Kayak vs Surfski: Epic V12 and Necky Chatham 17 comparison

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for Kayak vs Surfski: Epic V12 and Necky Chatham 17 comparison

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Cyn K - 5 years ago

Thanks for the perfect comparison! I was just watching a show on Australian shark attacks. I have gone sea kayaking but never heard of surf skiing so this explained the difference perfectly!

brankog7 - 5 years ago

Good video, thanks man

KH SA - 5 years ago

like comparing a Mtb with a racer bike. Quit stupid.

Scootchels - 5 years ago

That’s a perfect analogy, and if you would have watched the vid I say it’s a comparison of differences, not a head to head shootout. BTW, I think you meant *quite*.

Merlin Man - 6 years ago

Surf lifesaving skis are pretty stable, the V12 looks too narrow to be enjoyable.

Gogalen789 - 6 years ago

I'm with you on that one ,Merlin Man. I'm primarily a lake kayaker and when the wind kicks up pretty good I encounter lateral waves on some of the paths I travel in the water that hit me from the side so having some level of stability for the watercraft is nice. I suppose if you knew there was to be little or no wind on a certain day then the 17" width would be fine.

pbr2424 - 6 years ago

A performance sea kayak would be a west side boat X par missle. I have two. 23 foot long 18 inches wide 32 pounds Kevlar. The west side boat will beat a lot of surf skis. Try comparing apples to apples. They make slow fat surf skis so your video doesn't make sense. Also at the Olympics they race kayaks. Try hanging with them on a surf ski. I've owned both you should be clearer if you are making a video. Google West Side Boat Shop Thunderbolt and watch a video and see what I mean.

Thanks

daisilui - 6 years ago

pbr- i thought this video was about sea boats- i haven't seen any race kayak competitions on the ocean yet... that would be interesting to watch: k1 vs surfski in downwind conditions...

Scootchels - 6 years ago

Please go back and listen to the first 30 seconds where I say “this is not a head to head shootout, but a look at surfskis and a comparison of the differences to a typical kayak. For people thinking of going to a surfski from a kayak, here are the differences”. I appreciate the West Side plug, but comparing an ultra-performance kayak to a ski doesn’t make my point, does it? Please watch the vid before commenting. Thanks.

Richard S Costello - 6 years ago

An informational kayak/surfski comparison with a little highland pipes music thrown in to boot, good enough for me Scootchels. Love it!

Scootchels - 6 years ago

Richard S Costello - Ha! Thanks, Richard.

guitta Dabe - 6 years ago

Pretty much why I bought the Epic 18X. I'm not even thinking of "upgrading" to a Surfski from that, as I get as good an exercise on it, using the exact paddling motion as if I were on a Surfski (high angle, wing paddle). But even the 18X is very tippy in very rough water, requiring more "ballast" for stability. So I had to purchase another (cheaper, but more stable) kayak for such conditions.

Scootchels - 6 years ago

guitta Dabe - I love that idea of an 18x and a second beater boat. The 18x really does it all - tour volume, ski speed. Fast, but not as wicked fast as a full-blown race ski, stable, but not as stable as a classic tourer.

Mark R - 7 years ago

thats like comparing a Porsche and a VW Beetle two completely different craft

William Tecumseh Sherman - 6 years ago

Scootchels exactly difference is you fucking Kayak nerd!

hunati31 - 6 years ago

Interestingly enough VW Beetle was designed by Porsche.

Scootchels - 7 years ago

Exactly. The video is about those differences. Thanks!

Ryan Knowles - 7 years ago

Have you looked at the V5, V6, V7? They are much wider around 23 inches and the V6 has dry storage in the front and back. The V6 might be a closer comparison to the Necky Chatham 17. I can't find many reviews on these!

Scootchels - 7 years ago

Hey, Ryan. You are quite right: the v6 or even v8 would have been a more interesting comparison. I can't help you with any first-hand input on any except the 10 and 12.

10. comment for Kayak vs Surfski: Epic V12 and Necky Chatham 17 comparison

Rick Downunder - 7 years ago

Thanks for a great video and useful comparison which I totally agree with.I own an Epic V8 Pro club and a Riot edge 14.5 foot sit in.I bought both because they offer very different features.I paddle the ski through the week mainly on flat water and I am looking for speed and building my technique and fitness.Sundays I take out the sit in just to relax and it is so comfortable and stable.If I could only choose one as a beginner I would go for a stable surf ski such as the Epic V 7 or possibly the V8 which I had a chance to practice in before purchasing.It is best to go for stability initially as it is very hard to develop good technique if you are constantly trying to keep your balance.

PharmGeek Outdoor Fun - 7 years ago

I bought a V7 (plastic ski by epic, 17 feet)...paddled before this the traditional poly sea kayaks....stability is a tad less for sure...a V12 would be far less stable for a newB. The V7 has 40 or so liters of dry storage and a bunge stern deck so a little bit of capacity for a sort of "rec day paddle"...the ones like stellar S18S are closer in storage to sea kayaks, but they are not only composite.

I have only paddled my V7 now a few times...I am really gonna enjoy it for fitness paddling AND at the beach.

The new "entry level skis" such as the V5 and V7...I think for many people that are stable enough to "jump right in" no problem.....some people that are far more "top heavy" and never used 'skinnier boats" in the past may struggle.

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