km.
So what can we conclude: The 16X is a fast seakayak which you can paddle at 9km/h. If you want to go faster you have to work much harder meaning that the maximum hull-speed of this kayak is somewhere near 10-11 km/h. But still: for such a short length of 4,88m, this kayak is remarkably fast.
And what is nice, is that this kayak is not only within reach of experienced paddlers because the stability is very forgiving, meaning that also less experienced paddlers can paddle the 16X. Of course this is a subject for further investigation because I have to paddle the 16x at sea first before I can give a more definite statement about this.
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As described in the posts about the Fjord before, she is a high volume kayak.
In theory she is too big for me but thanks to her small oceancockpit en the extra padding I applied in the cockpit I can handle her very well.
During the summers of 2009 and 2010 I went, together with Tiny, to Norway for holiday. For us this is quite a standard destination. But what was new this time is that we made a self supported 2-weekly trip along the Norwegian coast with 2 seakayaks.
During the preparations for the first trip I had been thinking for some time about which kayak to take with me. Finally I choose the Fjord for a few reasons, First of course her volume. Second was the fact this kayak has been built very strong which looked like an advantage for the rocky coast. Third was her stability which I thought important for easy photographing and for eventual assisting of Tiny who is less experienced at sea.
Well I did not regret this choice for 1 second. Aa..h yes, only sometimes when we had to haul her out of the water. Then she is very, very heavy thanks to the load plus her own weight.
But further she performed very well.
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After today's activities there were a few hours left. Because the wind was blowing at a 5-6Bft force from SW, this was an ideal opportunity to paddle with the 16X and the midwing to the lake "Alkmaardermeer" and play in the waves.
To reach the lake I had to paddle approx. 6km over de Zaan (a river) and some canals where I could also measure the speed I reached.
With the current wind-strength this gives not an accurate measurement but it gives a good indication. Against the wind I measured, paddling at a fitness -pace, 8 km/h. Whereas in the few sheltered sections on the way to my lake I easily reached 9-10km/h. So for the time being I write that cruising at 9(-10)km, in flatwater-conditions with minor wind, should be possible; with good technique and enough trunk-rotation. Later I will check the full-sprint.
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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.
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Today I went to kanosport.nl-shop to pickup a test-kayak. Eric offered me the use of one of his demo-kayaks for testing. By mail he proposed to the Epic 16X or 18X. So there was a choice to make and the evening before I was busy thinking about the two kayaks.
Difficult choice because both are interesting kayaks.
After Googling a bit it seemed to me that the 16X was a good choice to start testing with, because she is more manoeuvrable and thus probably usable under more different conditions and by more paddlers of different levels. Another practical reason seemed that a 18X is almost 6 meter long and does not fit very well on the roof of a VW-polo.
On the other hand; paddling a very fast kayak like the 18X is a joy to my hart: I love it to split the water at high speed. And another reason for the 18X is that Freya rounded Australia with that kayak, so it must be a very capable kayak-design; just as capable as Freya herself.