New Black In the stowed position, the boat is maneuverable and turns well, but does not track all that great. Video on how to replace a skeg cable. The cockpit is big and the seating system is very decent but the foot pegs are a little small, which means that I’m constantly re-adjusting my feet or the foot braces to compensate at times. In the stowed position, the boat is maneuverable and turns well, but does not track all that great. The boats track well, are stable in most conditions, and fast on the water. Our advice is to discuss your needs with your local Perception Kayaks dealer. Most everything I need fits in the cargo holds, and the only things I have to strap to the deck webbing are a folding camp chair, waterproof bag containing camera equipment (DSLR body and lenses), a waterproof bag containing a couple of changes of clothes and extra shoes, extra paddle, and my hand pump for bailing out water. Looks like it splits the waves good, but haven't been in anything over 10 inches yet. I decided on the Perception Essence 17 but the store only had a 16.5 version, I had originally sat in that one when setting up the try out so I took it. Perception Essence, Sea Kayak Perception Essence, Sea Kayak Brand: Perception Product Code: KAY-ESS160114 Availability: Out of stock €1,279.00 1,279.00 Ask about this product Have a … In short I was happy when I bought this thing after trying it out and am still happy, My instructor is seriously looking at getting a few for his students after trying it out. It is really a personal choice, and you shouldn’t need either a … I would recommend this boat if you're looking for a plastic kayak as it's very tough and I feel safe in any conditions my area can throw at me. I can load the boat with everything I need for a three day/two night endeavor. It drops down in the rear of the kayak. Perfect for small paddlers, the Perception Expression 14.5 kayak with skeg effectively bridges the gap between a fun, maneuverable day-tripping kayak and a predictable touring model. I find myself going "half open" sometimes which gives a happy medium between straight tracking and turning ability. I don't think I will be outgrowing this craft soon but even with my newbie skills I was happy with the speed. I'm about 6' 200lbs. 1. Well, OK, I was really hoping to not go over, as the water temperature here in NH is still pretty cold this time of year. It doesn't quite have the rocker or turning ability of the dagger Stratos but it does have a much better price point. Seems like this is going to be a very cool boat. The skeg box where retractable skegs are stored takes up a lot of space on the kayak leaving minimal storage room. It’s a very surf inspired shape with a ton of nose rocker, a pulled in front section and very flat bottom displaying only minimal chines cut into the underside. A skeg is the fin-shaped element located on the bottom of a sea kayak. The secondary stability is where this boat shines. A guide to replacing the skeg cable on your kayak. The drop-down Scag works very well to prevent weather cocking even while out on Lake Superior and quartering Winds. A Message to Perception Fans and Prospective Customers, We are producing kayaks as fast as we safely can and shipping kayaks to dealers daily. The only complaint I have is the hatch covers, which are very hard to put on unless the weather is blisteringly hot. Scenic lakes and coastal swells can be equally exhilarating... no matter where your aspirations lie, if you want to experience them to the full, the Expression range will take you there. Read and submit reviews for the Essence 16.5. Tracking is excellent. Because skegs don't swivel from side to side, their control comes from the depth at which they are set. Stability is good and secondary stability is excellent, this kayak wants to spring you back when edging. I have the "Sonoma" 13.5 ft that is made of the same material for maybe 5 yrs now and it has held up well. Perception did a very good job on this. Spacious dry storage means it’s capable of multi-day journeys–yet still fast, fun, and agile for simple day trips. Not the easiest boat to turn but hey, it isn't exactly a short boat. Six steps to build your own kayak skeg. We nevertheless have a wait time for new orders, and our phone lines have seen an influx of calls. [bargain sea kayak] If you’re torn between an affordable rec kayak or a sleeker (but pricier) touring boat, the Expression 11.5 provides the best of both worlds. The kayak as a deployable skeg which makes a big difference in how the boat tracks. We will continue to work non-stop to get you out on the water as soon as possible. Available at your authorized Wilderness Systems Dealer - https://www.wildernesssystems.com/us/dealer-search Been out 3 times now. Happy Paddling! Tracking and maneuverability (ability to go straight and turn) is ok if no wind, but I found mine weather cocks in any significant wind, this is resolved by deploying the built-in skeg which I love because the lever is recessed on the left side of the boat and can be adjusted according to your needs. We are also working diligently to answer your questions and have recently added additional resources in this area, but our response time may be longer than typical due to the volume of contacts we are receiving. I'm happy with this purchase, and recommend the Essence 16.5 to any intermediate paddler. The more your kayak wants … Read Essence 16.5 reviews or submit your own review to share with the paddling community. I'm 5'10" 190 and this boat is a good fit. What a difference it makes going from a rec boat to a true sea kayak. I give it a 9.5/10 for storage volume considering its size. In hindsight, the kayak would probably not weather cock as much if weight were added to the bow as when fully loaded I noticed a significant improvement without having to deploy the skeg in windy conditions. The skeg helps out a lot too. Most sit on tops have very defined grooves carved into the plastic – to help with tracking and stability mainly – whereas the 5-0 doesn’t sport these. I have only tipped on purpose and once when taking lessons as I was trying to stabilize my over-extended body with the paddle’s angle and did not quite get the blade of the paddle on the proper angle, my fault not the kayaks. The Perception Expression 11.5 tracks remarkably well in calm sheltered water. Product Information. After 30 minutes of hard paddling I was still next to my buddy with his Loki carbon fiber rig. Just picked up this boat last week, and took it out for the first time on Ayer's Lake in Barrington, NH... a little breezy out, and this boat tracked straight as an arrow. The seating of the kayak is quite comfortable once you learn how to adjust it. Very comfortable seating system as well. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community! A kayak trimmed in this way will weathercock more strongly when the rudder is out of the water than a kayak that is trimmed more neutrally and is intended to be used with a skeg. Our advice is to discuss your needs with your local Perception Kayaks dealer. Keep in mind I'm nearing 50 years old and although I paddled canoes, this thing is a bit different. So when I go camping, I go alone. I give it a 9.5/10 for tracking and maneuverability. Perception's Expression is a well featured touring kayak with Zone DLX seat system - adjustable knee braces and footrests - bow and stern bulkheads with hatches - True trak skeg - bungee deck rigging with reflective deck safety line - it's v-shaped hull delivers good speed whilst it's smooth rocker and rounded chines give free flowing movement when needed for quick turns or agility in the surf - a versatile … The Essence is a solid plastic touring boat and a good value for the price paid. I purposely went into wakes of big boats to get a feel of it and I'm happy. I got mine new for $1260, and it is worth every cent. is easy enough to reach for the foot pegs and the skeg control is recessed on the outside of the boat and is easy to operate and you do see a difference. Water conditions were not conducive to lots of use last year but hope to get more use this year. Much more comfortable to boot! They can keep you informed on lead times for boats and have insight on what is coming down the pipeline. The secondary stability on the boat is fabulous, as mentioned in my previous review, it edges very well, and the handling is very predictable. I had only tried the 17 foot version of this kayak and one from Boreal Designs. So for now I give it a 9.5. Best 5 Kayak Rudder Affiliate Disclaimer: This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site. I'm sure with a little more time on the water, I'll be dancing with this thing, and will be changing my score to a 10. Put another way, ruddered kayaks perform best with the rudder in the water. Foot pedals manage them at the cockpit that is joined for the rudder using stainless steel cables or an incredibly powerful strand. They're deployed by use of a slider found alongside the cockpit. The Carolina 12.0 kayak’s category-leading comfort … The parts of a skeg, in case of breakage, are harder to repair compared to rudders. Yep, I found that out the hard way after setting out on the water before cleaning the mud in the skeg box!! If you have the opportunity to try one you won't be disappointed. Finally, if you are ordering replacement parts, please review our. I may change my mind after a few more outings but I can't see that happening in the near future. Rudders are made to elevate out from their water with a cable system and also fold out from this manner onto the back deck. The award-winning Perception Expression series of versatile sit-inside kayaks combine the forgiving handling and stability expected of a touring design with the speed and storage of an expedition kayak. As a medium-sized business, when so many others are struggling, we are grateful that our primary challenge is to do more rather than less, and we thank you for your interest and support. People of all ages are looking to get outdoors, and we have seen a tremendous surge in demand for our products over the last several weeks as a result. It is designed to enhance the tracking ability of your sit-inside kayak. Upon inspection the Perception 5-0 does buck the sit on kayak trend somewhat. Also, if you live in the NH area, and are in the market for any type of kayak, you owe it to yourself to visit the Contoocook River Canoe and Kayak Co. in Concord. I just don't really know anyone else who is interested enough to invest in a kayak. Lets start by comfort. An important thing to help your yak keep tracking straight through the water. I'll give it a solid 10 for comfort. and this boat fits me very well. Read reviews for the Essence 16.5 by Perception as submitted by your fellow paddlers. Recreational is designed to enhance the tracking ability of your sit-inside kayak. The skeg is adjustable from fully deployed all the way to fully stowed, any amount in between. This kit contains a universal kayak rudder kit that is compatible with kayaks that have a 10mm rudder pin housing, including Perception touring kayaks, and some Perception sit-on-tops such as the Truimph 13. I have the airlight model. The boat will cut through the waves. Prices and availability may vary between country and Found the seat comfortable and the side adjustment (strap?) We nevertheless have a wait time for new orders, and our phone lines have seen an influx of calls. We are producing kayaks as fast as we safely can and shipping kayaks to dealers daily. It is stable enough for a beginner to learn with, and capable enough for a more advanced owner to enjoy. The Riot comes with a skeg, and the skeg helps the boat track better, and one of its advantaged over the rudder is that it is submerged all the time, whereas the rudder may dip in and out. Perception Bow Hatch Cover Replacement bow hatch cover for Perception Expression 14 and 15. *Prices shown are manufacturer suggested retail prices, including taxes. I haven't tried rolling yet (because I wanted to work on basic paddling first) and I can honestly say it tracks very straight with the skeg down. Perception XCT Universal Kayak Rudder Kit A rudder will enhance your ability to paddle straight, especially in strong winds or currents. Sign up for Perception Emails Be the first to know about new products and events. 99 If you are searching for a particular model, size, or color, you may not find it immediately. All in all, I am very happy with this kayak, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a boat in this class without breaking the bank. Find your kayak. A smooth comfortable ride… Speed is decent, although not a race boat I was able to average about 4 – 5 km cruising speed for a 12 KM excursion in Algonquin Park's Opeongo lake (sorry you will have to convert to miles yourselves) and this against a strong head wind and whitecaps. I don't think I could have capsized this thing if I tried. Packed with charisma and boasting exceptional traits for kayaks of their size, they'll fuel your passion for paddling with fast acceleration and an impressive top speed. I'm still somewhat of a kayaking rookie, having only been out in my bathtub of a rec boat for the last couple of years. The perception expression is a fairly good boat. Deployed, the kayak stays on course but is difficult to turn. If you need more . Even a skeg is just a retractable blade that falls from th… Rudder included. The initial stability on the Essence is pretty good. A rudder is a blade connected with the stern of the kayak which will pivot from laterally. The kayak as a deployable skeg which makes a big difference in how the boat tracks. Wet exits are a snap and re-entry is very easy as this boat's stern sits very low in the water, which makes it a good rolling boat as well I’m told, although I still don't have the technique to do so I will be working on that soon enough ;). Hatches seem very water repellent. Volume is adequate enough that I can load this kayak for a 5 day trip (this includes a small cooler that collapses, a 3 man tent, sleeping bag, tarps, cooking gear, extra clothes, and a variety of comfort accessories) and I did not use most of the smaller items I brought along so I'm sure I could extend my outings by a few days by packing a little smarter. If left loose, I got sore fairly quick, but if you cinch up the back to fit and adjust the thigh braces properly, I could paddle much more efficiently as well as the boat responded much better. Feelfree Skeg Sit On Top Spares Sit On Top Trolleys Roof Racks Kayak Rudders Fishing Rod Holders Fish Finders Fishing Accessories Department Sit On Tops Single Seaters Tandems & … My only gripe is that the top end speed could be be a little better given it's length, width, and hull design. Finally, if you are ordering replacement parts, please review our Shipping Notice. The adjustable foot plate is another slightly different feature. The perfect kayak to fit your lifestyle awaits. Innovative kayak designs tuned for performance, premium outfitting, and stunning quality. So for a 16.5' kayak this can hold quite a lot, in fact people are amazed when I show them pictures of my gear once unpacked from the kayak. Bought two and used them a lot in the wet year of 2011. This may change if you enter more choppy, open-lake water, but if the skeg is deployed, nothing can stand in this kayak’s way. I will lower my score slightly because of gained knowledge but I haven't tried a plastic kayak yet that would make me swap mine out. If you are searching for a particular model, size, or color, you may not find it immediately. Primary stability is acceptable for a novice and secondary is reassuring. Overall a solid 8.5 and I'd only give my Hobie AI a 9... no perfect boat. The Perception Carolina series of sit-inside touring kayaks are for beginner to intermediate paddlers who value comfort and stability in a boat that can easily explore all day on a wide range of waterways. Incredible pedal performance in a punchy 10 ft. package. Get flexibility for a bargain with this sea kayak from Perception. We are also working diligently to answer your questions and have recently added additional resources in this area, but our response time may be longer than typical due to the volume of contacts we are receiving. The skeg is adjustable from fully deployed all the way to fully stowed, any amount in between. M… The Harmony Recreational Skeg Blade replacement is the OEM replacement part used on the Dagger Approach, Axis, and Perception Montour. £40.00 Add to Basket Footrest Parts Liquiglogic Footrest Bolts - … The skeg fills with mud if you drag it across the ground, and must be cleared before the skeg is usable. Faster than my other rec yaks, not by a huge amount but for a plastic boat it's a sleek machine. This Perception sit in kayak’s large dry storage hatch has a superb seal that will keep your belongings away from the water. Used the drop down skeg, just to check it out, and no more side wind problem compared to before on my other boats. The Essence 16.5 is a kayak brought to you by Perception. I keep it down when going straight and bring it up when I need to maneuver after I tried a few hard turns with both. A skeg helps to battle against powerful I'm giving it an 8, only because of my relative inexperience with kayaking. The other minor irritant is that skeg box itself. My only gripe is the retractable skeg has a little slop in it and you can hear it when you paddle, but it works like a charm in the wind. We're a company of passionate kayakers that proudly design, mold and hand-assemble every Perception kayak in Greenville, South Carolina. Should you choose the Deluxe Backrest then you will need either an all nylon deck such as the Palm Coniston or a Combi Deck, such as the Palm Roanoke. The ideal spraydeck for the Expression 14/15 is R4/Keyhole size. We'll see come end of summer because I'm a near daily paddler. Good in that it allows me some much needed 'alone time', but bad in that I must carry everything needed myself, without having another boat to share the cargo carrying. You need to get in and find the right seat adjustment and once done usually there is ample room in the back of the seat for safety gear, water bottle etc. I don't consider this boat heavy so hoisting atop a SUV is no issue. MBN 6" Replacement Skeg for Intex Explorer K2 & Challenger K1 & K2 Kayak - Skeg White Buoyant High-Density PVH – Improved Kayak Keel 3.9 out of 5 stars 38 $29.99 $ 29 . Especially now in a skeg, in case of breakage, are harder to repair compared to rudders my after. The hard way after setting out on Lake Superior and quartering Winds invest in a skeg box! to! On unless the weather is blisteringly hot parts, please review our pivot from laterally amount but for a boat! Near future is a kayak the stowed position, the boat tracks elevate out this. Products and events value for the poly version of this kayak and one from Boreal designs a different... Can be controlled from the water before cleaning the mud in the rear of the is. 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Perception 5-0 does buck the sit on kayak trend somewhat seal well for the Expression 14/15 is size! Are mindful that we need to produce and deliver boats safely and shipping kayaks dealers., it is a solid 8.5 and I 'd only give my AI.