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Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16)
This Product Has Been Discontinued
More Kayaks from Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis:
The Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16) has been replaced by the S16 G2
Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16) Description
The Stellar 16 (S16) Touring Kayak was designed for speed and stability for long distance tours. We added a moderate concavity along the keel of the bow and stern to help with tracking in rough conditions. For windy days and following seas, a drop-down rudder off the stern will help keep your course. Higher decks allow for a dryer paddle in rough conditions and a large stern and medium bow compartment provide ample storage for your longer tours.
Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16) Specs and Features
- Structure: Rigid / Hard Shell
- Cockpit Type: Sit Inside
- Seating Configuration: Solo
- Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis
Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16) Reviews
Read reviews for the Stellar 16' Touring Kayak (S16) by Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!
The Stellar S16G2 kayak has…
The Stellar S16G2 kayak has proven to be ideal for me – light weight, maneuverable, swift, and stable. I live on a large lake in Upstate South Carolina, kayaking there and several other lakes and rivers in the area. Car top the boat frequently and paddle fairly long distances mainly in flat water or gently flowing rivers. Bought this newly revised model from the great folks at Savannah Canoe & Kayak in the early Spring and have been out at least weekly in the nine months since then.
Coming from a large heavy, composite sea kayak with hard chines that was very stable and just wanted to go straight, there was a learning curve. The Stellar is Swede form with a rounded hull and soft chines. Has a good size cockpit and a molded paddle rest behind the seat, so it is easy to get in and out. It sits high on the water with little displacement, which makes it fast and quick reacting, but a bit challenging in the wind. Initially the Stellar felt a little unstable in comparison to my WS Cape Horn 17 Pro and a tad difficult to control. Fortunately, I was able to contact one of the designers of the boat at Stellar, Ben, who helped immensely. With a few changes in technique he suggested, we were able to turn it into the perfect boat for my use.
There were three major changes from my previous boat:
First, with the light weight and hull shape, the Stellar is designed for the rudder to be down most of the time for good tracking. The boat is extremely maneuverable with the rudder up, which is great for narrow streams, etc. but it is much more stable, efficient and fast with the rudder down and is still quite easy to turn.
Second, the boat is more responsive and faster with a high angle stoke and a shorter paddle than the low angle stroke and long paddle used with the longer, heavier sea kayak.
Third, the boat is more stable and efficient with your knees bent and centered, then using your legs as in a racing kayak, which gives you good hip rotation and power. Still easy to tuck the legs under into the side braces if the conditions get rough.
So, this boat with its more modern design and the required changes in technique is now stable, fast, and a lot of fun. Oh, and at 38 pounds in the advantage layup, it is easy to put on the car rack by myself. My 74-year-old body appreciates that. So, again, for me, and I suspect many others, this is or will be the perfect kayak.
After rigorous testing, I…
After rigorous testing, I purchases a super speedy Stellar S16. The Stellar is lightweight, fast, and tracks like it's on rails. I am grateful for the rudder which helps with the wind. The stellar feels quite a bit less stable than my Current Designs Gulfstream. The reactivity and control are a dream, even if the rounded hull has taken some getting used to. And, to be a little superficial - she does look sharp in blue with her nice racing stripe!!
I purchased a Stellar S16…
The S16 has very good stability and speed to match. It tracks well with or without the rudder. The cockpit is a little small and slow to enter and exit compared to a surf ski in race transition but provides a nice tight fit with a responsive feel. The seat is comfortable and the foot position is very easy to adjust. Lots of storage area to pack gear for a weekend or day trip.
The composite finish makes the S16 light, easy to transport, and store. The downside to a composite boat is that it is easy to scratch the gel coat on the bottom hull. A cautious paddler won't have an issue with that aspect.
I would recommend the S16 to anyone wanting to go fast in a conventional kayak.
"After spending last summer…
I wanted something that was fast enough in case I did some adventure racing or even longer distance stuff (I'm a former ultra runner passing into middle age), but comfy enough if I just want to have fun on the water, too.
I think I made a great decision on the S16.
It's very light, very comfortable. While it's probably not as fast as the 18, I'm probably nearly as fast in it as I would be in the 16, because it's so comfortable to me.
The rudder is perfect when the winds kick up or when I want to be lazy.
It's gorgeous with a two-tone red and gray top, and a sparkling white bottom and I shed a tear when I got my first scratch on it, but I live on the Susquehanna - that's going to happen (I keep telling myself).
Stability is perfect for me, but that's likely because I learned on a very tippy old, kayak last year.
I'm going to rate it a 9, simply because I periodically wonder how I would've felt in the S18, but truth be told, I could rate it a 10 for the paddler I am right now."
I bought a new Stellar S16…
It feels "tippy" when you first get in due to the rounded hull, but that design contributes to the great speed of this boat. It leans very smoothly and you can easily bring the cockpit coaming right down to the water's edge to facilitate turns. Seat bottom is very comfortable for several hours on the water. The backband is adjustable fore and aft using adjustable webbing; I just wish it were somewhat higher. It's great being able to adjust the foot braces while seated too.
Nice to have a rudder; I've used it in rough water in Long Island Sound and it really does the job to keep me on track. Still getting used to the SmartTrack rudder system, with the peddles above the foot braces, but seems to work well; takes some effort to deploy since its spring-loaded, but easy to raise. Sitting in it I seem to be closer to the water than other kayaks I have owned, but a standard spray skirt fits very well over the cockpit.
All in all, the Stellar S16 is the lightest, most responsive, and fun to paddle kayaks I have ever owned, and for a very reasonable price.
I paddled the S18 advantage…
I have paddled it many times now at several places. I am really happy with my purchase. The fit and finish is really good ,and the strength and appearance of the layup reminds me of my last Kevlar boat. The hatchcovers seem to work better than most I have used. I find the seat very comfortable, but I have replaced the backband with a seatback from an Eddyline Skylark. I have a bad back and always have to change my seatback.
The rudder works really well and causes less drag than my last ruddered boat. It tracks good and I will say that I find myself using the rudder a little more to correct for windage than I'm used to, but it does work well, so. Primary is good, but my back keeps me from exploring the secondary, but I know it's there. Sorry, I don't roll.
This boat seems a little quicker than my last, which was a 17' Tempest Pro. Which reminds me, I had the used 07 Tempest pro for only a short while as I discovered it weighed 56 pounds when I got it home. I liked the boat, and have a cart, but my back and age made it difficult to move it around. My previous boat before the TP 170 was a Kevlar Perception Sole, 41 pounds, and I wanted to stick close to that weight. I looked at Valley, Seda, Qcc, Epic, and they all have great boats but in Kevlar most were over $4000, and still were lucky to be under 44 pounds. WoW, my S16 advantage was under $2700 and weighs 38 pounds. When I paddle at my local lake I seem to be less tired and sore, and I am paddling more. Have you heard the saying a good kayak is one you use?