Expedition Sea Kayak Review

Glider

Seda

www.sedakayak.com

Length: 19'

Width: 21.5''

Depth: 12.5''

Weight: 43 lbs

Material: Kevlar

Price: $3,190/$3,690 with rudder, day hatch

Seda says: “With a narrow beam and razor bow, the Glider consistently delivers top finishes in competition. It quickly accelerates to hull speed and planes rapidly without stern squat. Ideal for extended touring, the Glider delivers safety through speed. Intermediate and advanced paddlers will enjoy a whole new level of performance kayaking.”

Pros: Indents on the sides in front of the cockpit so hands don’t hit the boat when using a high-angle paddle stroke. Good contours for thighs and knees. Kudos for both initial and secondary stability. A fast and clean kayak with good forward speed and excellent tracking.

Cons: The front part of the seat extended a little too far out and pressed uncomfortably on those of us who don’t have small thighs. Have to put some oomph into your edging to get the boat to turn; a gentle lean won’t do much for you.

Bottom Line: Seda hit the nail on the head with the Glider.

Chatham 18

Necky

www.necky.com

Length: 17' 9''

Width: 20''

Depth: 12.5''

Weight: 48 lbs

Material: Carbon

Price: $3,699

Necky says: “An extremely capable ‘passage-maker’ with good turn of speed, great seaworthiness, and surprising stability for such a slender craft. Though somewhat stiffer tracking and less maneuverable than its shorter siblings, the 18 is still very nimble. Comfortable cockpit fit and adjustable outfitting afford a superb interface between paddler and boat.” Pros: Comfortable, stable, turns easily. Responsive to sweeps and draws. Minimal but effective outfitting and thigh braces. Handles very well in choppy conditions.

Cons: The skeg needs to be adjusted so it only drops down slightly. Otherwise, when it’s all the way down it feels like a brake was released.

Bottom Line: The Chatham 18 is as at home and comfortable to paddle on flat water as it is in waves and chop.

* Quest LV

P&H

www.phseakayaks.com

Length: 17' 7''

Width: 22.5''

Depth: 14.5''

Weight: 48 lbs

Material: Carbon-Kevlar/Glass Diolen/Ultralight with clear hull Price: $2,999/$3,599/$3,899

* comes in two sizes

P&H says: “The Quest is a fast yet stable kayak. With slightly increased load capacity, it is ideally suited for longer open-sea crossings and expeditions. Although the same width as the Capella, the Quest benefits from a longer waterline length, thus ensuring an excellent turn of speed and smooth transition on choppy waters. Experienced paddlers will find that leaning the kayak produces excellent carved turns.”

Pros: Aggressive padded thigh braces fit and allow for good boat control. The Quest LV is light and quick. It handled the chop of the powerboater’s wake with aplomb. Good initial and secondary stability. Responsive to sweeps and draw strokes.

Cons: Seat feels perched a little high. To reduce weight, there’s no gelcoat on the hull. The trade-off for lightness is a more delicate hull, which wouldn’t be particularly good for a rocky coast.

Bottom Line: This is a super light, comfortable craft to paddle.