[Paddlewise] subjective evaluation of kayaks

    I'll go ahead and do a subjective evaluation of a couple of boats that I
have owned, and we can see how I did after I've finished.  I do think that Sea
Kayaker does a good job with their reviews, but I always have to chuckle at
the fact that some boats track well for one reviewer, and poorly for another,
and that whether one can get in butt first and legs second is thought to be of
any importance.  It is also hard to understand why the hatches leak for one
person, and not for another.  Sometimes I think I've learned more about the
reviewers than the boats.


    Well here is my review, starting with a review of me:  I've been paddling
for about 10 years, and paddle skillfully, although not regularly.  I roll and
brace easily, and enjoy surf, strong currents, and waves.  I used to do mostly
day trips, now I seem to go camping more often.  I always make my own seats
and custom fit cockpits.  Both of the boats I plan to review are tippier with
the stock seat than with the seats I made (mine are lower).  I'm very fussy
about the quality of workmanship in boats that I buy, and don't like leaky
hatches or other substandard outfitting.  I'm 6' 1" tall and weigh 170 pounds.
I paddle energetically, leaning slightly forward.  I prefer very short
paddles--almost whitewater length.  A lot of my rolls and braces have me
finishing up over the rear deck, and I don't like boats with a high combing or
rear deck immediately aft of the cockpit because it impedes me.  


    I used to manage the retail store for Eddyline Kayak Works.  I don't
currently work for any kayak company, though I am friendly with several
manufacturers and kayak shop owners.  I run a small supplemental business
specializing in accessories and customizing materials.  I admire boats by a
variety of makers, and am very excited by the rapid technical progress I see
in the boats and accessories.





    Eddyline Falcon 16:  I bought this boat in a fit of impulsive enthusiasm.
The foredeck was too low for a comfortable leg angle for me, and I found it
unstable enough that I was a bit nervous about it.  I made a new and lower
seat, which resulted in a very comfortable leg position, and though it was
still a tippy boat, it wasn't a problem.  I took it Christmas caroling, and
played my clarinet in it, which says something.  (I think the Falcon 16 comes
with a lower seat now than it did originally.)  The boat was a dream to roll
and brace, and the ease of acceleration and paddling at cruising speeds was
really exceptional.  The boat was very good in wind and waves.  It was
exceptional for riding wind waves, and very manageable in surf and strong
currents.  I devised my own method for sealing the hatches, and they were
nearly 100% watertight.  It held enough gear to go camping, but it was tricky
to pack because it was pretty small.  I was always pushing the envelope,
trying to squeeze in a clarinet and a bunch of books, so I eventually opted
for a larger boat, so I could camp in a more deluxe manner.


    The boat had a little bit of "weather helm", but it wasn' t very
pronounced, and I considered it to be very likeable in wind.  The worst thing
I can say about the Falcon 16 is that it is a slow boat to turn.  I tended to
like to use a bow rudder stroke with a reverse lean to bring it around in a
hurry.  My boat was a very light lamination made with fiberglass, kevlar and
carbon fiber.  It was a nice stiff, light boat, weighing about 40 pounds.  I
did fracture it a couple of times by doing harebrained stuff, but I had it
professionally repaired as good as new.  One really endearing safety feature
of the boat was it's great stability with a flooded cockpit.  Most kayaks are
awful with water in the cockpit, and this boat handled great.  That could be a
big help in a self rescue situation.  You wouldn't have to pump right away,
just get in and go!


    I really enjoyed the boat.  One of Eddyline's past employees, Julio
Garcia, did a special airbrushed design on my foredeck, which I particularly
enjoyed.  Many people commented that it was the most beautiful kayak they'd
ever seen.  I think so too.      


    Should you get one?  The average paddler would be put off by the
tippiness.  Campers might want more volume.  Some advanced paddlers might
prefer more maneuverability.  Speed demons might like more length, in order to
bring the top end speed up higher.  All of those criticisms are valid, but I
loved it, and a lot of others would also.  The workmanship is first class.
The tracking and handling in wind are excellent.  Rough water performance is
excellent.  Bracing and rolling ease are excellent.  Ease of paddling is
excellent.  Ability to catch and ride waves is excellent.  A lot of small
paddlers would go nuts over this boat due to the paddling ease and control in
wind.  I'd recommend a test paddle first, and if you like it, go ahead.





    Eddyline Falcon 18:  Don't be mislead by the name, a Falcon 18 is not much
like a Falcon 16.  The Falcon 18 is a much more moderate boat, and it will
appeal to many more paddlers.  The Falcon 18 has a much higher speed
potential, more stability, turns a little easier, has plenty of volume for
camping gear, and has unlikely-to-leak Kayaksport 10.5" hatches.  It is even
more neutral in a crosswind than the 16--the most neutral boat in wind I've
paddled, except for some very small kayaks.


    It is like the 16 in that it is very easy to roll and brace--unusually so
for a boat of its size and volume.  It too, is stable with a flooded cockpit.
Visually, the 16 and 18 look a lot alike.  They are both particularly
attractive in appearance.


    What don't I like?  It would be nice if it turned easier.  Loading the
boat through the small hatches is a bit of a trick.  Mercifully, the storage
area is bone dry, so dry bagging is optional, which makes packing easier.  I
also added a 7.5" VCP hatch to the rear bulkhead to make insertion of long
items into the rear storage area possible.  (That way I can take my clarinet
case!)  There really isn't much to dislike about this boat.  Great tracking
does come at the expense of some maneuverability, and great tracking is what
keeps a boat gliding along, and racking up miles.  Reliable dry hatches are a
rarity in kayaks.  The inconvenience of smaller ports is offset by the
convenience of reliable dry storage.


    I took the 18 out in some of the very strong winds we've been having here
in the Pacific Northwest recently.  The boat was docile.  That is the only way
to describe it.  It was so easy to control the boat that it was peaceful in
the midst of all that wind.  I found myself feeling guilty, because I didn't
feel like it took any skill to operate the boat.  It seemed like it ought to
be more challenging than it was.  Downwind, I had tremendous speed.  I'd catch
a wave, ride it, look for a low spot in the wave ahead, and punch through and
ride that one.  I kept punching through and getting further and further ahead
of my original wave.  The Falcon 18 is the most performance oriented camping
boat I'm familiar with.  It's characteristics are moderate enough that many
paddlers would enjoy it a lot, and find it quite practical as well.  I'm
particularly enthusiastic about the fact that it is a practical kayak that
people would tend to purchase, but due to the great rolling and bracing
performance, it won't hinder the development of advanced skills, which is
where safety ultimately comes from.  This is boat that a lot of shoppers
should consider.





    Well, there you have it, two subjective reviews.  I make no pretense about
being objective or scientific.  These are my feelings and opinions regarding
two boats that I either own or have owned, and like a lot.  I hope that the
rest of you own or discover boats you can gush over with as much unabashed
enthusiasm as I!





Ken Rasmussen


www.kayakfit.com





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