... Plastic 170, glass 170, glass 165. Not sure how they are built these days. My first one, plastic 170, bought back in 2000 or so, had some leaks where the skeg cable came in through the hull. Easy fix. The glass 170, bought a few years later, had a similar leak, also easily fixed. The 165, one of the early ones when they moved from NC I believe, was not so well made. Hatches leaked, skeg leaked, spider cracks in the glass, interior glass work in the real near the skeg looked like a birds nest. Growing pains I guess. Don't know how WS boats are these days.
As far as handling they are nice boats, capable of far more than I could put them through. Not fast, but dependable and predictable. I don't camp, but they can hold a lot of gear.
After that, picked up a Nordlow. Looked at many boats then, including the main Brits ones, Impex, etc. The Valley was like a Mercedes of Kayaks, as well all the main Brit boats, and many of the other likely suspects. The Nordlow is a great boat, pushed my learning curve.
I've got an Epic V8 now. Never thought something that looked a little like a QCC rather than a "real sea kayak" could be used for anything more than dawdling on a flat pond sipping lemonade. Guess I was wrong, there is something about that shape after all (hate to admit it though, at least in public)...
negative on NC I bought a new NC 17 a few years ago. It was very poorly constructed, and leaked badly at the seams, and there were gaps in the bulkheads. NC told me to use some kind of goop to seal things. I found the seat terribly uncomfortable. It did not handle rough water nearly as well as a Cetus MV I compared it to, nor as well as a Seda Ikkuma. It was, however, fast.
the cetus hv is beautiful I am amazed at how snug the fit is in the hv model I was afraid it would be big and loose but it fit like a glove. that’s the one for me im going to order it in black on black with black everything!
Check the lead time Great news that the fit was spot on! Sounds like my reaction to the MV.
If you’re going to special order one they’ll put it on the docket for production in the UK but lead time for non-stock special orders are going to be till August optimistically.
Too bad you’re not into yellow or red.
Biased comment I know, you’re going to have a blast with the Cetus.
Three Boats I usually recommend one of three boats to people. IMO these are three classic expedition boats and you can’t go wrong selecting any of the three. Pending paddler height and weight, a paddler shouldn’t have any problem doing expeditions in a Valley Nordkapp, a Sea Kayak UK (NDK) Explorer or a P&H Cetus. These are three designs that are time tested, haven’t changed much and will offer everything a paddler would want in an expedition rigged kayak. When you get something right, no reason to screw with it too much.
wow nice pics where from one piece of gear you would probably love which I just picked up last summer sea line baha stern deck bag. sweet for lighter items on deck.
found some really good deals though and I wont be waiting till august mec told me 6- 8 weeks if that isn’t doable I will buy one of the ones that I found already here.
carbon kevlar layup or fg is my only question now I found a guy with 2 2013 carbon Kevlars including keel strips and compass for a good price just not sure about the layup as I read carbon Kevlar isn’t the best choice of building materials, that it doesn’t bond as well as fg and is more encapsulated and will soak up water with wea and tear over time. though this comes from a different builder (nc kayaks) faq page any opinions hmm maybe another post for this one. but with a keel strip what could go wrong and for the price id be paying 100 dolars more for the 2013 than a standard 2014 fg no keel strip or compass.
Additional thoughts. If you get the chance to paddle a Valley Norkapp and a P&H Cetus, before you buy a Cetus, I would strongly suggest you do so. I’ve paddled all of them and I too thought I would really like the Cetus. They certainly are nice boats, but the 18’ Nordkapp changed my mind.
When you consider which type of layup to go with, consider this: There really isn’t a great difference in the weight between a kevlar, carbon, or glass boat, but there is quite a difference in price. No matter which fabric, or combination of fabrics is used, the gel coat is still the weak link. When it comes to repairs, glass will be easier and cheaper to fix. I am no expert, but I have seen a demonstration that convinced me that vinylester resin does as advertised.
About your choice of black–it will show every little mark and scratch.
Photos are from… Lake Azischohos in Maine. Items on the back deck of my boat are a camp chair and my sleeping pad and bivy in a dry bag. Both items are light. Heavier stuff is inside the boat.
Who’s in the yellow squirt boat? Or whose yellow boat is under all the dry bags? Like the line from Jaws “…need a bigger boat.” or to not bring the big screen tv in the aft dry bag.
black looks good but… Freya was in a black NDK Explorer during our Iceland circumnavigation (along with a black drysuit, black PFD and black paddle) and she was very difficult to see in the cold black waters among black volcanic rocks on the coast.
Also, due to an unfortunate call from a well-meaning bystander, a search was enacted for us, and the aircraft saw me at close range during a fly-over (yellow NDK Explorer) but could not see Freya adjacent to me, and this prolonged the search.
In Florida, black gets so hot that you can see heat waves rising from it. I have tried it and “never again”.
That said, it’s your choice but just wanted to give you some of the drawbacks.
