Hi, great video at the right time. There's very little about the 2021 version of the 18X Sport out there right now. I'm paddling an Ultra version 1 (2014 year model). I test-paddled the 2021 model yesterday. I'm 6"3'/190lbs with shoe size US11. I wonder how you're dealing with the reduced space under the deck hatch? Also, I found the new seat tighter than the old one. Any comments?
Im a smaller guy, seat fits perfect for me now, 5’6”” tall and 32” waist. Size 8 shoes so Im actually way more comfortable with the smaller cockpit 👍 older seat style flexed and the new design is way better IMP. I plan to do some paddle speed tests real soon
I’m just curious- how’s it handle without the rudder? I was on the fence for a while about a similar design. I ended up getting a boat without a rudder (but with a retractable skeg), a little shorter (17’9”), and with more volume at the top of the bow. Maybe I’ll see you on the water!
Handles ok without the rudder in calm seas, but a long boat in swells and current the rudder is needed as you will be fighting the boat being pushed off course and try to correct. The beauty of the epic rudder system is you can do very slight rudder corrections with your toes on the flat rudder foot plate! Its a great system and is superior to other rudders that often over correct, so Epic has far more fine control over other rudders on the market. I use the rudder almost always because of this as its so easy to use and adjust. What yak did you get?
@@pnwxplored I bought the Tiderace Xceed. I’m paddling out of Bellingham and I’m planning a trip to the islands for later in the summer or maybe fall. So far I’ve only done some day paddles and a three day trip. Tiderace has their Pace design which, to me, looks very similar to your Epic boat. That was the other option I was considering but went with the more traditional design. I will say, however, that I’m very pleased with my choice and it has kind of an evolved bow design at the waterline. It is more similar to your boat there, although designed to stay above the water rather than dive when surfing or heading into a wave.
@@AaronBrand you picked a great boat hopefully you opted for their light latup. More of an all round ocean kayak with rocker. You may find the salish seas fetch with effect hull speed. I too have a rocker design yak Mealstrom Vital 166. For speed longer trips the epic is my pick. For surf, rock gardens I use my Mealstrom. Happy paddling. I was a guide in the San Juans for 15 years. Lummi Is and Patos is my fav. For camping up there. Enjoy your tiderace mate
I had an early one. The internal rudder was just a suggestion not a control. I see you sprung for the ultra. And the wing paddle. I still have the paddle but sold my kayak. If I had paid for the fiberglass layup available at the time I would have kept it. It was a little fragile for the way I treat my kayaks. I had it 3 years. Paddled a lot. They’re a hoot! A surf-ski for touring. I have Seda Glider 19 now. Not as fast but more durable.
I found this boat very stable. More stable (or maybe more correctly, differently stable) than, say the V8 Pro surfski. Stability is definitely a personal thing so in my humble opinion many of these discussions are apples/oranges. You have to try a boat and see how it goes, and then grow into it with time on the water. Everyone has different balance dynamics and risk tolerance! 😅
Hi, great video at the right time. There's very little about the 2021 version of the 18X Sport out there right now. I'm paddling an Ultra version 1 (2014 year model). I test-paddled the 2021 model yesterday. I'm 6"3'/190lbs with shoe size US11. I wonder how you're dealing with the reduced space under the deck hatch? Also, I found the new seat tighter than the old one. Any comments?
Im a smaller guy, seat fits perfect for me now, 5’6”” tall and 32” waist. Size 8 shoes so Im actually way more comfortable with the smaller cockpit 👍 older seat style flexed and the new design is way better IMP. I plan to do some paddle speed tests real soon
I’m just curious- how’s it handle without the rudder? I was on the fence for a while about a similar design. I ended up getting a boat without a rudder (but with a retractable skeg), a little shorter (17’9”), and with more volume at the top of the bow. Maybe I’ll see you on the water!
Handles ok without the rudder in calm seas, but a long boat in swells and current the rudder is needed as you will be fighting the boat being pushed off course and try to correct. The beauty of the epic rudder system is you can do very slight rudder corrections with your toes on the flat rudder foot plate! Its a great system and is superior to other rudders that often over correct, so Epic has far more fine control over other rudders on the market. I use the rudder almost always because of this as its so easy to use and adjust. What yak did you get?
@@pnwxplored I bought the Tiderace Xceed. I’m paddling out of Bellingham and I’m planning a trip to the islands for later in the summer or maybe fall. So far I’ve only done some day paddles and a three day trip. Tiderace has their Pace design which, to me, looks very similar to your Epic boat. That was the other option I was considering but went with the more traditional design. I will say, however, that I’m very pleased with my choice and it has kind of an evolved bow design at the waterline. It is more similar to your boat there, although designed to stay above the water rather than dive when surfing or heading into a wave.
@@AaronBrand you picked a great boat hopefully you opted for their light latup. More of an all round ocean kayak with rocker. You may find the salish seas fetch with effect hull speed. I too have a rocker design yak Mealstrom Vital 166. For speed longer trips the epic is my pick. For surf, rock gardens I use my Mealstrom. Happy paddling. I was a guide in the San Juans for 15 years. Lummi Is and Patos is my fav. For camping up there. Enjoy your tiderace mate
Soooo cool what is your sprint speed in this and comfortable touring speed?
I have not Gps my sprint vs touring speed but it’s fast!
I had an early one. The internal rudder was just a suggestion not a control.
I see you sprung for the ultra. And the wing paddle.
I still have the paddle but sold my kayak. If I had paid for the fiberglass layup available at the time I would have kept it. It was a little fragile for the way I treat my kayaks.
I had it 3 years. Paddled a lot. They’re a hoot! A surf-ski for touring.
I have Seda Glider 19 now. Not as fast but more durable.
How long is your paddle?
It’s an adjustable! I’m trending going shorter over the years
I have an old 18 footer and I fell over like a loser a bunch of times. Its hard to keep it centered and it tips very easily.
An Epic Kayak? Epic surfski? Or some other 18' kayak?
Keep practicing, I find this one very stable and forgiving but I’m a seasoned paddler of over 35 years.
I found this boat very stable. More stable (or maybe more correctly, differently stable) than, say the V8 Pro surfski. Stability is definitely a personal thing so in my humble opinion many of these discussions are apples/oranges. You have to try a boat and see how it goes, and then grow into it with time on the water. Everyone has different balance dynamics and risk tolerance! 😅