journal k ayaker’s “I CAN GO ANYWAY, ANYHOW,
ANYWHERE I CHOOSE.” PHOTOS: VINCE PAQUOT
PAKBOATS QUEST 135
Length .................13 ft 8 in Width ...................23 in Weight .................29 lbs Price .....................$1,515
www.pakboats.com
[1]
[2] INSIDE OUT BY VIRGINIA MARSHALL Quest 135 The
Alv Elvestad knows a thing or two about portable boats. The Norwegian-born founder of Pakboats was introduced to fold-
By Pakboats Reflecting the same usability versus complexity trade-off that ex-
[3]
ing canoes on the remote rivers of Lappland in the late seventies. After a decade in the distribution business, he started tinkering on his own de- sign and sold the first PakCanoe in 1995. Since then, recreational and touring kayaks have followed as Elvestad and his small, New Hamp- shire-based team continue to refine Pakboats’ design and construction. The Quest series is the next step in that evolution. Elvestad looked
at the company’s existing line of XT touring kayaks and realized the somewhat cumbersome frame structure was overkill for a compact solo kayak. He identified three critical traits for this next generation: shorter, simpler and lighter. Both the Quest 135 and 155—a longer, slightly beamier version
for more extended touring—feature Pakboats’ clever hybrid folding/ inflatable construction. The 135 shaves 13 pounds off the lightest XT kayak, and packs into a duffle that’s very manageably sized for tossing in your trunk or checking as airline baggage. Assembled, it’s a breeze to solo carry or car-top, and feels as light and nimble on the water as it does off. Paddling in moderate wind chop, the hull feels stiff and both ac-
celeration and cruising speed are pleasantly quick for a sub-14-foot boat. Even without a rudder or skeg, the Quest tracks well thanks to minimal rocker and low decks that reduce windage. The Quest’s lightweight deck attaches to the hull with full-length
Velcro strips and can be peeled back from either end to access stor- age areas. Abrasion-resistant end caps with built-in carry handles and wrap-overs with integrated deck bungees fore and aft of the cockpit complete the seal. Although we stayed dry in splashing waves, we did find some water crept in when this seal was immersed; for example, when edging deeply for leaned turns or braces.
40 ADVENTURE KAYAK | SUMMER/FALL 2013
plains why some fixie riders forgo brakes on their bikes, standard outfitting on the Quest doesn’t include foot pegs or thigh braces. If you want to perform maneuvers that require a large degree of edging, such as rolling, you’ll need to install Pakboats’ optional backpack-style thigh straps. SmartTrack foot braces are also available, and we recom- mend these to all paddlers to improve efficiency and fit. Capable, affordable and supremely portable, the Quest 135 shines
as a travel kayak for mellow journeys in faraway places. SUPPORT REPORT [1]
Pakboats’ sling seat is comfortable and supportive with an inflat- able thigh riser, but its high placement on the frame makes the boat feel very unstable. Removing it and putting a Therm-a-Rest inflatable seat directly on the hull transformed our Quest from wild animal to well-behaved pet. Elvestad says he’s aware of the problem and is looking into ways of lowering the seat.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS [2]
The aluminum frame assembles like a tent: shock-corded poles clip together and slide into sleeves in the heavy-duty polyure- thane fabric to form the crisp lines of a multi-chine V hull. Inflat- able tubes along the chines enhance stability, tension the skin and allow the boat to float upright when flooded.
THAT’S A WRAP [3]
Using Velcro and clever wrap-overs, the Quest’s peel-and-stick deck eliminates the weight and complexity of hatches while pro- viding convenient access.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video review.
INSET PHOTOS: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
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