Having been a long time Sit On Top paddler I had always yearned for something faster and sleeker then the barge like SOTs available. I had read reviews on the many surfski's out there and thought this would be the next step in my evolution of kayak purchases. The downside to what was available was the stability, price and materials used. I paddle mainly rivers and bays in NW Florida and like to launch and land frequently and the thought of grinding the carbon/fiberglass bow repeatedly on the shores made me cringe, plus I wasn't able to plunk down the 2k-3k premium. The other issue was stability; the positive aspect of the current range of SOT's was the extreme stability provided by a 30" width, so moving to 20"+or- width seemed daunting. So when Epic announced their creation of a rotomolded surski at an affordable cost I was excited for this proposition. After researching and talking with several dealers I decided on the Epic V5. Kayaktrader.com delivered the kayak and after work I was on the river.
Pros:Great entry level surkski! rotomolded plastic, light weight easy to handle at 14' and 46 lbs can be put on top of car and carried by yourself. Great stability for a surfski, I have a large frame @ 230lbs and haven't toppled out yet even through boat wake and small rollers, haven't paddled through beach surf yet but I anticipate it to be manageable. Optional drop down skeg was purchased for it and it makes it nice to be able to pull up to shore without worrying about damaging fixed skeg under the boat. Speed is a definite plus, the design of this boat is made for just that. Cuts through the waves/water and is easy to get onto plane with an efficient stroke. Cost- at $1,495 it's a much more affordable way to experience a high quality surkski.
Cons:Boat comes as is, no booklet to read about how to adjust foot braces or using bailer. They are somewhat intuitive but recommend reviewing videos by Epic or Kayaktrader to adjust braces for best fit etc. Be prepared to get wet, waves will come in, just the design of it so learn to use bailer.
TL;DR - Great boat, great price, very stable, fast, good weight, great first surf ski, can be a wet ride.
