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Paddler
Reviews of Impex kayaks. Below you’ll
find a selection of reviews from paddler forums around the web: Sharon
Betteridge reviews the Force 3: “Thought I'd
let you know how the Force 3 went last weekend. I took it out Saturday and
Sunday. Conditions on Saturday were reasonably big (2 metre sea and 2 metre
swell with 20 knots of southerly). Sunday was a bit lighter. The Force 3 went
well. It is a fast boat. The width allows for an easy long and close catch;
the low bow provides little windage (a little damp at times - but after all
it is sea kayaking) into headwinds; and the long waterline length (even with
my lightweight in it) makes for a quicker speed. It has good initial
stability and lighter secondary. Like the Montauk the seat and thigh braces
are superbly comfortable and the snug boat fit allows for easy edges and
leans, whilst still allowing enough room for knees up position when forward
paddling. I wondered at first whether the lower deck on the Force 3 would
squash my legs and cause cramping, but this was not the case and I remained
comfortable in it for the 4-hour sea trip on Saturday. Overall a
great little boat for the lighter paddler who wants speed and
manoeuvrability. (See Force 5
Review from www.paddling.net “I was going
to buy a Force 4 actually, but the only one available was found to have a
starburst on the gelcoat near the skeg control. As I was foaming at the mouth
in anticipation of buying the Force 4, and I launched from one of the beaches and struck out into the wind.
I knew after a few minutes that my first adjustment would be to let a few
teeth out on either side of the comfortable Immersion Research back band.
After I did that, the boat fit like a glove and I was off to get acquainted.
I found she tracked very well into the wind and responded nicely to a leaned
turn, even though I was tentative since I didn't want to capsize and thus
test my less than bombproof roll. I came across the wind and took some
"waves" (hey, the fetch was at least 2 miles! :) on a low brace. I
turned downwind and found she still didn't need skeg. It was only later, with
a quartering tailwind did I drop the skeg, and the kayak tracked like a laser
guided torpedo. Once into a protected area, I tried some rudders and more
aggressively leaned sweep strokes. I am in love with this boat already! At
this juncture, I popped the headphones on and cranked up some paddling tunes
for a fast cruise. A mile later, I passed the boardwalk at the NE end of the
lake wearing a stupid grin. As I turned to the southwest, my reverie was
broken by a capsize. Not sure how it happened, but there I was, upside down.
I thought "please let me roll up on the first try!" Of all places
to go over, right in front of folks sitting on the benches on a Spring day in
January! I didn't relish the thought of a wet exit and subsequent paddle
float re-entry in front of gawking ( and possibly guffawing) board walkers!
Not to mention that one of them would probably panic, and call the rescue
squad to add to my embarrassment! I worried needlessly as I rolled up effortlessly, aided no doubt
by the excellent design of this wonderful kayak! The back-band not only
didn’t hinder my layback, it supported it. I was up and dripping water out of
the headphones in a few seconds. The water chilled my noggin a little, but
"The Shins" didn't miss a beat in the headphones, and I paddled on
dude! I can't say how much I am pleased with my first outing. I would
have rated this kayak a "10", but I think the deck rigging could be
improved somewhat. Specifically, I would have liked some bungees near the day
hatch to stick my pump, and a pattern of bungees on the forward deck to slip
a paddle blade under. I am 5'6" and about 190lbs. Much larger reviewers have
found this boat to be comfortable and of course, so do I. I am going to take
advantage of the extra room under the deck to glass in a tube to hold flares
or whatever. I will add the additional deck rigging myself as well. I typically paddle alone, and I try to be consistent with the
gear I take. Most of it is safety related: flares, smoke, water, mini-stove,
tubular webbing, extra clothing in drybags, etc. etc. I spent 20 years in law
enforcement and rescue not to be prepared. The extra room will be nice on
extended trips as well. ‘ Force 5
Review from www.paddling.net “I have been the proud owner of a carbon Kevlar Impex Force 5
for several months now (the Lime green deck is cool!) and I appreciate it's
responsiveness to leaned turns. An 18 ft. boat with supreme manoeuvrability
-go figure?! I paddled it in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and found it
to be a seaworthy vessel which extends my abilities in open water. It is fast
as well which suits my desire to put miles under the hull! It surfs well and
I had no problem bringing it about and getting back in the soup. The IR seat
and back-band outfitting keeps me comfortable for hours at sea. I am thankful
to Danny of Impex for showing me this gem of the ocean and for Lamar of
Barrier Island Kayaks in N.C.for getting me into this craft! I encourage all
sea paddlers in the market to give the Force a spin! Only reason it is not a
ten: the lay-ups is slightly heavy for carbon/Kevlar. The quality of the
lay-up is first rate and world class however.” Currituck
Review from www.kayakacademy.com “The
Currituck is one of Impex's newest and sleekest sea kayaks (introduced in mid
2002). It is best suited for advanced paddlers 5' 5" to 6' 0",
150-190 lbs who want a fast, state-of-the-art, expedition kayak with enough
storage for multi-week trips. The Currituck comes with all the latest features
you would expect in a top-of-the-line sea kayak (i.e. retractable skeg, day
hatch, recessed deck fittings & reflective safety lines, rubber hatches,
neoprene seat pad, adjustable IR back rest), and yet it is priced much lower
than most kayaks in it's class. The lines of the Currituck make it a sleek,
fast kayak with average stability. The Currituck
shares the same overall styling common to the entire line of Impex sea kayaks
-- an "Americanized" variation on the smart looks and proven
seaworthiness of the Greenland/British look, without the back breaking weight
or tippyness usually associated with kayaks of this genre. As with all the
Impex sea kayaks we sell, the Currituck is built from composite materials
(i.e. fibreglass, Kevlar, or carbon/Kevlar lay-up) with a moderately chined
hull that carves turns quickly and handles well in rough seas without the
added drag of a harder chine. The Currituck comes standard with all the usual
Impex features: a retractable skeg* with state-of-the-art precise, smooth
slider bar/cable control, front and rear hatches (plus a day hatch), front
and rear fibreglass bulkheads (two rear bulkheads), fibreglass seams inside
and out, recessed deck fittings for safety lines, self-rescue bungies and
chart holder bungies, 16" X 30" keyhole shaped cockpit with good
hip and knee braces, and a comfortable back band with snowboard binding style
ratcheting buckles that allow you to adjust the back support while seated in
the kayak -- even on the water. The Currituck
also features a day hatch to keep your lunch and other items close at hand.
All three hatches on the Currituck are the VCP brand of rubber hatches that
seal like air tight food containers. These are widely recognized as the
driest and easiest to use kayak hatches on the market, and the most
tested/proven of all the rubber hatches on the market. The bow and stern
compartments are accessed through large oval VCP hatches and the day hatch is
a round VCP hatch. *A skeg looks
like the fin on the bottom of a surf board except on sea kayaks this skeg is
designed to retract into a trunk on the bottom of the hull. With the skeg up,
the Currituck is manoeuvrable for a 17 foot sea kayak. Put the skeg down and
the Currituck tracks straight even in side wind conditions where most kayaks
without rudders weathercock (turn up wind). This combination of good hull
design and a retractable skeg are fast making rudders (and all their problems
and limitations) obsolete on sea kayaks (at least for people who know how to
paddle).” Currituck
Review from Wavelength magazine, September 2005: “The
Currituck has the classic appearance of a Greenland-inspired, British style
kayak. Both the bow and stern are upswept, giving the boat a sleek and
attractive profile. Two large oval VCP rubber hatches, and an 8” day hatch,
provide good access to storage compartments. All hatches are tethered against
loss, and 3 bulkheads divide the cargo space. Deck fittings are recessed and
perimeter lines and shock cords are sensibly laid out (although there is no
provision for securing a spare paddle on the foredeck). A compass recess fore
of the front hatch is designed for the Brunton 70P marine compass. A drop
skeg is standard, and deploys smoothly via a cable slider, conveniently
located by the right side of the cockpit.
The skeg control
is a cable slider located beside the cockpit. The hull was
very clean and smooth with a great finish. The deck uses a lot of
multi-directional strand material (as well as mat in key areas) and had a few
sharp edges, but overall the Currituck is a solid and well-finished package.
The seam joining the deck and hull together is glassed inside and out. The cockpit
of the Currituck is quite roomy and entering and exiting the boat is easy. In
fact, I found myself wishing for far more aggressive thigh braces that would
provide a better grip on the boat. This is a minor issue, as a little time
spent padding out the kayak would yield a personalized fit. A sporty kayak
like this design, benefits hugely from a snug fit. The moulded fibreglass
seat is quite comfortable, but feels a little high off the bottom of the
hull. The large and very comfortable back-band adjusts with cam buckles and
provides great support. Pedals are very solid, and adjust easily. A float,
initial stability is moderate. At 21.5” wide, the Currituck rolls edge to
edge readily, almost feeling more stable on a lean than on an even keel. I
really liked how easy it was to edge this kayak. A fairly large amount of
lean is necessary in order to get the kayak to turn really tightly, but once
cranked over, the Currituck is quite manoeuvrable. Speed feels good, and the
kayak is efficient moving through the water. I had the chance to paddle the
boat in high winds and although it does tend to weathercock, this
characteristic is readily controlled with the skeg. On an even keel, the
Currituck tracks well, but is not super stiff. I liked the compromise in
tracking versus manoeuvrability. In rougher water, the boat was predictable
and well behaved. The Currituck
offers an appealing blend of performance and features. It’s a ‘Brit-style’
boat, with good handling performance, good speed for efficient cruising, and
good storage capacity. While this kayak isn’t designed to swallow huge
amounts of gear, there is plenty of room for even extended multi-day
excursions for a careful packer. Impex states
that the Currituck is designed for paddlers in the 150-220 lbs range. Montauk
review from www.kayakacademy.com ” The Montauk
is best suited for paddlers 5' 3" to 5' 9" and 120 - 170 lbs who
want a full featured sea kayak with moderate stability that is easy to
manoeuvre and light to carry. The Montauk comes with all the latest features
of a top-of-the-line kayak (i.e. retractable skeg, day hatch, recessed deck
fittings, VCP rubber hatches) except the price tag. Although it is too small
for most men, the lines of the Montauk make it an easy handling great all
around sea kayak for most women. The Montauk has enough storage space for
multi-week expeditions as long as you aren't 6 foot tall. Contrary to the
half-truth about long boats vs. short boats, many smaller paddlers find it
easier to keep up to their friends (let alone easier to handle in rough seas)
in a kayak the size of the Montauk than in a longer kayak. But if you want a
longer sleeker kayak try the Impex Currituck. The Montauk
shares the same overall styling common to the entire line of Impex sea kayaks
-- an "Americanized" variation on the smart looks and proven
seaworthiness of the Greenland/British look, without the back breaking weight
or tippyness usually associated with kayaks of this genre. As with all the
Impex sea kayaks we sell, the Montauk is built from composite materials (i.e.
fibreglass or carbon/Kevlar lay-up) with a moderately chined hull that carves
turns quickly and handles well in rough seas without the added drag of a
harder chine. The Montauk comes standard with all the usual Impex features: a
retractable skeg* with state-of-the-art precise, smooth slider bar/cable
control, front, rear, and day hatches,
three curved fibreglass bulkheads, fibreglass seams inside and out, recessed
deck fittings and reflective safety lines, and chart holder bungies, 16"
X 30" keyhole shaped cockpit with good hip and knee braces, and a
comfortable back band made special for Impex by IR (Immersion Research) with
snowboard binding style ratcheting buckles (stainless steel for saltwater
use) that allow you to adjust the back support while seated in the kayak --
even on the water. The Montauk
also features a day hatch to keep your lunch and other items close at hand.” Currituck
Review from Paddling.net: “I bought my Currituck in late Oct so I did not have time to get
use to it before the winter months. I had to be very cautious because the
water turned cold and even correctly equipped you do not want to get in deep
trouble. As I paddled the kayak I soon realized that this was a perfect boat
for me. At 17 feet long and 21.5 inches wide the kayak zips through the
water. At a 16 mile lake paddle I was able to paddle at an average speed of
4.0mph.Not bad for a 56 year old. The boat loves swells and waves. It
sometimes seems disappointed when the water is too flat. It is rare for boat
wakes to make me change course. The boat is very stable both initially and
when moving. The Currituck is easy to lean without tipping and you can turn
it on a dime.. The skeg is necessary to keep it on course when the wind and
tide on at right angles to each other. The seat and backrest have good support
and are comfortable. I still use a yak pad for extra paddling due to back
problems. The hatches do not leak even a drop. When I first bought this kayak
I thought I would have trouble getting into a smaller cockpit than I was use
to. Now I feel the cockpit is too big. All in all I am very satisfied with
the sea kayak and would recommend anyone looking for a top notch stable, fast
and solid kayak to consider purchasing the Currituck.” Currituck & Monatuk Review from Paddling.net: “I'm fortunate to have two Impex
boats - a Montauk and a Currituck. The Montauk was the original boat of
choice but I am close to max'ing it out at 5'9"/165 lbs. I picked up the
Currituck to accommodate larger paddlers - with the max to date being about
6' and 230 lbs. The Currituck is now the boat of choice for me, particularly
for comfort in the cockpit. I learned the basic rolls in this boat, and of
the 15 or so different sea kayaks that I have paddled (including several in
the Current Designs, Nigel Dennis, and Nigel Foster lines, only the Romany's
roll is easier for me. If you intend to evolve into traditional Force 4 review from Paddling.net: “This Spring I was in the
market for an "expedition" category boat to be used for long, fast
day paddles and multi-day tours. I have a 16' day/play boat so I was not
looking for an "all-rounder". I am 5' 10" and 180#. I am
either a high beginner or a low intermediate paddler. I ended up with a
carbon/Kevlar Force 4 and I have spend a fair amount of time with it so far
on the Maine coast mostly and in varied water so I think I have a decent
opinion of what it is and is not. To be brief, the Force 4 is one very sweet
boat and if you are looking to buy a boat in this category you will do
yourself a real disservice by not demo-ing it before making a purchase. Want
details for my opinion? OK. While the specs show it to be a high volume boat,
it does not paddle like one. Its rounded, full hull and deck give it a bulky
appearance by itself on land, but when sitting next to many boats it looks
quite lean in comparison. On the water it is low, long, and lean so from a
pure aesthetic basis it is very appealing. Impex quality is quite high and
one advantage of buying from NA builders like Eddyline or Impex is a
principal of the company is only a telephone call or e-mail away and they
will be informative and straight. My impression is Impex will go the extra
mile to make things right which is nice to know. The cockpit is sized to be
comfortable for long hours of paddling and easy exits when landing, the seat
pan just naturally puts and keeps me in an erect position on my sits bones
for proper paddling posture. At the end of a long day, that really helps. The
thigh braces have a nice curve that allows a very secure grip when needed. I
cannot paddle the boat fast enough to know if it is "fast" boat as
I have never felt it was close to hitting a wall even when I give out around
5.5K, but I swear I could paddle it to 3K with a soup spoon. It is very
efficient and you can cruise all day long at 3.5-4K with minimal effort. This
category of boats includes many very competent boats which have rather
different traits. They range from the Explorer which is often described as a
boat that "takes care of you" to the Legend and Byahia which are
often described as "demanding". I suspect people who choose a boat
as opposed to going with the "in" boat in their area or club, pick
a given boat based on how it fits them physically and if its handling traits
match what they like. To each his own. The Force 4 to me is a boat that is very
responsive and lively and will do what you ask it to do accurately, quickly,
and easily, but it does not have a hair trigger feel to it. On the other
side, while it will not protect you while you decide what to do or make you
look good if you are not, neither will it dump you without adequate
provocation and prior feedback. To me it has a wonderful balance of the
"protective" and "demanding" boat traits to make it a joy
to paddle. It is low and lean on the water resulting in an ability to easily
hold a course and maintain good speed even if difficult circumstances.
Primary is fine for taking pictures and is better than its narrow beam would
suggest. Secondary is very linear and predictable. Not a big shoulder with
the "put it on edge and eat a ham sandwich" secondary some like,
but if you want to be able to scull from 0 to 90 and back with ease and just
shift your hips lightly to deal with stuff and still have a comfy feeling of
where the boat is, then it is just right. It seems an easy boat to roll
despite the fact I do not roll boats easily. To me the biggest surprise was
that for an 18' foot solid tracking boat (I almost never use the skeg), it is
quite nimble. Obviously not a Romany or Avocet, but lift a hip and it will
turn (so well that corrective strokes are seldom needed) and it responds well
to bow rudders, etc. so long as you lean it. It will pick up and give you
good rides on quite small waves and surfs bigger ones well too as it is not
hard to control on the wave face and broaches in a slow fashion. With a typical
load for a few days it retains these traits quite well. As I said, it is a
very sweet boat to paddle and definitely belongs in the category of very
competent "expedition" boats. Besides its capacity to go touring, I
have found it to be a great day boat if you are out to cover ground with some
wandering about ledges etc. as opposed to going out to play in rock gardens
and surfing.” |