Epic 14X

As Epic suggests, the 14X is a twin of their V5 surfski and I’d say it has that feel. I own its big brothers and, while they say “kayak,” the 14X whispers “ski.”

Speed? The long waterline, relatively narrow beam and “Epic” on the bow tell you that you won’t be trailing the pack. It’s not an all out racing machine but is quite fast for its length. Any less width and you’d probably have a twitchy boat, stability-wise.

The scooped deck provides great access to the water and your full share of power. The cockpit allows a knees-up racing position, if you so desire. The seat is smooth and hard, facilitating body rotation. In total, you can flat out crank.

The outfitting is simple and easy to adjust. The method for positioning the seat is obvious. The foot board is less so (my boat didn’t come with a manual and I couldn’t find one of the Epic website – but, I have experience with the brand). You get the gas pedal style rudder pedals, so there’s no mushy feel.

The hatches have a simple locking mechanism and the openings are ample. The day hatch is a bit shallow to be of much use.

In my opinion, to get the full measure, you’ll be using a wing paddle and making somewhat frequent course corrections with the rudder. It’s got some rocker baked in.

Downsides? The cord for the seat back adjustment seems a bit on the slim side (it’s a jam cleat mechanism). The seat back could use some padding for my taste.

The bottom line is that it’s a lightweight pocket rocket that’s a blast to paddle.