Tiderace xcite S

Objective test
When my wife was in the market for a new boat, one issue was efficiency.

We compared the Tiderace Xcite S, the Avocet LV, and the Pilgrim Expedition.

I say “we”, because in addition to personal response to fit, comfort, and handling (subjective), there was also extensive playing around with heart rate monitor and a GPS. I will add that, as a reformed kayak racer, I have many years experience using the test protocol.

No surprise, the difference up to 3.5kn was…no difference. But at 4kn, the Xcite S consistently had superior efficiency (less effort).



Back to the subjective, my opinion is different than others regarding the tracking. I find all Tiderace kayaks noticeably “looser” than comparable model from NDK. They do exhibit more weatherhelm behavior as well.

Compared to an Avocet, I can say that the Xcite (not the S) feels far more efficient at higher speeds, but interestingly enough will accelerate better. The response to stern rudder strokes seems similar.

Tiderace xcite S

– Last Updated: Aug-13-12 11:33 PM EST –

So the xcite S feels more efficient when pushed
compared to avocet lv or pilgram ex. I do alot
of solo paddling and was wondering if the xite s
would be efficient enough covering ground when I needed to.
I always ended up selling my smaller 16'boats because
they felt slow or hit a wall speed wise compared
to a longer boat like an aquanaut or greenlander I owned and sold(both a little big)
and was hoping the tiderace xcite s might fall in
between them for any flat water day paddles or touring. I might be better off with a cetus LV because
of extra hull lenght but still have some playfulness.
What raised interested in tiderace was that the hulls
water lines were maximized for speed and the xcite s
rolls really, really good. I have a tahe greenland OC
for rolling and day paddles as well and wanted a really all good around boat that you could do anything with but has a reasonable cruise speed for covering
distance.

Have you considered
A 17’-2" NC. In the Lt. version, they are very light, fast and stable. The handling might not be as quick as a comparable Tiderace, but the NC will spoil you when you get it in the big stuff, or for that matter on flat water if you want to cover some miles. And they’re American made.

NC? what is a NC kayak?
Just curious.

re:nc
Novus Composites, IIRC. I think they’re a ‘direct-order’ company, i.e. no dealers, and probably no ‘try before you buy’.



From what I remember, they tend to make very straight-tracking boats that don’t turn very well.

cetus LV
I you’re going to look at the Cetus, try the Xplore-S: very fast, easy to maneuver, great fit, and the center hatch design is much better than on the Cetus. I have an Xplore M, and love it.

Xplore S
Had alot of people recommond a xplore s, so I went

and bought one! Thx

congrats!
that’s a fine pick given your priorities.



Late to this thread (good discussion, too) but have paddled all three of the boats which were in play earlier (Avocet LV, Tiderace XciteS and Pilgrim).



They’re much more alike to each other than different. All pleasant to paddle, mobile and fun, great for rolling and other skills… but none of them would have given you the speed over distance you were after, esp as a former owner of the NDK Greenlander and Greenlander Prol



That would be asking a lot of any highly rockered British style seakayak in the 16 foot range. It’s just not where they excel.



I agree w. suiram that the Pilgrim Expedition, and the Tiderace ExploreS would be significantly more interesting to you, and you picked the latter. Many happy miles in your new boat…






re: Xplore S
So Jay, what do you think of the Xplore S so far?


Xplore S
Still has to be picked up! I did the one thing you

shouldn’t and bought without a demo.

There is no way…
…you’re not gonna love this boat.

tell us how it is once you paddle it

Feedback
I’ll post after a couple of paddles with new boat.

One question
Congratulations on your new boat, Jay. Maybe you can satisfy a question I have about the Xplore. When I demo paddled it, I noticed that unlike the other Tiderace boats I paddled, the Xplore seemed to have a much more vague secondary. I didn’t have the time nor the desire to end up swimming, so I’m curious to know what you think.

I’ll try to answer, but ymmv…
I have paddled the Tiderace Xcite, Xcite S, and Xplore S.



Yes, I did feel the the Xplore S had rather vague secondary stability when compared to the other two Tiderace boats and my own Cetus LV. If I had to chose a Tiderace model it would be the Xcite, but honestly I’m about 25 pounds to light for it.

You can try an NC with us . . .
We are an NC Kayaks affiliate located in midcoast Maine and offer the opportunity to test paddle their boats.



Yes, the NC 17 is fast, light, and a straight tracker. The NC 15 has a looser, more playful feel. Both feel very secure in chop and waves. www.touringkayaks.com

no demo lol
huge balls, man, to drop that kind of coin on a boat you haven’t tried. Props.



srsly if you paddled a Greenlander which has its own beloved squirrelly moves, no worries re secondary in an ExploreS.



which layup did you get?

Xplore S

– Last Updated: Aug-18-12 5:22 PM EST –

Classic layup with keel strip and compass for $2500.
If for some reason I really didn't like it a resale
shouldn't be that big of a deal. But to really get
to know a boat you need a season of paddling it.

very fair price

– Last Updated: Aug-18-12 9:18 PM EST –

esp if it's a brand new boat.

Dealers are selling demo Tideraces in the Xcite and Xplore for $2300-$2800. Some w. compass or keel strip. In classic layup.

You did well.

The market is funny for Tiderace. The rave reviews are all out there, like when the Cetus was intro'd. As w. Cetus a number of instructors and coaches have picked up a Tiderace which for some ppl adds to the cachet.

Yet there are dealers in the Midwest and Fla who have had Tiderace demos for sale since May and haven't moved them even after dropping the price.

A midwest paddle shop is dropping the line and they quickly clearanced out all but one Tiderace boat in the heavy duty Hardcore layup.

The name isn't as well known as the other Brit makes and Tiderace dealers few and far between at the moment. In time this can change.

You may like the boat so well that it's moot anyway.

Agree it takes a season to really start to know a boat. C'mon back here sooner w. first impressions.



first impressions
Will do.