Greenland T

Ok, seriously guys. 10/10? This is why no one trusts Padnet reviews! You need to be more realistic. I love this boat. It is my favorite boat not on the market. I love how it paddles, looks, and how others are drawn to it as well. But 10/10? Does it wipe my ass and dispense whisky?

The first thing that you're going to notice about this kayak are it's great lines. The Greenland influences that Johan Wirsen used to design the Greenland T are equally beautiful to Greenland paddlers and uninitiated passersby. The Zegul rip off (yes, they did rip it off) completely ruins the design by softening the boat's hard angles. Even Johan's new boat, the Rebel Greenland kayak, doesn't match the beauty of the original Greenland and Greenland T.

If you are trying to decide between the Greenland T and the Greenland, consider this - the T will roll with ease and finesse, more so than any non-Greenland specialty boat. With the Greenland, you gain a small amount of rolling capability, and lose a lot of rough and open water capability. You will also notice a detriment to boat handling as well, due to the low freeboard.

The Greenland T is a very comfortable boat. The bucket seat and low backband are very comfortable, even on long paddles (3-4 hours or more). It uses a nice foot peg system that doesn't force you to lean into the cockpit to adjust. I have modified by foot pegs to hold a foam bulkhead in place, that can be adjusted fore and aft along the foot peg track. Some have complained that the T's seat is too far back, too close to the coaming. This is true. The coaming cuts into the back of the paddler when lying on the rear deck. However, I have never noticed this in a roll. You can move the seat forward, but it then goes from having five points of attachment to having only two (and it get creaky). If the seat were further forward, you could also install your bilge behind it (as the bulkhead and seat pan are touching). I would suggest a Redfish kayaks seat if you are hoping to move the seat forward.

Bulkheads and Kajak Sport hatch covers are absolutely water tight (and you can imagine that the boat is getting pretty wet). I have drilled four holes in the forward bulkhead to accommodate an auto bilge pump, and it is still water tight. However, the skeg box does have a small leak (as others have noticed, to varying degrees). The leak has developed at the joint between two walls of the skeg box. Not a hard fix. The slider is nice and partially recessed, although not as much so as I'd like. The painted hull interior is a nice touch. It is much nicer to look at than raw composite weave.

The cockpit is plenty large for any "average" paddler. I'm 6'2" 160# and I fit with room. I wouldn't recommend exceeding 180# though. ceiling height at the coaming is 13". Near the forward bulkhead it is more like 10". I wear a size 11 US shoe, and I find that I have to paddle this boat without booties. I wear neoprene socks over my drysuit socks. The flanges of the keyhole cockpit grip my thighs well enough that I do not long for an ocean cockpit of masiq.

The rear deck is low enough that layback rolls and balance braces require little arching of the back or much thought at all, really. This is nice when doing fancy, slow rolls, as well as violent storm rolls. Or when goofing off and walking the kayak's deck. However, the Greenland T suffers from something I have dubbed "water-noise." The T's hard chines allow it to carve effortlessly. When edged hard enough, however, the rear deck begins collecting water directly behind the paddler. You will notice the sound of turbulent water behind you, and your bow rudder or low brace turn will turn into a slow sideways drift, as your boat loses efficiency like a sinking ship. As a result, I have adjusted my paddling style, and done away with the aggressive edging I'm used to using in soft shined or round hulled boats like the NDK Romany.

The T has AMPLE storage space for one, two, three night camping trips. Depending on the availability of fresh water and food along the way, you could go longer, easily. The only piece of gear that I have not been able to pack away is my massive sleeping pad (REI XL self inflating pad, 2.5' thickness). I also suggest carrying liquor of a high proof, as beer will quickly deplete your space and raise your water line.

During fully-loaded expeditions I noticed that the T needed about 1/4 skeg deployment in order to keep the boat tracking straight. However, I did not notice much difference in water line. I did paddle in quite rough conditions (3-5' swells, current, wind) while fully loaded. Windage was next to none, and the bow had no problem taking commend of oncoming waves, despite its low volume.

The T's hull surfs excellently, despite it's low volume bow and stern. While waiting for a wave, or paddling backwards through the surf, the paddler is battered terribly, due to the stern's lack of buoyancy. I found myself being slammed in the shoulders and the back of the head by 3-4' swells. However, on the right side of a wave, the T handles excellently. Leaning about 30% of my weight onto the back deck allows the boat to take off, and it will more likely outrun the wave it surfs than broach or pitch pole.

Overall I rate the Greenland T a 7/10. This is a good score! A kayak is not a math test that can perfectly filled out. When we find a kayak that is truly a 10/10, no kayak will be a 10/10.

I am the third owner of a Greenlander Touring although it is probably only two years old. I can understand that this is not a first boat as it is a specialized boat probably bought as an addition to the fleet for an experienced kayaker as a day fun and rolling boat. It may be just one of the fleet and not always be the preferred one for long paddles.

I have owned a number of kayaks and am very experienced in paddling time although perhaps not as skilled as many with the same hours up.

My impressions of this kayak are:
A very well built kayak that attracts attention for its racy good looks. It is not as racy on the water but is effortless to paddle at its cruising speed. Additional effort is not rewarded by much additional speed. I would not regard it as extra fast except downwind when it will surf well and remain downwind and stable with the skeg down. In cross winds and beam seas it is more comfortable than most with the feel of stability and lack of windcocking because of the very low profile.

The skeg works extra well and controls direction effortlessly in side winds with minimal deployment.
The very low back to the cockpit makes laying back easy but I put a bit of foam behind the backrest for a bit of extra support during longer paddles.
The boat is very low in the water and my fellow paddlers comment on how much of my boat is under water in rougher seas. However it feels very stable and easy to brace probably because it sits so low in the water and has reasonable rocker.

I think this is the best kayak I have owned because of the high quality of construction, the fun element, the ability to roll while still being able to keep up with the larger expedition kayaks, although with a little more effort.

This is a very low volume Greenland style kayak and your legs will be lower and straighter and back support minimal compared to higher volume expedition types. Because I am a large paddler I need to twist my body to wet exit easily from this low volume boat. I have never had to wet exit unless doing so in practice.

If it fits it will be fun. I am 188cm tall, 100kg and well past retirement age. I enjoy this Greenlander T and would recommend it for its quality build, fun factor and amazing looks.

First of all big respect to paddling.com for hosting these reviews. Whilst it has been commented that posters here are generally 'for' their boats and are more likely to submit positive comment because of that I still feel that this site represents honest opinions. Given that I'll move onto the Tahe Greenland T (Tour, GT).

I am a 175cm 95kg male who has paddled the T for three years, alongside a semi carbon standard Greenland, a Tahe Reval, and an S&G angmagssalik as well as several other popular sea kayaks. What strikes me most about the Greenland T is the fun factor combined with my ability to tour in the boat. I have toured/camped from the boat for in excess of a week, restocking water and supplies en route very successfully, with a good average touring speed (4knts). I have giggled through 15ft swell in bF7, albeit without much prospect of making forward distance into the wind, surfed the self same swells home with perfect control.

The boat rolls like a dream and really is the preferred option over the stock Tahe Greenland if you are 85+kg; seriously. The construction is very good for the weight (mine has a kevlar layer) and is tough enough for heavy surf and the odd rock conflict. The gelcoat seems 'soft' compared to others and whilst it is easy with trad. design boats to confuse speed with stealth the Greenland T offers decent speed and excellent maneuverability when heeled and driven through the water properly (ie; edging and appropriate strokes). Low decks make for a wet boat and the large touring type hatches and large cockpit do allow for some water ingress (I use a Reed deck) but for me this is an acceptable pay off for what is in essence a coastal boat as opposed to a big crosser. Having said that I have made 5 mile crossings without any worry.

Altogether a good all rounder; surf, tour, big seas, for a 200lb paddler looing for f,f,f,fun!

I have owned a Tahe Marine Greenland T(ouring) for 3 months now, and have used it in a variety of conditions up to about winds Force 5 and 2.5m swells. I have a heavy duty Composite Lite version, which sound like a contradiction in terms but means I have a relatively light boat, with a double thickness hull. Perfect for Atlantic swells and tide races in the Bristol Channel.

I'm 5'10 and weigh 88kgs. I have no problems fitting in the low volume Greenland. The first time I got in it I found it a little tippy, but my old boat is a lot wider. Once I got moving it soon settled down. Within 20 minutes I was happy. What really surprised me is the secondary stability. It's great. So easy to hold an edge and thanks to the hard chines it turns very smoothly and very quickly.

It's reasonably fast. The rocker and very sharp ends reduce the water line, but it's not meant to be a sprint boat. It tracks beautifully in all conditions. I tend to only use the skeg in a heavy following sea or surfing. I've never needed it to prevent weather cocking.

It's a great boat in waves. Rides up then punches through easily. In a beam sea, the V hull and hard chines mean bracing into the wave is easy. Its the easiest boat to roll I've ever paddled - even when fully loaded.

A lot of people thinks it's too low a volume for multi-day trips. I've now done two 5 days trips, with no issues at all. But coming from a mountaineering background I've spent far too much money on lightweight kit, and work on the principle "If I can't carry it I can't take it" and the boat still has way more volume than any rucksack!

The build quality and attention to detail is excellent. I find the seat and (basic) back support very comfortable. The footrests are solid and very easy to adjust. All three bulkheads and hatches are completely watertight. I never had a drop get in yet. Apart from a few very minor scratches from spare paddles on the stern deck there's hardly a mark on it. The hull is still unmarked despite a few beach landings. I've added some more bungy to the front deck and a mount for a Silva 70 compass.

Everyone who's paddled it falls in love with it - if they haven't already been wooed by it super sexy looks. This is going to be my kayak of choice for a long time!