Bering Sea

Followup on an earlier review. Now my 5th season paddling the bering sea and still loving it. (Despite cheating and trying other kayaks) My concern with stiff hatch covers has been resolved by replacing the stock Sealect Design Classic hatch cover with their $$$ Performance hatch cover which remains more pliable in cooler temperatures. Boat handling and performance remain a joy to paddle both loaded (315#total) and unloaded (195#). I would say that the stock seat position actually favours the fully loaded boat. I did have one minor build quality issue which Swift promptly addressed while providing a loaner boat during repairs.. Still fiddling a bit with the seat outfitting by cutting the low back seat lower, and adding hip wings to the seat pad.

My personal biases prevent me from spending thousands on a boat made overseas (think warranty...), this really reduced my selection, and was further compounded by the recent closures of many quality NA manufacturers. I am 5'10" 195# which affected the paddling negatively on some other potential boats. Swift won the battle over CD and QCC due to location. The Bering Sea won over the Saranac for its John Winters design. You can not match its overall stability in rough conditions or cruiser wakes. Inital/final stability is very similar to Valley Kayaks. YMMV.

My boat (Kevlar, gel-coat hull, skeg) has 42# actual wieght making it 25# lighter for loading before/after trips. yeah!!! I can portage easily without a cart. The higher deck allows me greater comfort on longer paddles, plus the safety of easier self-rescues. (Much easier tucking feet back in with higher deck). Note that I opted for the cockpit without knee pads which maximizes this opening and facilitates an easier carry of the kayak. My knees brace nicely on the padded upper deck as-is. Cockpit combing does the job despite its minimalist looks.

Low back seat is comfortable enough. I find the "low" seat bordering on too high as it is, but there is no interference so it stays until replaced with a back band.

Skeg operation is absolutely perfect & smooth! Controls are placed close but out of way behind hip. No issues maintaining course with 1/4 winds, stationary or moving.

Kayak is swede shape (cockpit back from center), unloaded the boat tends to be stern heavy with a very noticeable drag at higher paddle speeds. This can be offset by loading heavier items in the bow.

The boat does have a very efficient glide at typical touring speeds despite its pudgy waterline entry. Note that majority of overall boat length is in the water accounting for its reasonable speed. I paddle inland lakes so do not need the extreme bow/stern undercut of the typical kayak. Hull still rises above wind waves 3' without crashing through.

Hatch covers are a "sport hatch" which I prefer over composite covers for watertight seal. Only complaint is that Swift uses a plasticy no-name cover that does not appear as substantial as VCP rubber covers or even Kajak sport covers. Long term watertightness remains a concern.

Tilting the hull for turns is weird. It responds very well to subtle leans but tends to ignore further exaggeration of the lean. The response to subtle leans is great for photography while still moving. No issues navigating winding marsh lands at speed.

Exterior finish is flawless. Interior finish is barely acceptable where the deck/hull are joined, but no structural issues. Bulkheads were well sealed, no leaks.

Overall recommendation is to go try one. I remained pleased overall.

Now come the real negatives. First, the Barracuda cloth: while it looks sharp, forget it if you damage it. I had an accident and poked a quarter size hole in the prow. Once the clear gel coat is off, just touching the aluminized Kevlar takes off all the aluminum. I paid to professionally repair the damage, but you can see the repair. Also, the clear coat scratches easily. In terms of handling, I find I have always struggled with this yak and never felt comfortable in it. My QCC handled great in choppy water, wind and wake from powerboats, but the Bering Sea has not. Last year I dumped it 2 times and had to be rescued - not fun. I am getting rid of mine ASAP.

With a waterline length of 15'2" and a soft chine hull, the Bering Sea is faster than many 17 footers. While the initial stability is a bit 'twitchy' the Bering Sea has reasonable secondary.

The skeg version is just 43 pounds in the Kevlar Fusion layup. I couldn't pass up an older used model that was a little heavier with fibreglass hatch covers and a rudder weighing in at 52 pounds. Although I had planned on buying a skeg equipped model, my boat has a Seal Line Smart Trac rudder system. The rudder is a short blade that has very little drag and is nicely controlled with separate foot pegs and rudder pedals. As a beginner kayaker, the rudder gives this boat great maneuverability. I have been paddling this boat for the past 3 months and I have no regrets!

This is a great North American made kayak that should be on any serious kayaker's short list.