17’ long but kevlar so it’s got to be relatively light:
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The Seda is a good boat at a good price dependant on condition
I saw this boat but it’s not really what I’m looking for. The 17 foot length would be a storage problem. Looking for more in the 12-14 foot range. Curious how much it weighs. Couldn’t find that out. Love the price! Thanks
I googled a bit about Seda SOT kayak. Couldn’t find a 17’ Seda SOT. What came up is the Seda Revenge that is OAL of 16.5’. The reviews are here. The kevlar model apparently weighs in a round 40 or so pounds. That sounds about right.
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Here are some almost new Stellar S16S’
Stellar Kayaks End-of-Season - boats - by dealer - marine sale - craigslist
The ad says 35 pounds.
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I would be tempted if they were closer and I didn’t have an S14S.
At 35 pounds I am tempted, but way too far from Charlotte NC.
The Nelo 400 is new this year, but I am not sure how many came to the US or how many are left. There is one in the northeast but pickup only. The USA Nelo dealer is near the Oregon border (Columbia River Gorge) with others on the east coast. I wanna paddle one.
Specs: 12’ 5" L x 27" W; 37 lbs
https://www.nelo400.com/
There used to be lots of Seda boats in San Diego, it’s been many years but I tried I think 3 boats, they were all quite fast paddlers.
You might keep your eye out for a used Feathercraft Java. a 15’ 4" by 28" collapsible sit on top (internal metal frame with inflatable main structure that weighs 33 pounds. Company closed in 2016 but still has some parts availability from the founder. Quality boats and costly when new so used ones are usually cared for and in great shape. I bought one two years ago (a 2009 model) for $650 in excellent condition. Can be shipped from anywhere since it fits in two duffel bags. Comes with extra seat so it can be set up as a solo or tandem, and has BOTH a removable rudder and a built in drop skeg. Also adjustable foot braces and mesh cargo decks fore and aft. Takes about 2-3 minutes to inflate each of the 4 sponson tubes with the high volume hand pump that comes with it.
They do pop up for sale occasionally, you just have to do a regular search (you can set up an automated search on Craigslist to return any detected posts for them.) Took me 30 minutes to set up the first time last summer – I had to read the instructions a lot and figure I will get it down to 20 minutes with practice. Due to the frame giving it lateral rigidity, it tracks well and is surprisingly fast. Can store it in a closet or car trunk. Pic of mine below, plus link to the factory specs.
https://www.feathercraft.com/java
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Some great suggestions but they might be hard to find. I appreciate the continued response. One day I’ll find what I’m looking for. Thanks
There is a 39 pound Current Designs Kestral 140 SOT Kevlar in the Paddling.com classifieds that could work for you. Looks to be in perfect condition. Only problem is it is in Knoxville Tn.
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Unless the Carson WA location (just over the river from the OR side) has the 400 to demo, you’ll need to order one and wait a few months. Nelo is in Portugal.
My first ski was a 520 S, which I still own. I demo’ed the ultralight version of it when the dealer was in Orange County, CA. Didn’t want the slight savings in weight with added fragility, so I ordered the WWR layup. The 520 is rated by Nelo as 8 stability, out of a max of 10. I would agree that it is stable for someone with a bit of kayaking experience in sea kayaks—not rec kayaks.
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Please do not consider the Hurricane Skimmer.
Five years ago Sept. 2018, I bought a Hurricane Skimmer 128 in Venice, FL, and reviewed it on this website in 2020 after paddling it for two years. Seemed like a great boat. Nimble in the water, tracked well and light enough for me to lift it out of the water and carry it to the rack. I went to great lengths to take care of it, always freshwater rinsed, stored properly on a Suspenz rack, out of the sun. Exactly two months after my review, after a day on the water, I stood up on the deck to step out of it onto the dock. And my heel quite literally went right through it.
Contacted the dealer, fortunately it was still inside the warranty, barely. Lydia at Hurricane replaced it, took awhile because of COVID shipping drama, but I got another one from the dealer. Technician looked at the hole in the paper-thin hull and said I must have gotten a “lemon.” I hoped that was all it was.
Fast forward to this morning, spouse and I planned to go for a paddle. He steps off the dock and onto his mango Skimmer 140, lo and behold, his foot went right through the deck in almost the same spot as my original boat. So we took a closer look at my replacement boat, replaced July 2021. White stress ring in the plastic, around the front scupper (which is supported by a short section of PVC pipe glued inside there), barely discernible micro-cracks around the front scupper and also micro-cracks in the area where a person would stand while entering and exiting the boat (from a non-floating dock).
Sorry to say we won’t buy another Hurricane. They provided a good level of customer service both on this warranty issue as well as providing hardware later on. No issues dealing with Hurricane directly at all.
This review is an update from the original one, posted 2020.
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I don’t yhink you’re supposed to step on the DECK of a kayak.
It is a sit on top. You step onto it and sit down. No other way unless you get in from a deep water entry. Nobody does that unless they fall out.
I.had a Skimmer for a short time. No problems like that but I didnt keep it very long. Makes me wonder if they are cutting costs and now Pelican owns them.
I really liked the boat, perfect for what I want to do with it. I reached out to them, but not holding out any hope. When did Pelican buy the company?
I’m trying to find out if I was right about Pelican owning whoever makes Skimmers. I don’t see it on the list that Pelican has acquired. My bad.
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No matter. Appreciate the effort. I’d like to think it was just poor manufacturing in the first case. But a second boat is now a brick, cracked in the same basic spot and the third one appears to not be too far behind. Hurricane has what appears to be some sort of very soft, flexible foam they use inside that area. There is no structural support at all.
Looking at the Eddyline kayaks now and wondering if they are better quality engineering.
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