Force Category 5

An update on my previous review:

I found that cutting out a large piece of the seat back and carefully sanding the edge to a nice rounded shape, leaving roughly 1-2" to stop my bum from sliding, solved the problem. It is no longer back band dependent, as the whole issue was that the seat back was too high, with insufficient fall, away from my lower back. I would then have to use the back band as a "buffer". So now, the problem has been solved and I could sit in this kayak all day without discomfort.

Now I can say unreservedly that the Impex Force Cat 5 is the best sea boat I've owned. It is very neutral in wind, not as much as the NDK Explorer, but close. It is fast and efficient to paddle and will take a lot of gear. So if you have a lot of distance to paddle, over multiple days in exposed water, the Impex would be an excellent choice.

Where the Explorer excelled was in surf. For me, the Explorer was a great kayak for playing in breaking surf and steeper more agressive wave.

You can pick up ocean swells and waves in either kayak really well, but the Impex is simply faster and more efficient. The cockpit also allows for a better paddling position (knees higher, closer together). The Impex paddles beautifully unladen and I am around 6' 1" and 13.5 stone. I also have a Seaward Legend which is also a wonderful kayak but less neutral in wind, although it is also a better surf boat.

When I say the Explorer & Legend are better in surf, the Impex is probably easier to surf, it is so responsive to steering strokes, however it has little or no rocker and while voluminous overall, has a finer less flared bow, which means that on a steeper wave pearling may occur.

The Impex is also not quite as manoeuvrable as then Explorer or Legend, when you need to bring the kayak about quickly in the surf zone (although better skills & technique might prove me wrong). It does however, respond beautifully to edging and felt more manageable to me, in strong currents, surge and wind than the Greenlander Pro.

The Impex does however side-surf well, as do most decent kayaks. In one incident where I caught a wave that I really shouldn't have been on, I did unwillingly pitch-pole and found the kayak easy to lean toward the oncoming wave and roll upright. That wave might have nailed any sea kayak.. I'm really not sure.

The behaviour of the Impex in unpredictable situations felt to me more reassuring than the Explorer and that is saying a lot. For a 52cm wide, load carrying kayak, paddled empty in busy water, I could comfortably access the rear day hatch which highlights its stability. I didn't feel as confident in the legend, which also feels very stable in the rough until I need to reach behind me. I may get there eventually but I say that to illustrate just how dependable the Impex Force is.

If you need a sea kayak primarily with surf in mind you may want to look for a suitable design. If however, you are seeking a capable, efficient sea tourer that is also rewarding to paddle, I highly recommend the Impex Force Cat 5.

About me: I've been paddling ocean kayaks for about 35 years. Mostly expedition paddling of two weeks or more. I've paddled a lot on the west coast of Canada, less in Nova Scotia, Maine and the Great Lakes. I have paddled a lot of boats a lot of miles: Mariner, Nimbus, Nordkap, Necky, Current Designs. I currently own the Force 5, a North Shore Ocean 17 ( another great boat ), and a Nimbus Telkwa. The Force 5 is my latest acquisition, purchased as a very fast expedition kayak with a nod to all the years that I paddled a Grand Mariner. I wanted a fast, rudderless expedition kayak that didn't take as much effort and body language to paddle and correct as my old Grand Mariner did.

I spent 4 days in early November 2016, trialing my K-lite layup Force 5 in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The place where I launch is on Hale Passage, a small straight between the mainland and Lummi Island. It is known for strong tidal currents and verying bottom geography which creates strong rips and upwellings. The first two days, there were both strong tides running and winds from 25 to 30 knots. On the first day, the wind was gusting against a 3 knot ebb tide creating white capping waves of over one metre in the main channel.

So how did this boat perform? She is 18 feet long and less than 21 inches wide, with a flat bottom and virtually no rocker. I was paddling her empty for my sea trials.

What can I say/ I LOVE this boat! On calm flat water, she feels stable and docile. As soon as you get on living water though, she begins to show her Thoroughbred lines and personality. Each day, it took me ten to fifteen minutes to get accustomed to her liveliness in moving tidal currents and waves, but once my own skitishness settled, she showed her true capabilities. The boat is fast, very fast! She tracks like an arrow on a flat keel, but turns easily on edge. She handles rough water and breaking waves with ease, a simple lean or a quick brace and carry on. She fits like a glove and I felt wholly at one with this boat. She tracks and handles extremely well without deploying the skeg. The only exception is a bit of moderate weather cocking with strong following winds, which deploying a bit of skeg quickly corrects.

On my third day of trials, the wind moderated to light and I took her out for a power paddle around the South end of Lummi Island. Did I mention this boat is fast? On my return up Island again in Hale Passage, I paddled her against another strong ebb. She cut throught the ebb current and paddled into it with little decrease in speed or increase in effort.

The Force 5 is a fast expedition boat par excellence. The useable packing volume is rated at 181 litres. The total volume is listed a 380 litres which is excellent for a British style design. I can get an extra 10 or15 litres of storage with a dry bag in front of the foot braces, so she will definitely handle enough gear for extended expeditions. I plan to use that capability for two trips this spring and summer on the Salish Sea and the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

This is definitely a boat for an experienced paddler, however, I think she would also reward a keen novice who is careful, takes some time and instruction and is keen to learn. With the three versions, Category 3, 4 and 5, there is a size of this design to fit most paddlers.

The Impex line is now manufactured by Abatibi & Co. located in Northwestern Quebec. They apparently have the same quality control manager as did Mid-Canada Fibreglass who previously manufactured these boats. I am very happy, no "stoked" that Impex line of kayaks will still be built to the highest of North American standards. So many North American kayak manufacturers have gone out of business, or been bought out by multi-national corporations that decrease quality and eliminate models that are not huge sellers in the low end recreational market. Cudo's to Abitibi and Co., may you have success and continue to produce and sell performance ocean kayaks that are built for adventure and to last.

I've had experience from a long line of Valley and P&H boats. The Force 5 from Impex took a hard sell and a long period of time for me to soften up to.

I'm sorry I waited so long. It's a pleasure to paddle a boat, heavy or light with gear that doesn't disobey in strong winds or quartering seas. My compliments to Impex for producing the best boat I've ever paddled. Previously on the pure British line boats I've paddled, I've never realized how much effort went into fighting the boat. Again, thanks Impex for your great boat and your insight into a design fit for the 21st century.

This is my fourth kayak and based on the reviews I read, I thought this was the kayak I needed. I'm 5'11", 190, and consider myself as being an intermediate paddler after 8 years. I bought it in winter and had not the opportunity to try it before buying. I just sat in it and found it fit me very well; just a little bit of padding and now it fits me like a glove.

I was not sure on my first rides, this is why I hesitated before rating it. I found it tippy compared to my previous carbon that was 24" wide. Now after a few rides in various conditions, I really really love it. It's quite fast, very stable for its wideness, and tracks very well. You edge it a little and it really manages tight turns. No weathercocking noticed to date, and needed a little skeg only on following seas and backwinds.

The only negative point will be for me its weight. I already think for a new one in K-Lite or carbon cause this is the best kayak I ever paddled. I was too looking at the Explorer at the moment of buying but I saw two of them that were so badly manufactured, I didn't wanted to even try them.

That boat (Force5) according to me is a dream come true. Really great boat and anybody should consider it on the top five kayaks for all around conditions.

I've now had my Impex Force Cat 5 for almost 3 months. It is a great kayak! The fit and finish on my carbon-kevlar boat is perfect inside and out! The Cat 5 fits me (at 5'9"/190 lbs.) like a glove. Probably, the most comfortable cockpit I've ever sat it.

The Force paddles like a dream. It turns on a dime....the best edging kayak I've ever owned. It's fairly fast and handles wind and chop extremely well. In a big blow, a little skeg makes it track straight and true.

If you want a great expedition kayak...the Force Cat 3-4-5 should be on your short list!

I bought the Cat 5 on Tuesday, but work and weather conspired against me, and I didn't get into the water until Saturday (Jan 6, 2007). The wind was SSW at 15 knots, peak gusts 25 knots. Saturday's max temperature at Lake Mohawk, NJ was 68F degrees. This is just incredible for January! A year ago, the max temp for the day was 37F.

Some background:

I first saw IMPEX boats at the Garden State Exhibit Center, during Jersey Paddler's Paddlesport event in 2005. IMPEX had a Currituck and Montauk on the floor, and I was impressed with the fit and finish, and the enthusiasm of the IMPEX staff. The Force line had not come out yet, and so I thought a Currituck was in my future.

At the time, I was paddling an Old Town Adventure XL. I had lots of lake miles under my belt, but no bracing skills. I should mention that I started paddling in 2002 with a Leisure Life WalMart special, then caught the paddling bug and almost immediately bought the Old Town.

I eventually bought a Wilderness Systems Tempest Pro 170 in FG. Up until Saturday, the WS Tempest had been my constant paddling companion, and I must say--I love that boat! I developed some bracing skills, learned to roll at a local community college, and went to a seminar, where I finally got professional coaching.

I still paddle 90% of the time in lakes and rivers and bays, though as my skills improve (and I find buddies to go with!) I hope to venture into surf and get some BCU stars working.

Back to the Force Cat 5! I was going to buy a Force 4 actually, but the only one available was found to have a starburst on the gelcoat near the skeg control. As I was foaming at the mouth in anticipation of buying the Force 4, and Lake Mohawk is 90 some-odd miles from Jersey Paddler, I would not be deterred and instead of leaving with no boat, opted for the Force Cat 5 and the extra inch of depth that came with it.

I launched from one of the beaches and struck out into the wind. I knew after a few minutes that my first adjustment would be to let a few teeth out on either side of the comfortable Immersion Research back band. After I did that, the boat fit like a glove and I was off to get acquainted. I found she tracked very well into the wind and responded nicely to a leaned turn, even though I was tentative since I didn't want to capsize and thus test my less than bombproof roll. I came across the wind and took some "waves" (hey, the fetch was at least 2 miles! :) on a low brace. I turned downwind and found she still didn't need skeg. It was only later, with a quartering tailwind did I drop the skeg, and the kayak tracked like a laser guided torpedo.

Once into a protected area, I tried some rudders and more aggressively leaned sweep strokes. I am in love with this boat already! At this juncture, I popped the headphones on and cranked up some paddling tunes for a fast cruise. A mile later, I passed the boardwalk at the NE end of the lake wearing a stupid grin. As I turned to the southwest, my reverie was broken by a capsize. Not sure how it happened, but there I was, upside down. I thought "please let me roll up on the first try!" Of all places to go over, right in front of folks sitting on the benches on a Spring day in January! I didn't relish the thought of a wet exit and subsequent paddle float re-entry in front of gawking ( and possibly guffawing) board walkers! Not to mention that one of them would probably panic, and call the rescue squad to add to my embarrassment!

I worried needlessly as I rolled up effortlessly, aided no doubt by the excellent design of this wonderful kayak! The backband not only didn't hinder my layback, it supported it. I was up and dripping water out of the headphones in a few seconds. The water chilled my noggin a little, but "The Shins" didn't miss a beat in the headphones, and I paddled on dude!

I can't say how much I am pleased with my first outing. I would have rated this kayak a "10", but I think the deck rigging could be improved somewhat. Specifically, I would have liked some bungees near the day hatch to stick my pump, and a pattern of bungees on the forward deck to slip a paddle blade under.

I am 5'6" and about 190lbs. Much larger reviewers have found this boat to be comfortable and of course, so do I. I am going to take advantage of the extra room under the deck to glass in a tube to hold flares or whatever. I will add the additional deck rigging myself as well.

I typically paddle alone, and I try to be consistent with the gear I take. Most of it is safety related: flares, smoke, water, mini-stove, tubular webbing, extra clothing in drybags, etc. etc. I spent 20 years in law enforcement and rescue not to be prepared. The extra room will be nice on extended trips as well.

Bottom Line: I give the Force Cat 5 **** 1/2 Highly recommended!

The reason for my post is to help give people a better idea on how the Force range fits. I have had the pleasure to paddle both sizes, well at least the two that fit me, last week as Danny from Impex Kayaks was out paddling in York Maine. I am 6'0" but have an athletic build from years of running and mountain biking. Although I thought the Cat.4 would be the better fit for me the Cat.5 gave me much more comfort for my legs. I paddle a Currituck now and feel I am a little too tight in that but not quite big enough for the Assateague. The Force Cat.5 gave me ample leg room while not having so much volume that it stopped me from laying back in the cockpit. The higher deck allowed me to keep my legs in a comfortable position even though the width is more narrow than my Currituck. I have to be a bit more aggressive to get the longer Force to come around in the surf but it still works great for me and the comfort level is a huge plus. I usually spend 3-4 hours paddling and the Force is a really comfortable fit for me.