Favourite Sea Kayak

Paddlers' Place
#1

I started kayaking about 18 years ago. Over those years I have had a fun hobby of buying used kayaks, refurbishing them as necessary, paddling them for some time, and then selling to try the next boat. I have paddled many different sea kayaks from manufacturers such as North Shore (before the Valley takeover), Mariner, Sterling, NDK/SKUK, Valley, Necky, P&H, Seaward, Current Designs, Boreal Design, etc. I am not a highly skilled paddler, nor adventuresome. I am a small person, ~140 pounds and 5’ 5” in height … continuing to shrink as appropriate for a person born in 1940. Nowadays I only take day trips and accrue merely 200 nautical miles each season. I have a favourite kayak from the long list of kayaks I have tried, not an overwhelming favourite, but nonetheless a favourite. It is the Boreal Design Ellesmere. I have owned 2 of these over the years and currently have the Kevlar version.

As we all know, no kayak is perfect for any user nor for every purpose. For example, a very nimble and maneuverable kayak could be perfect for rock gardening, but will likely be a poor choice for an expedition. Personally, I prefer a skeg to a rudder, but if I were into expedition journeys and camping along the way, I would opt for a rudder. The paddler’s skill level is also a crucial factor. For my skill level and choice of paddling location, the Ellesmere is my favourite. What’s yours?

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#2

The next one .

#3

Similar background here, a sea kayak salvager and reseller for 23 years (10 years younger and 10 Pounds heftier.)

I think I have run through about a dozen models of my own and a half dozen more I have borrowed or rented during coastal travels. out of all of them the one that fits me most like a glove and never fails to be fast, nimble and bombproof in conditions is a scarred but solid 2004 Perception Avatar 16, composite 16’ by 22” low volume Greenland hull with skeg and just a touch of rocker. Feels a bit like a Romany (I’ve day-paddled those a couple of times) but is faster and about 8 pounds lighter. I can paddle it all day and never feel cramped or tired. Always use a Greenland paddle with her.

It’s also the second cheapest kayak I have ever acquired ($300 to the guy on Craigslist clearing his brother’s stuff out of his barn) plus about $100 I had to spend for a new pair of hatch inner caps and a fresh backband. And a few bucks worth of new deck bungee. Not too shabby for a boat that was $2500 new 2 decades ago. I’ve paid more for a paddle than I did for that kayak.

I was sorely tempted a couple of months ago when someone a half days drive from me posted the exact duplicate for sale but absolutely pristine — decided that it was not worth $800 just to have one that didn’t have some gelcoat dings and a chicken-scratched hull (the fish don’t judge.)

I have several other very good boats that are nearly as nice to paddle (from P & H, Northwest, Feathercraft, DIY skin on frame Greenland replicas and even a vintage Curtis solo canoe), but I have tended to neglect them since I got this one 4 years ago. A bonus is that it fits exactly inside the cabin and slides under the double bed frame in my cargo box truck conversion camper. If it was a eighth inch taller at the high point of the bow it would not fit.

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#4

Fav over all my paddling years

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Overall, the NDK Explorer for taking me places that were over my head in all meanings of the expression.

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#5

I’ve had a few over the last almost 30 years, and my fave is still the Current Designs Caribou I bought new in 1998. Best one for “textured water” for my preferences, YMMV. Also the only one I’ve ever owned that I didn’t dislike one way or another after a while. Picked up a used Boreal Designs Ellesmere last fall that looks like she’ll pass my test, and stay in the fleet. Time will tell.

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#6

I also have a small fleet and often ask myself this same question but phrased differently: “If I could only keep one, which would it be?” I can never come up with a clear answer, but fortunately I can store a few kayaks in a conveniently accessible way so I don’t have to decide yet. But then the next question comes up if I see a used kayak that really looks interesting: “Which one would I be willing to get rid of to make room for something new?”

The kayaks I use the most would probably win out as “favorites”. A Lincoln Isle au Haut that I use for ocean paddles in the summer in Maine, and a Stellar 16s (an older one) that I just bought to be my lake kayak for the rest of the year in Ohio.

#7

I’ve been sea kayaking for 20+ years. For the type of paddler I am, I learned to roll right away, got started kayaking after moving to the east coast, and so have owned and paddled all of these kayaks in the ocean. The existence of a skeg vs rudder doesn’t move me at all, as I rarely use either and like to know the pure hull design. But I have nothing truly against using a skeg or rudder. I really enjoy surfing waves, and I really enjoy speed and glide. These can go together in downwind situations, which is really great fun. And they can be at opposite ends of the spectrum, such as playing in the surf in inlets with all of the varying shoals and currents and breaks that make a more maneuverable kayak with a rockered and higher volume bow advantageous, or participating in a flatwater race, where what is by far most pleasing is a kayak that will yield the best speed gliding across a fairly flat water surface. And a lot of days, I find some combination of both desirable. The last two evenings after work for example, I paddled off the beach in a Maelstrom Vaag into the inlet, out into the ocean around Deveaux Banks, surfed a few small waves, and continued back into the inlet. I didn’t go out with a goal of playing in waves, but I didn’t go out with a goal of not playing in waves either. I was just enjoying sea kayaking, if that makes sense.
I’ve tried many other kayaks in addition to this list, but these are the ones I’ve owned.
Impex Hatteras, Impex Assateague, North Shore Ocean, Wilderness Systems Arctic Hawk, Wilderness Systems Echo, Seaward Endeavor, Seaward Passat, Seaward Nigel Foster Legend, Point 65 Nigel Foster Whisky 16 Rocker, NDK Greenlander, NDK Romany Surf, NDK Triton, Valley Selkie, Valley Aquanaut, Dagger Halifax 17, Necky Chatham 16, Maelstrom Vaag, Boreal Design Fjord, Boreal Design Ellesmere, Tiderace Xtreme, Zegul Arrow Play HV, KajakSport Viviane, Epic 18x, Epic 18x Double, Stellar ST21, Current Designs (CD) Solstice GTS, CD Solstice GT, CD Extreme/Nomad, CD Caribou, CD Stratus 18, CD Andromeda, CD Gulfstream, CD Suka, CD Willow, CD Cypress, CD Gulfstream, CD Sirocco, CD Sisu LV, CD Unity, P&H Sirius, P&H Capella 169, P&H Bahiya, P&H Quest LV, P&H Capella 163…
I think that’s pretty close to all of them that I’ve owned.
In my experience, many folks get to know the fit and feel of a particular kayak, and then just don’t like it when a kayak feels in any way different. I’m talking right down to the most subtle of characteristics, such as the precise degree of resistance in primary and secondary stability, where anything even slightly less or slightly more is simply no good. If they’re used to a high deck, most other decks are too low. If they’re used to a low deck, most other decks are too high (I’m just swimming in that cockpit!). There’s value to this. You really get dialed in to the feel of edging in that boat, to the precise feel of your kayak rolling, to how broken waves tend to act on it, etc. The potential downside is that it often leads to unmerited criticisms of other hull designs that may not be particularly related to potential performance. It’s a part of why it’s common for 2 different people to decide 2 different kayaks are easier to roll than the other. My problem is that I generally find something to love in most designs.
For covering some rougher water miles quickly and unloaded, and then for weekend to 10 day loaded mini-expeditions (or full on expeditions if I ever get that much time off!) to this point the Current Designs Extreme/Nomad is my favorite. When I think of my most adventurous outings in a sea kayak, I’m quite often paddling the Extreme. For surf play, at this point the Current Designs Sisu LV is my favorite. Two very capable kayaks with a lot of personality (unique yet very pleasing feel) that somehow make them almost as enjoyable on flatwater as they are in the waves are the Nigel Foster Legend and P&H Bahiya. I could probably justify my appreciation for these two by recording and reporting my own anecdotal data, but sometimes when you really enjoy the feel and the performance of a particular paddle craft, you just do. I could say the Legend is quite fast and quite easily maneuverable for its speed, and also say it gets pushed around by whitewater waves like an expedition kayak typically does because of its volume and rounded bottom when empty. If you’re loaded, no big deal. If you’re not encountering broken waves, that part doesn’t matter at all. The Bahiya gets pushed around very little by broken waves. It really sticks its ground. And I’ve found it is exceptional at efficient ground speed into wind and waves. Some standouts that come to my mind that push those boundaries of compromise between rough water handling and maneuverability while still maintaining efficient speed would be the Boreal Designs Ellesmere, CD Caribou, & P&H Quest LV. Just pure speed, the Epic 18x. Having said that, if I were somehow left, for random example, with the CD Stratus 18 for speed, the Valley Aquanaut for all-around, and the Tiderace Xtreme for wave play, I would kayak just as much and still love it. Maybe I just have a particularly curious & adventurous disposition? I’m definitely with Wolf in that I don’t really have a clear answer on a favorite.

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#8

Wow Raisins. That’s a cool chart.

I have gone through 41(I think) kayaks since I started paddling, but most were bought to pass on to someone else. Other were for myself and my wife until I got something I liked better. As of now my wife and I own 8 and 2 of them are for sale. I also have access to 2 others that belong to friends that are also for sale.

Each kayak I bought I have really enjoyed getting a few hours or days in, before I moved them to their new owners, and I have learned a lot about different designs and features, but I didn’t make any documentation of the pros and cons of each and that something I now regret. I used each of them but what I didn’t do with the ones we bought and sold is to write them all down, and make careful notes about each one. That was a mistake on my part.

I see you owned a Lincoln. I have been curious about the Lincoln kayaks for a few years. Which one did you have, and what did you think of it, both good and bad? I see you didn’t own it very long.

I am not a kayak collector. When I find one that pleases me more then the one I am using for any reason or set of reasons, I’ll “move up”, and sell off the older ones. The 2 I have to sell now have been really good for me so it’s like watching a kid leave home, but the new Rebel kayaks I have now do what my Eddyline Fathom and my Perception Sea Lion Shadow did as well or better, so despite the fact I have nothing at all bad to say about those 2 kayaks I am going to sell them. I can store up to 8 kayaks, and so my shed is now full with our 8, and the 2 friends I know who are selling their kayaks have them stored at their homes. If I can sell the Sea Lion and/or the Fathom I will then move their kayaks to my place to help them sell those too.

My own “dream fleet” is to own 4, and of those 4 I now have 3.

My favored 3 are my old Necky Chatham17, a Rebel TOC, a Rebel Jara and I hope to complete my collecting with a Rebel Husky or maybe an Aquarius Sea Shadow, But it will be at least next year or maybe the following year before that can happen. I’d hoped to do it in 2026 but my bridge was badly damaged and it’s going to cost me about $4000 to get it replaced, so my 2026 kayak plan is now going to be a 2027 plan if I can get it done at all. No big deal if I can’t but getting that last kayak would complete my dream. The 3 I have and intend to keep are enough to cover all the bases, but that 4th is just the cherry on top.

#9

It was the ‘Isle au Haut’ (as @Wolf mentioned above).
I’m sure it was just a coincidence, but, in the course of a year, I got chomped on by sharks on 2 different occasions and once a very large fish (not sure kind) jumped and bounced (twice) on the foredeck, cracking the kevlar. On another (all of these incidents occurred while paddling around Cumberland I) time, I was stopped for a brief break - and I have no idea what caused it, but I went over (lost subscription sunglasses). Another time, locked keys in car (only time I’ve ever done that), by the time I got it open, I went ahead with the trip around Cumberland (in the other direction - very much tide dependant).

I think the kayak was haunted (no, not really, but I haven’t had any shark encounters in any other kayak, no other locked car incidents, no flipping for no reason).

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#10

Dang… I am unsure if I’d have sold THAT kayak. Maybe burned it instead.
SHARK ATTACK !!! 2 TIMES!!! ??? !!! Something is wrong with that!

You sound like the guy that wanted to carry the salami in his backpack in the mountains S/W of my home.
(LOTS of grizzly bears up there)

Well, the ‘Isle au Haut’ was one I was interested in. Other then it being cursed, how’d it preform?

#11

Many years ago, hiking in the ‘Smokies’, we were coming up the trail, another party well ahead was coming down the trail and there was a black bear (note: nothing like your big boys out west) between us.
Someone in our group (somewhat joking) hollered to them to throw their lunch into the woods.
They did, the bear went after it

As I recall, it was a very comfortable boat. A good cruiser, safe, but not necessarily playful (I like the ‘play’ boats).

I got it partially because of its weight (40lb) and reviews.

As I’ve seen other places, the (fiberglass) seat was very comfortable (maybe because it is a bit longer than most).

#12

That used to be my view, but at my age I may be at my last kayak … hence the word “favourite” makes sense.

#13

I’ve had 3 Explorers. 2 were to heavy for my brawny frame (off water). The lighter version had a slight hull deformation which bothered me, despite not affecting the performance from my view point. Other than those disclaimers, I quite liked that kayak.

#14

From your list of kayaks owned, you seem to suffer from the same sickness as I … perhaps even worse.

#15

So much time spent training and so many boats to take care of myself on the water, yet still I’ve gone overboard.

#16

Wow, I was thinking how I’d describe my Isle au Haut, and that covers it perfectly. It has the most comfortable “all day” seat pan of any kayak I’ve used. Negatives for me are that it doesn’t weathercock (with my 165 lbs and minimal gear for day trips). It turns beam on to the wind with no skeg and turns downwind with skeg. That can be a little hard to handle if you get into a strong wind. And, mine is the latest gen model and the rear hatch cover is just a 10 inch round, not oval. That can limit the size of cargo items you could haul.

#17

I was looking at the web page from Lincoln and giving serious thought to the Isle au Haut, but after about a year of consideration and comparisons I opted for the Rebel, which I am very happy with. The Rebel TOC is a 42 pound 17 foot 10 inch long and 21-1/4" wide kayak and the only thing I wish was a bit different is the seat hangers. Not the seat pan, but the hangers. I have very thick and muscular thighs and I find the hangers push on the outside of both thighs a bit more then I’d like. The seat pan is glued in so I could not remove the seat itself and just use a pad. So I am still giving thought as to how to move each hanger out about 1/2" per side. But this TOC is the easiest sea kayak I have ever paddled as far as control goes, and it edge turns wonderfully. It’s not a large kayak so camping trips of longer then 3 days can be crowing the capacity a little but I was able to also purchase a Jara at the same time and it’s a great touring kayak. As I am working towards retirement I am selling off a lot of gun parts and I was able to raise enough cash to buy 2 kayaks at the same time and my wife bought a 3rd for herself. My friend Steve M. also bought a TOC when our 3 arrived from Jacqueline, so she sold 4 kayaks at one place at one time ---- which was better then any other place she’s gone on her 8000 mile long trip from from New Brunswick to Washington and BC and all the way back.

My Jara has got both a skeg and a rudder which I modified to be a “quick change” set up so I can remove it and replace it in about 90 seconds each way. I cut and ties loops in the control lines and installed heavy duty fishing snaps so I can unhook them fast, as if they were safety pins. I then unscrew both shackles from the control plate and turn the rudder 90 degree and it simply lifts off the kayak. Fast and very easy. I like that a lot. I favor a rudderless kayak most of the time, but having the rudder stowed in the rear compartment so I can install it fast is a great feature in those circumstances when I do like to have a rudder.

One thing I was pleasantly surprised to learn is the fact I can buy a high grade Rebel from Canada

and it’s made in Poland, shipped over to New Brunswick and trucked into Wyoming — and with all that is still less money then the Lincoln. My Rebels both have the upgraded hulls and many custom features and even with the delivery from 2 different countries, (one on the other side of the Atlantic) it came in about $200 less then a Lincoln costs BEFORE the shipment of the Lincoln from Maine.

Looking at the totals (shipping included) on the Lincoln Isle au Haut, delivered to my home ,and then looking at my Rebels, the Rebel TOC was about $1300 less. From what I can see so far about the Rebel offerings there is no lesser quality in any regard compared to the Lincoln but I am guessing here---- because I have yet to see a Lincoln first hand.

But I can say the Rebels we have here now are the best quality I have ever seen in ANY kayak as of this writing. Some others are probably as good, but I am doubtful you could get any better.

I have paddled 2 P&H kayaks and 1 Current Designs as well as one Valley and one Sea Bird and all of those were excellent in quality, but so far not one has shown me anything better then the Rebel kayaks. That’s why I want to get that last one I guess.

#18

I think the WS Sealution is just about perfect. I own or have owned about a half dozen different boats and probably paddled a few dozen different models at demo days or as rentals. I haven’t found another boat I like as much as the Sealution.

#19

Interestingly, the Isle au Haut has no seat hangers. The space next to the hips is wide open. It takes some major padding to fill up the space. The Lincoln build quality looks excellent too, but my reason for buying was that is was used at a price I couldn’t resist.

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#20

I do like the look of that Lincoln seat.

The TOC has Rebel’s Greenland Seat. (as does the Illaga) It’s comfortable and I have used it for paddles as long as 3 days, but the hangers at the very front taper along with the combing and for my thick legs, the give me a slight pressure bruise over time and it’s a little bothersome.
Here is a link to see a pic from their web site You can see the hangers at the front and how they are a bit narrower side to side then the rest.

There are 3 screws per side holding the seat to the hangers off the combing and I removed them but then found the seat pan is glued down. . So I am looking for a way to remove it with out damaging the hull. I wrote to Rebel, but they didn’t write back.
To be honest, it’s only a slight problem. I take the TOC out more then any of my other kayaks and for a few hours ----- about 3 to 6— It doesn’t really bother me. But if I could get those 2 pinch points out about 1 to 1.5 inches the seat would be perfect for me.
Their standard seat for the keyhole cockpit in the Jara and most of their other kayaks is just fine.