Epic 16X

After eyeing one of these for years, I finally pulled the trigger. It's everything I imagined and more. Fast, light, maneuverable and capable in surf and heavy seas. Loaded it will carry supplies for a week long trip or lightly loaded dance in the surf all afternoon. Hatches are completely water tight and putting the boat where you want it is easy even without touching the rudder. I hope after this first six months, I'll have years to push it to the limit.

I own an EPIC 16x (16' x 23"), which I've had for five years. It is my go-to boat for flat water such as lakes and reservoirs. The EPIC brand was created by two champion kayakers/canoers, The one I had the pleasure to meet is Greg Barton, the most decorated U.S. kayak Olympian (4-time medalist). The brand also boasts some serious ocean distance records, such as Freya Hoffmeister's record circumnavigation of Australia in an EPIC 18x. I like the hull design (vertical bow and stern) because it has a longer wetted length than other longer ocean kayaks. This enhances speed and paddling efficiency. I also like the unique Track Master Steering System with an integrated and articulated tail section that houses a drop-down/kick-up rudder. Lastly, I favor the combination fixed foot braces with tip-in steering pedals above the fixed braces. The boat has a rounded hull with no chines, so paddling and bracing skills are more important than with a chined-hull boat. The boat is agreeably maneuverable, but also tracks well with the rudder down. My $3k bought a fiberglass/kevlar/carbon fiber model weighing 41 lb. There are lighter versions for additional $$$, There are also 18x models (18' x 22'') that are narrow enough that you need to pay attention lest you get tippy. The 18x is marginally faster for a strong paddler going all out, but is also a bit more cumbersome to handle out of the water. The pricing has been the same for the 16x and the 18x. Along with the boat, I purchased an EPIC carbon fiber paddle that is adjustable for length as well as feathering. I tend to not feather the paddle because, unless one is paddling hard into a stiff headwind, the paddle blades don't met with substantive resistance when out of the water. I periodically spray some purpose-made protectant on the boat to help protect it from sunlight, and the coating also renders the hull more slippery. Of my six kayaks, this is my favorite.

Those familiar with the breed know that the plumb ends maximize the waterline length and provide the efficiency and speed of a longer craft. It’s claimed that the full volume bow augments rough water handling and I tend to agree. However, it contributes to an overall design that I believe requires fairly constant use of the 16x rudder in heavier seas.

Both the seat and footboard (with integrated gas pedal rudder controls) adjust. The backband adjustment system tends to slip. It lacks thigh braces so you can paddle it in the knees-up racing posture. Instead of braces, you slide your knees under the deck. I'd prefer the braces but was able to achieve a better lock for control and rolling with this boat than I did with the 18x. The deck lines are okay but not optimal for rescues and carrying a spare paddle. The carrying handles are fine but the screws can work loose. Hatch straps are effective but not especially easy to use in this generation prior to the latches. Build quality is better than previous years and the hull is quite light.

The boat is fast but it's also agile. For less powerful paddlers, it's probably faster than the 18' hull. It's less twitchy than the 18x at rest. It draws, sweeps, rolls, etc. with relative ease. Mine has the old style integrated rudder, which has inadequate bite in more extreme conditions, allowing this relatively short sea kayak to get bossed around a bit. The boat handles well, loaded or empty, but some cargo helps get the rudder more purchase. The fixed fin on the rudder is also an issue with surf launches and landings.

While it lacks some of the speed of the 18-footers and has a couple quirks (mostly worked out in newer editions), this lively boat seldom fails to generate a grin.

Initially I had problems using the rudder pedal. No matter what I do, my toes invariably push the pedal. So the kayak goes zig zag. A guy at the CCK store (Oakland CA) by the name of Socrates advised me on how to adjust the height of the rudder pedal. And boom……problem solved.

I also did some minor modifications. The plastic fittings that hold the perimeter lines were giving me problems. The 3/16” cord slips out when I pull hard on it after a wet exit re-entry maneuver. I replaced the said fittings with the better ones from Necky? The people at CCK ordered it for me.

Now that I have been paddling Epic 16 for awhile, I must say that I’m beginning to really like this kayak. It is fast……6.7 mph w/ current assist (GPS) on a sprint using a wing paddle. Easy to load on my van due to its’ light weight. It is straight tracking with the rudder. And if I have to maneuver a lot like in a corkscrew slough, the rudder goes up. And did I say it looks like a red Ferrari?

The Epic Touring 16 has been replaced by Epic 16X in 2007.

I paddled the Epic on the St. Johns River in a wide section (three miles wide). The water was flat to about a foot and one half. This boat's fit and finish is very good. Not quite as good as my QCC 700 but Epic's quality control is definitely getting better. I could not believe how fast it was. Cruising at 5-5.5 mph was easy. It seemed about as fast as my Epic 18 or my 700 (cruising) and it was very easy to keep up a fast cruise. Against the current, right after I got in the water (no warm up), with three liters of water behind my seat, dragging the water line, in a quick sprint, I hit 7.8 mph. It usually takes me about half an hour to warm up and about five or six sprints to hit my fastest sprint. My first sprint in the 18 with no water on the boat and on a lake (no current against me) was 8.7 mph. THIS IS A FAST BOAT! How can Epic make a boat this fast and so short?

It is also so stable that anybody could paddle it. When a large yacht passed close by me I took the opportunity to see how it surfed. I had some nine mph rides on those two to three foot waves and when I stopped I was about one mile away from my buddies. I turned and paddled at six mph back to them. How can Epic make a boat this short and this stable go so fast? Best of all, it only weighs 39 pounds. Not much more than my surfski. It makes my carbon/kevlar QCC 700 feel down right heavy. It is very light.

I am impressed with this boat. As a macho guy, I must have at least an 18' boat to feel good about myself (I wonder what Freud would say about that?) BUT this boat would be good for anybody. Epic has also finally got a great seat and back band. Very comfortable and first rate. I would whole heartedly recommend this boat to anyone! Truly anyone.

After much deliberation, I am very pleased with this boat choice for my wife. I believe she will easily keep up with the club, she will become very confident in the bumps and will not grow out of the boat any time soon. With it's speed, stability and light weight, I know she will love the boat. Oh yeah, the seat adjusts too. You can adjust the seat to trim the boat for performance or to allow smaller or shorter people to get their legs in the proper bracing position/location of the boat. Nice touch! Great Job Epic! Happily submitted!