I purchased a Mercury kayak recently and had it out on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. I did not get the GTX model, although a company representative that I had correspondence with confirmed that the only difference between the GTX and standard models is the inflatable seat. This kayak fits in the back of my Subaru STI with the back seats folded down. In my time on the water with this boat, I noticed what I can only describe as either a design flaw or manufacturing flaw. The movable keel and skeg assembly has a lot of play in it, causing the boat to track to one side or another requiring constant adjustments with the foot pedals. I think that I can correct these issues with some hardware store modifications but am waiting to hear back from a company representative on whether this will void the warranty.
Hi Martin, we will honor the warranty. When kayaking any kayak with a deployed rudder, your feet need to be on the rudder pedals to stay on course. When the rudder is not deployed there is slight play but it does not affect the tracking of the kayak. If you have more questions on this you can contact Paul Everitt who has covered extreme distances in his Mercury. He is currently cruising the Alaska coast all the way to Seattle with Kelly Durst. Both in Mercuries. Here his instagram: instagram.com/pauleveritt/ Happy Paddling! Eric, Point 65 Sweden
I've had this problem too. I love way the kayak breaks down to fit in my car, but I've found it very difficult to keep the rudder straight using the foot pedals (even without having the skeg down), and am constantly being pushed either to the left or the right. I'm thinking I should just fix the rudder permanently somehow so that it can't move--as it is right now, it's driving me crazy.
Richard Ohman hi Eric, can you use the rudder and/or skeg fixed and just steer with the paddels? I'm a bit "worried" about the experience Richard and Everyday.. are having with the rudder puling to the side. Why are they experiencing this "problem"? This is the only thing preventing me from placing a order for the Mercury GTX.
You drop the skeg by turning a dial behind you. However this now activates the side to side rudder which is controlled by foot pedals. This of course while paddling. But to turn the system off again not while paddling. These are $2000 currently. Inflation I guess. I got one second hand and its pretty nice. This is their performance model. They have a few 2 piece models as well
I actually own one of these and they are utter RUBBISH! Great concept (I really wanted something modular) but poor execution - It is not easy to assemble them or disassemble them and there is a big gap in the two parts where the 3 sections get together - which makes the kayak slower and harder to manouver - stay away from this stuff
Aw yikes!! 🙈 I was so hoping to get one, I don’t want the hassle of an inflatable and don’t want to use a roof rack so this was going to be the best alternative. Sigh. I’ll keep looking...
@@shawnthesheep6832 Maybe this one? it's inflatable but in 4 to 5 minutes: ruclips.net/video/UJhSJvg1f8k/видео.html It's from a French brand called Decathlon, but they have numerous stores in a lot of countries, and a year return policy, so you could try it out,, and of you deliver it clean and without traces of being used you'll get your money back. That is if they sell or deliver where you live ofcourse.
We honestly love ours. I find it very easy to assemble and disassemble. I can get it together in less than 3 minutes and the same for taking it apart. Taking it apart is a bit different though, there’s a trick to it. Once you get it though it’s awesome. I did have an issue with the rudder. I didn’t really like it so I fixed it so it wouldn’t move. I still like the skeg though. It’s great that I can make it a tandem for my wife and I or I can take it out as a solo. I had also looked at the Pakayak, which is a great solo modular kayak, but they don’t have a tandem option. They are more portable though and they don’t have a rudder built in.
I purchased a Mercury kayak recently and had it out on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. I did not get the GTX model, although a company representative that I had correspondence with confirmed that the only difference between the GTX and standard models is the inflatable seat. This kayak fits in the back of my Subaru STI with the back seats folded down. In my time on the water with this boat, I noticed what I can only describe as either a design flaw or manufacturing flaw. The movable keel and skeg assembly has a lot of play in it, causing the boat to track to one side or another requiring constant adjustments with the foot pedals. I think that I can correct these issues with some hardware store modifications but am waiting to hear back from a company representative on whether this will void the warranty.
Hi Martin, we will honor the warranty. When kayaking any kayak with a deployed rudder, your feet need to be on the rudder pedals to stay on course. When the rudder is not deployed there is slight play but it does not affect the tracking of the kayak. If you have more questions on this you can contact Paul Everitt who has covered extreme distances in his Mercury. He is currently cruising the Alaska coast all the way to Seattle with Kelly Durst. Both in Mercuries. Here his instagram: instagram.com/pauleveritt/
Happy Paddling!
Eric, Point 65 Sweden
I've had this problem too. I love way the kayak breaks down to fit in my car, but I've found it very difficult to keep the rudder straight using the foot pedals (even without having the skeg down), and am constantly being pushed either to the left or the right. I'm thinking I should just fix the rudder permanently somehow so that it can't move--as it is right now, it's driving me crazy.
Reed Martin did you fix the problem?
everydayispoetry did you ever fix that rudder?
Richard Ohman hi Eric, can you use the rudder and/or skeg fixed and just steer with the paddels? I'm a bit "worried" about the experience Richard and Everyday.. are having with the rudder puling to the side. Why are they experiencing this "problem"? This is the only thing preventing me from placing a order for the Mercury GTX.
Is there enough leg room for tall people in reaching the foot pedals? in the rear section of the tandem in particular?
Can you lift and drop the skeg while paddling? What is the price range.
You drop the skeg by turning a dial behind you. However this now activates the side to side rudder which is controlled by foot pedals. This of course while paddling. But to turn the system off again not while paddling.
These are $2000 currently. Inflation I guess. I got one second hand and its pretty nice. This is their performance model. They have a few 2 piece models as well
I actually own one of these and they are utter RUBBISH! Great concept (I really wanted something modular) but poor execution - It is not easy to assemble them or disassemble them and there is a big gap in the two parts where the 3 sections get together - which makes the kayak slower and harder to manouver - stay away from this stuff
Aw yikes!! 🙈 I was so hoping to get one, I don’t want the hassle of an inflatable and don’t want to use a roof rack so this was going to be the best alternative. Sigh. I’ll keep looking...
@@shawnthesheep6832 Maybe this one? it's inflatable but in 4 to 5 minutes:
ruclips.net/video/UJhSJvg1f8k/видео.html
It's from a French brand called Decathlon, but they have numerous stores in a lot of countries, and a year return policy, so you could try it out,, and of you deliver it clean and without traces of being used you'll get your money back. That is if they sell or deliver where you live ofcourse.
Thanks, I am looking dor a kayak that can be assembled due to space. I am down to the Pakayak, but had seen this by accident.
I agree. Its awful
We honestly love ours. I find it very easy to assemble and disassemble. I can get it together in less than 3 minutes and the same for taking it apart. Taking it apart is a bit different though, there’s a trick to it. Once you get it though it’s awesome. I did have an issue with the rudder. I didn’t really like it so I fixed it so it wouldn’t move. I still like the skeg though. It’s great that I can make it a tandem for my wife and I or I can take it out as a solo. I had also looked at the Pakayak, which is a great solo modular kayak, but they don’t have a tandem option. They are more portable though and they don’t have a rudder built in.
漂亮👍
Is so bad!!
Now loop it . xxx