Yesterday, Scupperpro frank and I (with my family) went to the Adventure Times Paddlefest in West Palm Beach. We tried out a bunch of boat, mostly SOT’s as I am looking for one for my wife.
I was very interested in the Impex line and I was very pleasantly surprised to see that they had the Assateague, Mystic, Outer Island, Force five and Force 4, and I saw the Susquehana in the distance.
Talk about fast! (course I am coming from a plastic Tempest) The force 5 and 4 are the same hull but with a 1 inch difference in volume/deck. Danny was there and he told me that the force 4 seat was going to be lowered 1/2 inch in the production model and for me anyway, this will make a tremendous difference as I was a bit cramped under the braces.
both boats have a 20.5 inch beam and are 18 feet long, as well as the Outer Island which I will comment about in a minute.
finish and quality was superb, and I was most impressed that Danny was there himself along with another guy who was a BCU coach and extremely helpful. Scupperpro ran off with his card but I will get another one today.
The outer island WOW! loved this boat even though I barely squeezed into it. Definitely a point a to point b boat as it does not want to turn for nuttin unless you do a seriously aggressive lean. but in compensation, it will get you there fast, and it is a greenland kayak that is superb for rolling and other gp moves. As I said I barely squeezed into it and would probably practice the Petrussen manouver a bit before going out alone…
I think the force 4 and Force 5 are going to be real winners for Impex. And more importantly, compared to some of the other dealers reps out there yesterday, I think their customer service is really impressive.
I am going back today with the GP so I can play with the Impex boats and maybe a Current Design or two.
the Hurricane Phoenix and the CD Kestrel sit on tops were very impressive too. I think I prefer the Phoenix but to be fair the CD was a prototype.
Paul
I am surprised that …
…since you were with Frank that you didn’t come home with several new yaks !!
Cheers,
JackL
yeah I know
But it was my wife’s van (Mazda MPV new) and I doubt that Frank would have had much chance of strapping one on top. Besides, Sally wasn’t there so you know he didn’t have any money. I had to buy him breakfast! Actually he did pay for the tolls on the way up but strangely enough on the way back, his wallet was “all the way in the back of the van”.
I am seriously kidding here! (even though the wallet in the back part is true)
I think he was hoping to see a Solstice GTX and an Extreme from DC and they didn’t have any of those. shame really.
Wilderness systems had mostly rec boats and a couple of Tsunamis. No Tempests or higher end boats…again a bit of a dissapointment.
who obviously went all out was Impex, with Hurricane coming in also with a nice variety and CD also, just not the ones Frank wanted to see.
Paul
Tell him to make sure he opens…
the picture I just sent him of my 17 foot plastic Eclipse entering a class III rapid in the Dan River Kibler Valley Run (race) last month.
Cheers,
JackL
Jack…
For your next trick we want to see you race a WW yak in the Bogey…
AMEN TO THAT…!!!
(I sent the pic around -impressive, Jack, and way cool!)
Now THAT a WW squirt boat for the Bogey would REALLY be a case of HAVING to REALLY
PADDLE ON!
-Frank in Miami
Not so hard if…
… you manage to get a line on to Barton’s stern at the start!