journal k ayaker’s


Taking advantage of good engineering. PHOTO: TORY BOWMAN


INSIDE OUT BY TIM SHUFF


S16 Advantage L


The BY STELLAR KAYAKS


aunched in 2008, Stellar Kayaks is a true child of globalization, harnessing North


American and European engineering, Asian manufacturing and the efficiencies of world- wide distribution. The S16 Advantage blends the best of these worlds, offering outstanding value and exceptionally light weight in a capa- ble, all-around day tripper and tourer. The S16’s hull shape is classic, reminiscent


of early West Coast designs—soft chines and a shallow-arch bottom. The streamlined shape stems from the designers’ background in the rowing industry crafting shells for WinTech Racing. Stellar applied sophisticated computer design to the problem of efficiency, stating, “When it comes to speed we strive to get as close to a cylindrical hull cross-section as we can, while still being able to keep the boat upright.” A rounded cross-section produces less wetted surface area with less drag than a comparable hard-chined kayak. Evolution en- dowed the same common sense hydrodynam- ics to whales and sea lions. The end result is a kind of computer-engi-


neered perfection, the optimization of a tour- ing kayak’s various competing requirements— speed, efficiency,


stability, carrying capacity,


durability, weight and price—in a utilitarian package. The S16’s looks lack some of the per- sonality of more whimsically fashioned kayaks, but it’s hard to argue with a formula that works. The S16’s initial stability hits the sweet spot,


lively in rough water and easy to edge without feeling twitchy. High volume above the water-


34 ADVENTURE KAYAK | EARLY SUMMER 2011


line provides a reassuring zone of secondary stability and contributes to excellent storage capacity and dry decks. Turning is a breeze— four sweeps to turn 90 degrees on an even keel; just a couple when edging. Tracking is moder- ate and the rudder helps with any issues there. Some features of the S16 feel bare bones—


simple bolted-on grab handles, absent day hatch, thinly padded thigh braces under the spare coaming of the oval cockpit (I’d prefer a keyhole shape with more surface to grip the thighs). But the deck is clean and neatly fin- ished with recessed fittings and drain chan- nels around the hatches. The most distinctive element is also characteristically functional: cutaways near the knees for paddle clearance during high-angle strokes. Where the S16 shines brightest is its highly


engineered composite construction. Stellar of- fers four layups priced $1,845 to $4,310 US. Our Advantage, though only the second-tier, is an impressively stiff and svelte 37 pounds and priced well below many comparable, much heavier, competitors. Between layers of fiber- glass, Stellar sandwiches a core material called Soric, a polyester membrane also used in fight- er jets and wind turbines that adds thickness and strength without the weight of additional glass layers. Priced to rival plastic, the Advantage offers


a stunning value for such a lightweight layup. This feature alone should put it high on the list for anyone looking at a 16-foot, all-around touring kayak in the $2,000 range.


SPACIOUS AND SPACE-AGE Stellar hatch covers are domed to shed water and snap on and off with ease.


EASY DROP RUDDER We love how easy it is to deploy and retract the drop-down Kajak Sport KS- Navigator rudder.


FANCY FOOTWORK Two-piece pedals with rudder control on the upper half allow steering finesse, power and a stable foot platform—a plus in rough conditions and for rolling.


length ............................16 ft width ..............................22 in weight ............................37 lbs capacity ........................350 lbs price ...............................$2,330 US/CDN www.stellarkayaksusa.com


PHOTOS: TIM SHUFF


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