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My wife, who's not even a kayak paddler! She likes paddle boarding...

@@kayakintro Now I won't give you a hospital pass and say, "So the speed came from getting away from the rear motor."

Personally I would not paddle if the temperature is around zero... I have been paddling a lot. Now I have to find some time to edit the videos!!

This weekend was super windy and rainy! Did you get a chance to paddle yours? It was nice and sunny only a few hours in the afternoon. That day the V7 was gliding well! It was between 9 and 16km/h. Even without paddling much it was in the 11-12km/h! I have some bits of it on Instagram with the speedometer displayed: instagram.com/reel/DE9GWv-yLX1/?igsh=bTB3MWQxaWJwdjVp

@@IamNothing82 You are right, I purchased a new one! I paddle often nears rocks and I was missing its hatch!

Thanks! I have been paddling daily so I have a huge backlog of videos. Trying to get the most while the sea temperature is around 21 degrees. I was going to say the grey sky is what we don't get in Auckland but today it is fully overcast like in London 😂

It is doing so well lately with the strong wind! I am pro hatch 🤣 Yesterday going upwind I could feel the flex every time it hit the waves but I prefer that than the hollow sound I had with the V10L Ultra where I was worried about the seam. Naturally the V7 doesn't bounce back well but when it is choppy it has its advantages.

Strange, I replied to you but it doesn't show up. Hopefully you will get to paddle it! Do you have the stern rudder?

@@kayakintro Yes, I've swapped it in for surf rudder. A neat setup. Bought some stainless R-clips to aid putting the surf rudder in/out in future.

@@gadgetman_nz4092 OK! I might get the smart track rudder if I paddle often near rocks but I have to say the surf rudder is good in steep waves.

And probably a big one hunting them, but that I don't want to think about 🤣

I was hoping for a fish to land into the footwell 😂 I went 3 times into the fish and birds. I was a bit worried with the birds diving because some of them were quite large, like the gannets. It is great you got the V7! You will have no problem remounting it. If you do it would be because of the cold affecting you. It is also super stable. I went out again with it today and keep framing my daughter paddling her Fenn Bonito. There were some big swell but zero problem. Nearly reached 15km/h which is 9.3mph effortlessly on a swell. The V7 can be used for fishing.

Best of luck with your recovery!

@@GawkVader Kia Ora! There is a guy who has the same but he replied under another video 😄 at ruclips.net/video/X9fFU_65bTo/видео.htmlsi=tbrUiajA9YV8XZsN We had a chat about it there. I am on my way to Auckland in the next days. Still recovering from a bumpy ferry ride this morning coming from South Island 😂 It is quite stable for me. What do you paddle? I don’t know if they got a licence and the mould to make them or just created it themselves. It is an extremely original design. Please check the link!

@ Cool thanks for that, I’ll take a look! I paddle an Espri,which is a bit of a barge,but I fish and explore happily enough with it! At the time I bought it, I only had limited storage space! I hope you’re not too roughed up from your ferry trip - you weren’t on the one where the cars all slid into each other I hope?!

@@GawkVader We crossed that one! It was going to Picton and we were going to Wellington. Our interislander was much bigger so we were ok but many people were sea sick and vomited 😂 The crew distributed sick bags and collected them a few times. Very rough sea! I never paddled the Espri but it is known to be a good kayak. About the Explora: if you are very tall you would have troubles with the knee braces. It should be fine up to 180 cm.

@ Eek that sounds awful!! Yes, I’ve found the Espri to be a charming versatile yak, just a little slow at times! I’m 180cm so should be fine! 🤞

@@doubledark2 I would get a V8. It’s more versatile. Can’t go wrong with it!

@@gadgetman_nz4092 Absolutely bomb proof!! Probably the most rigid rotomold kayak I have ever paddled.

@@KelvinTeixeira-s6s We never have enough boats! 😄 Where do you paddle? I haven’t seen another one yet. At first I didn’t like it because it felt heavy but the more I paddle it the more I appreciate it. It is remarkably stable in very choppy water, and it can lean so easily. It is still new to me, I have paddled it only 5h. It needs an airbag or two to be on the safe side. The little day hatch needs a bucket or a net so items don’t fall all the way down. The rear hatch is cavernous but the front hatch is tiny. I managed to put an airbag there. Have you rolled it like a sea kayak? I haven’t tried yet but as soon as I am back I will try it. I was only waiting for the water to get warmer. I am currently in Christchurch where it’s rainy but quite cold too! Two days ago it was 7 degrees at night. Kaikōura was icy and gusty. Picton was also windy and cold. Not sure what’s going on!! It all started at Wellington. I can’t wait to be back north!

@kayakintro ... ah, I'd meant to leave my comment on your actual Explora post ... but you figured it out 🙂 ... also, I keep spelling it 'Xplora' only because the 'E' has worn off mine 😁 ... Thank you for your thoughts. Yeah, I really like mine, as does anyone who tries it. Solid, stable, but sleek through the water. I still need to learn to roll, so in the meantime I 'scramble' 😁 ... my backyard paddling spot is in Northland 😊

@ Lucky you in Northland! As soon as I am back I will paddle more the Explora. I believe it is the toughest kayak ever made 🤣 I tried many and this one is bomb proof. It’s extremely rigid for a rotomold kayak.

@@larscrantz The only advantage is the double footwell allows less water to stay in the bucket. Same with the big hump under the knees. Disadvantages would be less leg drive because your legs are more locked in, and a wider hull at feet level. Some spec surfskis used by life guards still use the double footwell. I don’t mind the double footwell but I don’t like when the bump under the knees is too high. For your height and long legs you should be fine 🤣

@@larscrantz It is very stable. It is relatively light. I need to weigh it for sure but probably something like 16 kg? The footplate is just a wooden stick! 😄

@@kayakintro Seems like it's about as heavy as my trusted VKV Kåre (also from the 70's).

@@larscrantz I am extremely surprised at how those old kayaks are still performing well. It was 380 SEK which is a really good value. It is a pity people think it’s outdated. I am happy to give it a new life at sea.

@@kayakintro Wow, that's extremely cheap, a bargain indeed. Yes, I agree, good thinking. I would never get rid of my VKV Kåre. I bought it in an auction for about 2500 SEK 9 years ago, worth every penny...or öre haha. So much fun I've had with that boat...😀

Got so many new things I can’t keep up on RUclips 😂

You can see it at instagram.com/reel/DCA2svUy8Aa/?igsh=cm9qZTVsOGluNXQ0

@@kayakintro Very similar. Was a bit flatter on the bottom

@@gadgetman_nz4092 It’s a fun little kayak. With surfski pedals and rudder it would be perfect.

@@kayakintro Lean the yak to the outside of the turn instead of a rudder. Edging.

@ I already tried that, like when riding a motorcycle by the way. It doesn’t turn sharply at all. It is ok but you don’t turn instantly like you would do when paddling a surfski!

Thank you 😂 I heard so many times it was a slow boat at the club that I wanted to check if it was really that bad. We certainly end pushing water but I thought 5 mph easy. A bit faster and we end suffering a lot, so not worth the effort trying to stay at 5.5 mph etc!! Have you noticed with many kayaks it isn't too hard to keep the 5 mph average while going faster is a LOT harder? I got a 50 years old kayak that's 13 ft long and it can also keep 5.5 mph easily. I overtook an Epic V10L with it! It was a choppy day.

@@larscrantz Thank you! I have been paddling it 3 times so far. It has pedals like on surfskis and you can keep your legs together if you want to. I will upload another clip of it. It starts to be like summer here (and I guess the opposite for you).

@@kayakintro Yep, here we have the opposite...😂, I guess there will be no paddling for me for a while.

@@larscrantz If I remember well you were still paddling on Christmas Day sometimes...

@@kayakintro Yes there was a time...:) I guess I have lost motivation after this summer, I hope it will come back in a few months...😊

@ Personally I wouldn’t paddle if I feel cold… I would be ice skating instead 😊

@@IamNothing82 Yes to both! 730 long and 58.5cm wide. I was amazed it still fit in the garage 😂

@kayakintro that's a big boat.. congratz, and enjoy.

@@IamNothing82 Thank you. It certainly requires some attention when towing it to the beach and it’s too long for my tiny Suzuki Swift 😂 I paddled it in some very choppy/confused sea yesterday (the type we would struggle on narrow surfskis) and it did well with only one brace. It takes some time to get used because of the second paddler at the back who might get flooded and I don’t realise it because I am fine at the front 😂

I got a long V bar for transporting the surfskis!

@@kayakintro Very limited with space. My roof bars are at 2m and the parking buildings have a limit of 2.2m so doesn't give much wriggle room with holders and mounts. Foldable J bars should be less than 100mm folded down.

It is less stable than a Bluefin or a V8 for me because I am well over its weight limit, but it is quite fast. It is very fast going downwind in short steep waves and being short the rudder stays in the water. I paddle it often because it is so easy to carry. I have a 7 minutes walk to the beach and on windy days this is much easier to carry than a longer ski catching the wind and making me spin!

@@kayakintro thansk for that quick and helpful response. I'm going to keep an eye out for one

@@jprmac1​​⁠Where do you live? You could try mine if you live close. They aren’t common undeed and so underrated but that’s because of Fenn stupidly marketing it for children. It isn’t just for children!! I asked Josue from Porto Rico whose wife paddles a Bonito to comment. She’s super fast on it!

Hi, I am using a GoPro 7 or 11 with the GPS enabled.

Thanks! It is spring time here and the water starts to reach 19 degrees. The air temperature can be much cooler, like 10 early morning. Currently it’s the 4 seasons in one day with some massive rain. Very windy too. You have to see my new old XT! I need to find out how to bring it to the beach by myself because it’s heavy and it has no handle!

Good to see you back in the ski again 😊

@@kayakintro It is 7 degrees below zero here in Stockholm today. On monday it will be 9 above again, and so it goes all winter, back and forth, snow melting and it gets messy, then it freezes and the mess becomes very slippery. I don't like that bit at all about living here...😏

@@IamNothing82I paddle this one nearly daily and post on Instagram as it’s faster to upload a 15 seconds videos 😂 I will upload more on RUclips.

@@Mr.Bryan1234 Normally not but this is my daughter’s kayak (short) and the footplate is at the maximum so no space for the shoes behind it! I walk 10mn to go to the beach so usually I wear shoes. It was still cold at that time.

@@kayakintro ahh gotcha i once tried using shoes in my surfski and was very uncomfortable.

@ With those shoes it was quite uncomfortable because I didn’t have enough room so my feet were squeezed. With neoprene socks it’s all good but don’t walk with them, they end full of holes! I need to install some bungees at the back for holding the shoes… K1s look fun!

@@kayakintro i don’t use any neoprene just a thermal shirt and shorts or wind vest. K1s are very fun and fast but hard.

@ Where do you paddle? My problem is I don’t live close to a lake/river. I know some paddle kayaks like the Epic K1T or some Nelo Viper at sea but it can get quite choppy and I wouldn’t like to have to remount them in these conditions…

@@josuedelucca7252 Very much so!

A displacement hull at rest, displaces water corresponding to its weight. That's Archimedes principle😊 As it moves, it displaces said water which moves as a wake. Wind also makes waves 👍

@@larscrantz It is! I got 3 kayaks in the meantime. Will make the videos soon. Once is the Fenn XT, a sit on top of a funny design and a 50 years old kayak 🤣

@@gadgetman_nz4092 😂 It happened to a friend of mine who was holding a carbon paddle for paddle board. The shaft snapped off while holding it, not even paddling it. I have lost a gopro and I know where it is, but it’s too deep. Was a year ago so might be covered by all the crap.

@@kayakintro This was just a cheap paddle. Just started to lean into a stroke and heard this loud 'crack', at which point I noticed I had a flat. It's only 6m down in a little lake. Will go swimming once the water warms a little.

@@IamNothing82 It’s for my daughter who’s 14 yr old! My regular paddle is the Orka Super Flex Pro. Many of the trips here are between 20-30km long so a smaller paddle is easier. My Orka is for sprints and is quite large. I like the new Epic Twist! It might replace my Orka. A large paddle helps for accelerating but once you are at your top speed the small blade is fine. You can keep the same speed as with your larger paddle.

@kayakintro True. I use it more for acceleration then duration. I haven't tried the twist though. Cool your daughter is paddling as well 😁

@@IamNothing82 ruclips.net/video/X0UuqVWSTDk/видео.htmlsi=qw8ulCZU9AdAX4Jx She paddles there a surfski from Star Kayaks. Here she was paddling a V7: ruclips.net/video/JtlW2RsZRcY/видео.htmlfeature=shared She will paddle a lot more as I am getting a double surfski!!

It is only at the beach! There is a rain water overflow pipe going there and if it rains hard the wastewater can get mixed to it... The advice is for swimmers but I prefer to be on the safe side 😂

I don’t understand what you mean by walking? The V10L ultra is 11.6kg and the V7 is 24kg. It is also much faster than the V7 because it is longer (615 cm Vs 520 cm) and narrower (44 cm Vs 54 cm). There is no perfect surfski so you can one for downwind, one for flat water racing etc.

@@kayakintro For what conditions do you like Epic V7? Which skis are best for downwind?

@@BelevichAB I like the V7 for almost any condition except flat water. The best I tried for downwind is probably the V9 if you are into Epic.

@@BelevichAB Good morning, I am using Quik from GoPro.

@@kayakintro thank you

It is very weird at the beginning! I even had some shakes (despite the fact it is a stable kayak) because I was correcting the movement coming from the back seat 😂 After 5mn it is all good but occasionally it can feel strange to still keep moving after you stopped paddling because of the lack of synchronisation between paddlers. Sometimes it is like having a turbo too!

@@kayakintro haha.

Wishing you some good weather! It is quite windy the last days here, and the same this week... So much rain too, we are getting wastewater on the beach.

@@kayakintro Yeah, we're into a period of wind coming up from penguin land. Appointment at hospital tomorrow.

Thanks! 175cm for 84kg. It is fine for me but it is better if you are 75kg and under as recommended by Fenn, it would be more stable (not that I find it unstable). It is surprisingly quick in downwind with steep waves. I can easily catch and overtake my friend Nick paddling his Bluefin which is 170cm longer!! Not the best on flat water, it needs waves to be fun. In the same category of short surfskis there is the Epic V5 which is more stable (60 cm wide Vs 50 for the Bonito). The V5 has a capacity of 125kg so is better if you are over 75kg.

Stability is very personal so it really depends. Most people would find it very stable, me included. I raced on that one on a big downwind day and never capsized despite an elbow injury during the race: ruclips.net/video/UVDgWzmRNn4/видео.htmlsi=7PHDcYqF6-8k10Gi I also know a decent sea kayaker who got a Bluefin lately and he fell in 3 times on a calm sea. Maybe it is the lack of knee support or was his previous sea kayak extremely stable? On the upside he could remount it easily.

@@ntl9974 It is still cold so there is a danger of hypothermia if you can’t get back in. We both wear a PFD and I had a spare inflatable (canister) PFD in case things were going really wrong.

@@IamNothing82 Yes, it was quite sunny but cold!

Hi! Thank you. I regret I sold it because it allowed me to paddle near the rocks. A great surfski anyway and its stowage is useful. I was using a GoPro 7 at that time and if you enable the GPS you can get the speedometer displayed by using their app named Quik. The GoPro 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 have the GPS, not the 12 so don’t get that one if you want to record the speed!

Windy and at some point I was slightly worried about capsizing because of the cold water 😅

@@kayakintro Do you have a drysuit on?

I use a Gopro 11 🙂

It was a day to take the surfski out!!

@@kayakintro i bet, looks like it. 🙂