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.
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.
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…
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
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.
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.