I bought my used fiberglass Esprit from a rental company over 25 years ago. I’ve paddled it all over Prince William Sound in Alaska on 2-week long trips every summer. It can hold lots of gear for these long trips including a bulky bear resistant food container. It has stood up to the hard rocky beaches that are common in the Sound where there are few sandy beaches. The hard chime provides stability in stormy seas. The big cockpit is great for surf landings where I need to quickly get out of the boat before getting sucked off the beach. The seat is comfortable, which is important on the hour plus open water crossings. The back deck is flat, which makes it easy to carry spare paddles, fishing gear, a crab trap, or more recently a portable toilet. It has a low profile so it cuts through waves instead of riding up and over them. This results in a wetter ride when paddling into seas but the wind does not catch the bow and push it around as it rides up waves so it tracks better in waves and wind. As you can tell, I love this boat.
My problem is the weight of the boat. The rental company I bought it from heavily reinforced it for the harsh treatment it received from clients. It weighs 75 pounds. It is now difficult for my paddling partner and me to load and unload from the top of my Subaru. We are also tired of hauling the heavy boat 50 to 100 yards up and down beaches in the Sound. I contacted Northwest Kayaks and they still have the molds for the Esprit although they no longer list it in their stable of boats. I ordered a new composite version and got it 6 weeks later. They shipped if from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK in a huge Sonotube and it arrived in perfect condition. It is so much easier to handle at the reduced weight of 50 pounds. I’ve gotten it out for several lake paddles before they froze and and I’m very happy with it. There are several changes from the old model. The hatches are now updated from the round front hatch and neoprene back hatch. The seat has a back strap instead of a solid fiberglass back. The hull still has the hard chime and the deck still has the low profile that I like. The cockpit is still big for easy entry and exit. I’m looking forward to getting it out on a long trip in the Sound next summer. If you’ve any questions about my experience with the Esprit, contact me through my ad-free blog: princewilliamsoundseakayaking.blogspot.com
