Epic 18X

I had been looking for a sea kayak for paddling on Lake Michigan, and bought an Epic 18X Ultra in 2016. I have kayaked in it twice a week for about 9 months each year since. Below are my reviews. 1. The boat is light weighted (39 lbs), so it's very easy for me to load it onto my car roof rack and unload it by myself (I'm 58 years old, 5' 9", 145 lbs, and not a muscular person). Another huge benefit of having a light sea kayak is it's easier to learn rolling. I started using a Greenland paddle and learning the chest sculling. I failed for the first two tries, and succeeded on my third try, without any help or coach. I have been able to do it consistently afterwards. A heavier kayak would have made my roll self-teaching much more difficult. 2. It's beautiful. Very often, when I go kayaking and meet other kayakers on the water, I receive compliments on it's beautiful looking. It's also one of the reasons why I bought this boat. The whole boat design makes me comparing it with a submarine. Just beautiful and military-style sporty. 3. I like the thigh brace design. It's natural and comfortable. You can either spread your legs a little bit to engage the brace, or leave your legs in the center and relax, depending the situation or your preference. Besides, this brace design is very safe. It doesn't have anything sticking out, so you will never unintentionally hit it and get hurt. 4. The hull design is excellent for kayaking on wavy water. It's round shape makes it less affected by waves and, therefore, less likely tipping over. 5. The long length (18'), narrow width (22") and light weight make it very fast, easier to paddle long time. I can paddle easily and still go fast. 6. I also like the built-in rudder design. When locked and not being used, it's completely part of the hull without generating any obstructions, which also makes it less likely to be damaged. And it's easier for kayak transportation. 7. The low-profile stern makes the ladder self-rescue very easy. You can climb onto the boat from the stern without much effort. 8. One change I'd like to see is having better bungees on the fore deck for a spare paddle, especially a Greenland one. On the whole, I love this boat!

I bought a brand new Epic 18x about 6 months ago and to date I've done two 100k races and the MR340 in it, so with training miles I've paddled this boat about about 600 miles in the last 6 months. Everything except the races was on flatwater.

The boat has held up well and overall I'm quite happy with it, but it's not perfect.

First the bad stuff;

Fit and finish wasn't what I expected in a $3,500 boat. The Epic boats are built in China and it shows. There's paint overspray under the rudder area, and there was white powdery residue (maybe mold release?) on all the hatch latches when I picked it up. Also, when retracted, the smart-track is actually a couple of degrees off center because the hole that the rudder lug retracts into isn't centered. This isn't an issue with the rudder down, just annoying that they didn't get the hole in the right spot.

The biggest issue was that a couple of days after delivery I had it up on the car top rack and happened to look up at just the right angle to see a hole a little smaller than a dime in the underneath side of the cockpit coaming where it had been sanded through during manufacture. Epic offered to deal with it under warranty, but their fix was just going to be filling the hole with epoxy. Since I was 200 miles from the dealer where I bought it I just did it myself and moved on.

Last week I noticed a couple of chips out of the gel coat at the lip of the day hatch. You would never notice them with the hatch closed, but I can only deduce that at some point when I was reaching back to pull a camelback out of the hatch, I caught it on the edge of the hole and popped up a couple of loose chips. Not structural, just annoying. The boat is still under warranty, so I sent pictures to Epic, but it's just cosmetic so even if they agree that it's not normal wear and tear I'll probably just repair it myself.

Other than the fit/finish issues, my only complaints have to do with rudder and seat adjustments. The rudder pedals are almost impossible to adjust after you're in the boat. It's definitely a case where you would want them to be adjusted before you shove off. Likewise, the seat slides on a track and if you get any sand in there it's really hard to move, so it's better to have it adjusted before you get in the boat as well.

Now the good stuff;

The performance and functionality of this boat is awesome. It has huge hatches that you could cram 3-5 days worth of supplies in if you needed to go that route, and with the hard hatch lids and mechanical latches, there's no fumbling around with neoprene covers or bungee cords to get to your stuff.

The day hatch is easily accessible from the cockpit, and the compartment that it accesses isn't just a hanging bag like most day hatches. It's an area of the hull that's partitioned by 2 bulkheads about a foot apart, so you can put a full day worth of supplies in there and access them without having to get out of the boat.

I'm an endurance paddler, not a fast paddler, but this boat is fast for a touring kayak. On flat water I can sprint at 5.5 mph, and can hold 4 mph for hours without a problem. The boat is 22" wide, so I would expect it to be a little faster than a 24" wide touring kayak, but I wasn't expecting the difference to be so noticeable. Primary stability is okay and secondary stability is quite good.

I'm 5'10" 170lbs and this boat fits my frame perfectly. I'm nowhere near the end of the seat or rudder travel, so I think that you could easily fit somebody up to around 6'4" in there, but you would definitely want to try it on for size if you were a big guy.

It's very comfortable for long distance paddles. I needed a seat pad in my last boat, but the plastic seat in the 18x fits me like it was molded specifically for my bum. Plus, it has a backrest I can recline if I want to stretch and the cockpit is big enough that when I need a quick break I can put my feet flat on the floor with my knees sticking out. On the first day of the 340, I paddled for 18 hours with only about a 15 minute break 1/2 was through and didn't need a chiropractor when I stopped. I kept a similar schedule on day 2. On day 3 I finished after doing 12 hours without getting out of the boat.

You can get this boat in two different layups and I chose the heavier one because it's a little more durable. It's taken some hits from debris in the Missouri river and held up well. Even though it's the heavier of the two layup options, it still only weighs 45 lbs, so I can easily load and unload it from the car top by myself.

Overall, I'm happy with the boat and would buy it again if I had to do it over. It goes fast, carries lots of stuff, and is super comfortable over the long haul. I would have given it 5 stars if the fit and finish had been better.

This is just a first impression after testing one recently for a few minutes. But I was so impressed, I just needed to say something. The rest of the reviews here say it all, except one thing. No one has mentioned the roominess of its cockpit.

I had been very curious about this boat for a long time because of its design, speed, beauty, etc. But I was doubtful it would fit me. I am 6'4" and 225 lbs, with size 13 feet. The boat looks like it's pretty low volume with its low deck height and I thought that would kill my feet.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find out this boat is perfect for big guys! The foot board adjusts so far forward that I couldn't reach it with the seat all the way back. This has never happened to me in any kayak. There was plenty of room for my toes, never touched the underside of the deck. The seat is very easy to adjust back and forth.

It has a very narrow bow and felt super fast, faster than any sea kayak I've tested. The padded knee braces are very comfortable too.

I fell in love with this boat. Now if I can only get a hold of $3,400!!! (or find a used one for a song...).

I bought a Carbon haul Epic 18X 5 years ago to use for USCA racing. The 18X is in my opinion the fastest kayak in it's class. It is very easy to handle and can handle the occasional bumps on the river. The kayak can haul enough gear on camping trips to stay out for weeks on end when you need to get away for awhile.

I have owned dozens of kayaks over the years and the Epic 18X is by far the best I have had the pleasure to paddle. I highly recommend the Epic.

I love the way my 18x handles HOWEVER, I've had to fix the seat twice. The seat came loose (fixed it) and then came off completely from the boat with my rolls. Boat repair expert says the railing construction is poor if you want to roll in this boat!

UPDATE:
Epic was wonderful and paid for half of the repair expenses even though my boat was out of warranty.

I've paddled the 18x once at the Sanibel Island Paddlefest. 8 knot winds and a light chop on the water. I own a Seda Glider (now the 2nd fastest touring kayak) A Necky Chatham which is a greenland style hull great for rough seas. And a Seaward Tyee which is a big expedition kayak. I could trade them all for an 18x and not miss any of them.

The 18x slices thru the chop instead of bobbing over it like my other boats. From 2011 on the 18x has a retractable rudder for beach launches etc. It sits so low in the water it practically disappears below the wind.

I've recommended this boat for a beginners kayak. If you can ride a bicycle you can master this boat. Buy one boat, and keep it for life. The only quibble I would have with the 18x is the way the rudder is deployed and locked down. You have to reach behind you and snare the rope in a keeper. It'd be better if there was a lever near the front of the cockpit you could just flip and get right back to paddling.

I don't race kayaks. The 18x gives me more results for my effort than any other kayak. More incentive to exercise. I'm scheming my way toward owning one.

I have paddled my Epic 18X for over a year now and it was sweet enough for me to do the unthinkable... I sold my Looksha II to a good friend. It is light and fast and has handled weather/water conditions that would be considered very dangerous... flooding downstream and 24mph winds blowing upriver creating washing machine conditions in the Tennessee River where I paddle. I am 5-10, 185 average 59 year old male paddler... I love my boat.

On the performance side of the equation, I don't think you can find a better overall sea kayak. It's fast, efficient, sprightly, tracks well, turns well, and is quite comfortable for long hauls. It's easy to surf wakes and waves, and always feels comfortably stable, exhibiting great secondary stability. It lean turns superbly for such a long boat, and with the rudder you can really whip it around. I like the Sealine rudder system - the boat responds almost instantly to rudder input, and it's easy to adjust and use. Overall, the boat feels like a sports car to me.

As to quality, this boat leaves a lot to be desired. The gentlemen who owned the boat before me was a fanatic about protecting and caring for his boats, and I've always stored my boat indoors and taken good care of it. Nevertheless, the gelcoat has spider cracks all over the place and the seam tape is coming off. I've also had to replace the Sealine rudder pedal system in the cockpit area - the original pedal adjustment housing was plastic, and cracked. The new housing is aluminum, and appears to be very durable. The hull is soft, and I have some indentations in the hull from where the boat rides on the saddles on my rack. I believe mine is somewhat heavier than listed as well. On the plus side, my hatches are easy to use and seal pretty well. One stays completely dry, while the other will leak a little.

In spite of the quality irritants, I really like the boat. I bought a QCC 700XL last year, intending to replace the Epic 18 Endurance with 700XL, a much higher-quality, made in the USA boat. As it turned out, I sold the QCC and kept the Epic. The QCC was beautifully made and very solid, but it had a "big boat" feel compared to the sprightly feel of the Epic, plus it was slower (GPS confirmed numerous times over the same course) and less comfortable (part of that was the after market back band, but I didn't like the seat as well either). Looking at the two boats side by side they looked pretty similar, but a close examination shows the Epic possesses a sharper entry on the bow and exit at the stern, along with some other subtle differences that add up in the water.

I've since moved into a Thunderbolt for racing and rarely paddle the Epic anymore, except in winter, but I've loaned it out to a friend's son to get him started into USCA marathon racing, and he loves it as well.

A great boat, with a few caveats.

There's no excuse for crap like this in 2009. I took it back after 3 months because the seat had worn through the hull. The Sydney distributors at that time told me it was my fault. Sorry for sitting in the boat. I've watched Freyer Haufmeister struggle with her, specially prepared Endurance too:
http://qajaqunderground.com/2009/07/08/day-171-tuesday-07072009/

So, what is it about making a kayak that's so difficult. And how come she's testing new fittings paddling around Australia? I thought that would happen in the LAB.

When I ask around people always talk about the factory burning down, the Chinese factory problem and stuff. Hey guys, that's not our problem... If people deliver a product and don't stand by it, that's not what Sea kayaking is about, is it? I like the design but the company owners ought to be held accountable for this abysmal quality.

After last year's demo of the Epix 18x, I broke down and bought an 18x in March. I have thoroughly enjoyed the boat. This past spring I paddled it quite a bit for fitness paddling and raced it twice. It is more stable than a sprint boat, but I think it is as fast as my K-1 trainer (SRS Laser). All the qualities I discussed from my first review still stand.

This weekend I had the opportunity to take it out on a 4 day, 3 night overnight kayak/camping trip on the Suwannee River. It was absolutely awesome. It holds a lot of gear and I had plenty of room for the trip. Driving to Fargo, GA, we encountered torrential rain for the entire 5 hour drive and it rained most of the night as well. I expected the hatches to leak, but to my surprise there was only a few drops in the kayak.

I found the kayak to be very rugged and I had no qualms about sliding it onto sandy beaches or bumping into the occasional underwater tree stump. I also punished the integrated, understern, fixed rudder quite a bit by dragging it onshore, but it held up fine.

My only complaint is that the bulkheads leaked a little. I got water in the cockpit getting in and out of the boat. When I dragged the boat onshore, the water in the cockpit would collect along the stern bulkhead and somehow it would leak through to the stern compartment. It wasn't a horrible amount and it's something I can live with.

Overall, this boat fits my needs and lives up to my expectations. I wanted a boat I could fitness paddle and race as well as a boat I could do overnight camping trips and the 18X fits the bill.

I consider myself an all around boater. I paddle whitewater, flatwater rivers, lakes and coastal waters, ICF sprint races and fitness paddling. I'm female, 5'6", 150 pounds. Since I live in Atlanta, I usually paddle mostly lakes in my sea kayak. I started off as a WW boater so I appreciate a responsive long boat, but I've recently gotten into fitness paddling and racing. I am mainly looking for a kayak to race and do overnight kayak camping trips so it's hard to find a boat that fits both of those requirements.

I had the opportunity to demo the new 18x. It wasn't the 18x ultra, but one of the performance 18xs. It weighs 41 pounds and I could see how this lightweight boat would appeal to women. I liked the fact that it weighs only 41 pounds and the construction seemed solid. Many racing sea kayaks seem rather fragile and I wouldn't dare load it up with gear and do an overnight trip. I also recently demoed the epic endurance carbon layup (predecessor to the 18x), and I thought it too fragile to handle lots of gear.

The 18x is very fast and very responsive. I like the fact that you can paddle the boat racers style (knees together) or traditional style (knees under thigh braces). I also loved the pedal style rudder system. I also loved the solid foot bulkhead. It made it very easy to pedal your feet while paddling (racer style). Even when I'm not racing or a doing a work out paddle, my hip flexors get very tired and sore when I paddle long distances using the thigh braces.

I paddled the boat on a flatwater, deep river and there was quite a bit of wind and chop. The boat handled great! It is tippy, but compared to a sprint boat it is stable. Although, I didn't roll the boat, I think that it would be very easy to roll.

I also liked the integrated rudder. You just get in the boat and go...no having to put down the rudder or worry about the rudder system. The only disadvantage to the integrated rudder is that you must be careful with it. The rudder sticks out a bit so you must be careful about what you paddle over. A rock or log could possible snag it...unlike a traditional rudder that would simply bump over an underwater obstruction. Since the rudder is integrated and fixed, you can't pull it up if you see something ahead that might snag it. I do think that this is a small disadvantage and the other great, thoughtful construction of the boat really outweighs that one disadvantage. The hatches seemed sturdy and there seemed to be plenty of storage room for a weekend trip.

I really liked this boat and I could see many hours of paddling it. Now, I just gotta come up with the money to buy one!

One thing that did surprise me is how easy this 18 foot boat is to steer with my hips. I imagine it has something to do with the rounded bottom and light weight. I really love the rudder pedals. The foot braces are solid and the rudder pedal is actuated with your toes. I found this easy barefoot and with booties. It would be tough if you use rigid soled shows, though. It also seems that they must have listened to folks on this forum as they now use a firm, narrow back band that seems to work well although it takes awhile to get it adjusted properly. The only thing I don't like so far is the black color. On a big lake the boat is nearly invisible. It looks fantastic, but I am in the process of adding some 3M reflective tape. It seems like a shame to to it, but getting hit by a boat seems worse!

Carved turns surprisingly well but the rudder was a big help in the wind. Once turning had started the boat wanted to keep turning even when brought back to an even keel. This boat was easier to turn for me than the CD caribou but did not stop turning as crisply, or track as well. If I get this boat I will get a rudder and the trim tab adjustment and use it exclusively. I also need to raise the pedal height but that is down to me not Epic. I wonder if I could get the trim tab and leave the toe pilots out ( I know it is not standard design but... I will paddle this boat soon in conditions, and if I decide I need a fast sit in boat it's likely to be purchased.

Seat back is quite sad but what do you expect. It is way too tall and way to flimsy. I doubt that seat backs are a big concern of Greg or Oscar. The boat rolled OK but did not pop up like the romany explorer does (few boats do.) Weathercocking was noticable but not outrageous. The reason I would get a rudder is because of the boats tendancy to keep turning. I was very pleased with the lack of drag fron the sealline rudder.

Overall, I was quite pleased, and very pleasantly surprised at the boats ability to carve I weigh 225 have snort legs and have been working at improving my paddling skills for about 4 years three of them year round.

Hatches are well secured, and have not leaked noticeably in 2-3 ft seas.

I'm 230lb, 6'3", and find the cockpit to be a bit snug, but comfortable enough. The boat is stable enough to adjust the foot pedals in chop sitting on 1" thick padding added to the seat.