Ok, I finaly got a chance to paddle this bad boy today. It was fast and it was reluctant to turn. I got up to 5.4 mph every time afterabout five strokes. It acelerated fast and maintained its glide unbelievably even if I skipped a stroke. I havent paddled much in 12 years so Im going to put more practice in on it and maybe tuffen up my man boobs.
Turning there was some resistance. I had to lift one butt cheek or drag the blade to turn quikly.
Standing it was as stable as my Pro Angler and easier to get back in the seat. I felt with practice I could paddle all day with a single blade standup paddle. This may prove to be this yaks most unique attribute.
I sat side saddle and pushed it as hard as I could the photographer said I got one pontoon clear of the water without going over.
I did wheigh it as it carries a lot lighter then 48 pounds but the scale read 48 right on the money. No help needed to lift this thing by yourself on to a high SUV.
It paddled into the wind which was about 15 knots with no loss of speed or glide. I think the concave tunnel might actualy create lift. Notice very little disturbance or wake coming off the bow in the pic below.
Im 200 pounds and the yak drew more water then I was excpecting about six inches.
Footbraces felt rock solid with no flex at all no matter hard I tried. Hardware looks to be all stainless.
The paddle lash was also rock solid I could barely move it once locked in.
Overall the only yak in its class I can compare it to are the Hurricanes I used to sell. It tracked much better and the stability isnt even comparable. With practice I think I can polka on the catfish. I never GPS'ed a Hurricane so I cant compare speed but 5.4 MPH without paddling the last decade suprised me. I used a 240cm full carbon Werner.
