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Review Detail
Overall rating
4.8
Design
5.0
Perfomance
5.0
Quality
4.0
Value / Money
5.0
I just purchesed a set of 4WFS for the Kauak, I currentlu have the disks in place that came with the boat with no fins, I recomend this to keep sand and grit out of the screw holes. SO when you buy a set of fins get a extra set of disks so you just switch out disks. I aklso recomend hetter 2 5 degree fin disks for the front and 0 degree for the back, this balances out speed and carve nicely. I got a find for a surf trip I am taking in a little while. I will use the fins but will most likely paddle it withough on all except for the biggest days!
Last thought, As a Board and Kayak Surfer, I hate it when Playboats come out into the surf because play boats don't have the speed or carve needed to stay in the right place on an ocean wave so eventually the play boat gets stuck in the soup. I dig it when surf boats are out because they really surf but I hate to say it but surf boats are limited in their ability to pull the modern Play boat moves. The Element solves this problem, it has the speed and carve and can keep thing interesting and dynamic on the wave, so If you are a Play boater in the ocean surf, it is time to get an element, show off your moves and build better relationships with our board surf brotherin!
I hope this helped,
Marcel!
Review
Affiliated
No
About Me
I am 5'10 and 220 LBS so out of the recommended weight range for this boat, I have owned and Element since the fall of 2008 and have exclusively used it on river waves as I donot live near the Ocean. I actually really love this kayak and am planning on getting a second one here pretty soon. I am an ACA instructor and have been paddling for about 14 years. The Test Area for this boat has mostly been at the Pueblo play park and some other Parks areound the southwest! I have to say that this boat has re-sparked some of my passion for kayaking that was lost when boats lost their ability to truly surf. That being said SURF is exactly what this boat is for-Not holes, Not Creeking, Not Holes, so if you love to surf, cutback, grind float and even get covered from time to time, or if you are a river boater not a Ocean guy and can add an extra boat to your quiver then this is the boat for you!
Pros / The Good
So I have not found any issues with the fit of this boat. The seat moves forwad fairly easitly, but as others have mentioned you do need to pull and cut the pilar to move the seat far forward which I did, but not a big deal as it keeps the pilar really solid. The boat does not have any initial stability until it gets up to hull speed on a wave, then it is rock solid. Speed and hard carving are unbelievable in the kayak. So it shines on waves where regular play boats can do notthing but strait surf. The other amazing thing is that this boat is super loose, spins on super glassy slow waves are effortless. I have apddled many play boats and none compare to how loose this kayak is. The place where the Element really shines is in its carve, once you get it dialed you can actuall cross a wave in a hard car nearlly 90 degrees to the current, hit the shoulder, cut back hard and carve back across the wave 90 degrees to the current, if your timming is right and the wave lets you you can actually get covered up by the wave breaking from your first carve. I also found that this boat blunts just fine and can initiate airial moves from a back surf verey well but you loose hull speed greatly when back surfing. Also I know some folks have had an issue with this boat catching waves or plaining out but I have not found this to be an issue at all, even with my weight. Last on the flat water the boat actually cartwheels and loops fine, I have an IR overthruster on this boat and can slam out loops with no problem, in a hole or on the flat water so although surf specific it still can hang with the Play boats a little!
Cons / The Bad
The only issues I have had with the boat is the foot block, I like foam over inflatable foot blocks so I just customized mine to mimik a Dagger Foot block which has now made the boat super comfy for me. I have big thighs and am still paddle this boat for 8-9 hours a day some times with little break and have been fine in it. Also when I first had this boat out it leacked like crazy, I finally figured out that the drain plug had never beed sealed. so I had to pull it off and seal it, since then it has not been and issue and the boat is really dry. Last is that this boat, being surf specific does not bounce off the stern, with no rocker back there you gain lots of speed but loose bounce, so forget about typicel arial moves off the stern, but personally I will take the speed over the bounce. The ratchets are on the floor which is a lttle harder to get to but I have yet to have an issue with them binding or rusting, but then again I have not been in Salt H2O with the boat yet
Recommend
Yes
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