1) Liquid Logic Pisgah and Werner Cascadia
The Basics: $925 without rudder, $1,125 with rudder; polyethylene; 14 feet; 23.5-inch beam; 55 lbs.; holds up to 425 lbs.
In Depth: The Pisgah combines the nimble, responsive feel of a play boat with the features of a light touring kayak: dual hatches, plenty of deck rigging, a compass/GPS mount, adjustable thigh braces, a cushioned seat and an easy-to-use ratchet system that quickly adjusts the backrest for good comfort and control. The boat’s shallow V hull provides decent stability and tracking, whether you’re navigating a quiet estuary or catching small waves. But its liveliness will be best appreciated by—and manageable for—intermediate paddlers (the boat simply wants to ride on its side). In winds, waves and currents, you’ll need to tap your core to get the boat moving. 828-698-5778; http://www.liquidlogickayaks.com/.

Werner’s Cascadia ($175 straight, 210-260 cm lengths with three feather options; $225 bent shaft, 220-240 cm lengths) is one of the snappiest and lightest rec touring paddles around and well worth its price tag. With its carbon-reinforced nylon, long, narrow touring-style blade and comfortable grip, you won’t waste your arms after a full day in the Pisgah. 800-275-3311; http://www.wernerpaddles.com/.

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2) Eddyline Skylark and Harmony Tortuga
The Basics: $1,199; Carbonlite 2000; 12 feet; 26-inch beam; 39 lbs.; holds 295 lbs.
In Depth: The Skylark simply wants to be upright—it takes some effort to get it on its side and it pops right up when you roll it—making it a great choice for less-experienced paddlers. You won’t hit warp speed in the Skylark, but you’ll accelerate fast, track reasonably well and enjoy the solid, zippy ride as you maneuver through flatwater conditions. It’s a great day-tripping boat, with a roomy rear compartment, wide, molded plastic seat and solid Sea Dog foot pedals that are easy to adjust and comfortable while barefoot. The roomy cockpit is ideal for medium to large kayakers. The boat’s Carbonlite 2000 plastic is up to 20 percent lighter than traditional polyethylene and super bombproof: It stands up to rocks and won’t warp in the sun. 360-757-2300; http://www.eddyline.com/.

Propel your Skylark with a Harmony Tortuga paddle ($139–$179; available in one-piece fiberglass with lengths of 210, 220, 230 or 240 cm or two-piece adjustable fiberglass or carbon with lengths of 215-228 cm and 228-240 cm), which has a stiff, responsive feel and a long blade that creates clean and efficient strokes, and excels when bracing. 800-445-376; http://www.harmonygear.com/.

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3) Epic Endurance 18 and Epic Mid Wing
The Basics: $2,695, standard fiberglass, $3,695, ultra carbon; 18 feet; 32-inch beam; 48 lbs., 38 lbs. (extra carbon); holds 380 lbs.
In Depth: There’s a reason why the high-performance Endurance has consistently earned top honors in races around the world: It’s a sleek, lightweight boat that’s been designed by two world-class paddlers, Oscar Chalupsky and Greg Barton. The narrow bow and cockpit provide speed, while the wider stern flares out to add stability. You’ll appreciate the quick maneuverability in tight spaces, but the Endurance also excels as an open ocean, expedition, touring and fitness boat. Kayakers either love or hate the funky top toggle Sealine foot-pedal system, which forces a more upright leg positioning: The bottom of the pedal remains fixed, while you push the top of the pedal forward to turn the rudder, as if stepping on a gas pedal. The upswing: It helps maintain balance and makes turning quick and easy, so you can spin on a dime. The Endurance’s drawbacks: It’s tricky, if not impossible, to adjust the rather narrow seat while on the move, and the back hatch has a tendency to leak.

The Epic Mid Wing paddle is an ideal match for the Endurance ($329, carbon fiber, fiberglass and epoxy hybrid; $429, full carbon; $459, reinforced carbon; range of sizes from 205-230 cm with 10 cm of adjustment; adjustable feathering). It’s super lightweight with a scooped blade that displaces maximum water efficiently and lets you tear off the line and maintain a top pace. 866-438-3742; http://www.epickayaks.com/.

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4) Ocean Kayak Zest Two EXP and Aqua-Bound Manta Ray
The Basics: $839 without rudder, $1,349 with rudder; polyethylene; 16 feet, 4.5 inches; 30.5-inch beam; 70 lbs.; holds up to 600 lbs.
In Depth: With a huge load capacity and tons of deck space, the Zest Two EXP is the SUV of kayaks. It comes with two big bungeed gear wells and room for five optional hatches, so you can bring the bulk of your gear closet with you. Thanks to its solid stability, you can swim and dive from the boat, and then climb back on top without dunking your gear. It takes a few power strokes to get this workhorse moving and steady paddling to maintain speed through mellow to mildly choppy conditions. The Zest Two also boasts water bottle holders, adjustable padded seats and molded foot wells. 800-8-KAYAKS (52-9257); http://www.oceankayak.com/.

You need a high-angle paddle stroke to clear your knees in this boat, and that’s exactly what Aqua-Bound’s Manta Ray was designed for ($195, glass-reinforced blade with carbon twill shaft; $95, fiberglass blade with aluminum shaft; $120, fiberglass blade with fiberglass shaft). The paddle’s generous, asymmetrical blade cuts through the water with ease and offers the power to propel this 70-pound sit-on-top along. It’s made with Aqua-Bound’s proprietary abx resin, meaning it’s durable and relatively lightweight. 604-882-2052; www.aquabound.com.

Last Updated: Mar 7th, 2006 - 15:40:17
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