Has anyone paddled one yet? It’s a new company. The S16 and S18 look interesting.
Website needs better photos
The colors are washed out and you can’t get a sense of what these kayaks really look like. I’d be interested in the 14’ but it looks like it has no bow flotation? The weights look very good. $1,530 for a 40-lb fiberglass kayak is a great price.
my guess
they are rip-offs of other manufacturer designs.
S16 Review
Check out the latest issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine for a review of the S16. Both the S16 and S18 have similar performance in stability, speed and edging.
Unique Designs
All of our kayaks and surf skis are designed from the ground up in North America. All of our boats are designed on the computer to provide the desired wetted surface area, stability, handling and ergonomic fit.
If you go to http://www.stellarkayaksusa.com/BoatDesign/index.html#Menu=ChildMenu8, you will find the complete explanation of our design process. I hope that this will suffice?
served.
I guess you should research before you assume.
Isn’t stellar an Australian company?
Ryan L.
Not much of a review, unfortunately…
Not much information about actually paddling the thing in that 1/2 page write-up. I guess that’s what we get for “free” with that magazine…
apologies (NM)
Surf Ski
I’m looking for4ward to trying the Stellar surf ski. I’ve heard good things.
Website pics…
also show some dude paddling the kayaks with no pfd on. C’mon.
When i see someone paddling without a pfd i automatically assume they are know-nothing kooks.
Maybe that’s the instructor in me, but honestly Stellar, whats up with that?
Stellar Kayaks
I just saw your post. I have tried them and I like them. Light, fast, suprisingly stable, and maybe a little soft tracking which I like. The design does not have a lot of wow appeal and the colors are not as vivid as other kayaks but they are great boats. They slapped a little with larger waves (empty). If I could only have one boat as a fast day tripper and upt to 7 day tripper this would be my choice.
Stellar Kayaks
Last Saturday I met with Drew Harrison at the Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe store on the Columbia River to test paddle the Stellar S16 and S18. I weighed these boats with my bathroom scale, the S16 Advantage at 39 lbs and the S18 Excel at 34 lbs. The seats and back bands were comfortable and the 32" long cockpits made getting in and out a snap. I then paddled these boats on the river south of the store. This is a no wake zone, with heavy power boat traffic. The current was approximately 2 mph with a good breeze blowing against it. The result was a mixed chop, which would have been very unsettling in my WSBS EFT. I found both boats to be very stable in these conditions. The S18 was slightly faster and the S16 was slightly more stable. The rudders on these boats did not work well and I could have used them in these conditions. These were 2010 models, they are switching to SmartTrack rudders and pedals for 2011. I would rate these two boats at a 9 out of 10 because of their rudders. I am placing an order for a 2011 S18 Excel.
Marvin