Fjord

I purchased the rotomolded version of the Fjord in 2005 so I've been paddling it for ten years. I have to admit that I was convinced to purchase this by the sales person who raved about it even though I preferred the Necky Looksha IV after paddling a few boats.

My initial impressions have not changed over the years. Contrary to some of the other reviews (although none of them are of the plastic model) my kayak lacks initial or primary stability. This means it's not great for photography which has been a disappointment. Secondary stability is better but, as others have noted, you have to be careful not to push it.

I have the rudder but only use it if the swell and tidal current make maintaining a straight course too much work. The boat does handle well, as the salesperson said, and maintaining a good cruising speed is effortless. As I've gotten older I find I get a sore lower back when I'm out but that could be more the fault of my aging back.

I've kept this boat for ten years so obviously it does enough good things. Main pros are its agility and ability to slip through the water easily. The plastic hull works well for me because I have to launch and land on a volcanic rock shoreline. It takes abuse.

Fantastic kayak! I've bought the new "Fjord", now called "Fjell" in skeg version. The hull is the same, but now with better knee/tie support. This is a kayak with great potensial for both touring and surfing in open waters. For use as a seakayak in open waters with bothThis is the perfekt combination for expedition, training/speed and playing in waves! For that use I'll give it 9.

I paddled the Fjord (plastic with skeg) one two separate occasions. This was the last boat that I tried before I decided on an Inukshuk. I found the boat to be very stable. I have to comment on the excellent secondary stability. I had the boat out in some very angry water (whitecaps and high winds) the Fjord never felt nervous or in danger of getting in trouble even when the waves were coming in beam on. The only bad thing that I can say is that the boat felt slow compared to the Inukshuk. Additionally I couldn't get the boat to turn into the wind when it was beam on. In calm water however it would lean turn very well and was very well mannered. A good boat but for me the Inukshuk is a better one.

I have only 7 hours in my kevlar Fjord, and offer this review as preliminary to additional time spent in the kayak. I paddled an hour on flatwater and 6 hours on a lake with 20 mph winds and extreme choppiness due to motor boat and seadoo traffic.

I purchased the Fjord as a workout and primarily day use boat. It has very good primary stability with the shallow arch hull and what they call reverse hard chines. In the lake situation I found the kayak was very comfortable in conflicting wave action. It did not weathercock very much, a little lean looked after that. The skeg also worked well and the new and unique "dial" used by Boreal to adjust skeg depth worked very well.

The maneuverability is interesting with the reverse hard chines. The folks at Boreals factory told me that a lean of 15degrees is all that is required to turn, and I believe they are correct.They told me that edging to the point where the hull and deck join, and you have gone too far. This is the easiest turning kayak I have paddled at this length with a slight lean. Very good secondary stability, will stay on edge with little effort though there is not a point that it firms up. Stability got very nervous once I reached the point of angle when the water reached the edge of the cockpit coaming, it took aggressive sculling brace to stay upright.

The Fjord is a fairly deep kayak with lots of foot room. The depth and high rounded deck in front of the cockpit gave me a very dry ride. The seat and back support are comfortable.

Some slight nit picking. The foot braces are not evenly installed. I felt that I could not get them even and when I measured with a tape, sure enough, the foot brace sliders were not the same distance from the seat. The result is only about a half inch difference, but I did notice it.

Finally, I am a bit dissapointed that the dealer cut into the gel coat when taking off the wrapping. This is not a fault of Boreal Design, but does speak to lack of care on the dealers part. In comparison to other kayaks, I found the Fjord somewhat similar in handling to the CD Gulfstream.

I did talk via phone and e-mailed Boreal Design prior to purchasing the Fjord and they were very helpfull. Also returned my e-mail within 2 days.