Underexposed? While we love the photos in our Stills gallery (page 12), we can’t fit all your awesome images in the magazine. Our Daily Photo page high- lights readers’ best bow shots, sunsets and kayak porn (like this one) at
www.rapidmedia.com/0313.
C BOAT TEST 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING. PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL M Digital Exclusive Read the digital edition of this issue on your
desktop or device to watch video previews of the new boats featured in Boat Test (page 66 and 68). We braved icy waters so you can get an in-depth look at the S14S—a hot pink, pocket rocket from Stellar surf skis—and Current Designs’ instant
THE EQUINOX GT By Current Designs
My least favorite memory of a Current Designs Solstice GT is an image of a lime green boat rested against my own, both rising and falling in a stomach-churning morning swell, its occu- pant spewing eggs Benedict across my lap. My fondest memory is of that same boat and paddler three days later, charging skilfully through a sea of whitecaps.
I’ve met perhaps more paddlers in Solstices than any other kayak. From the quiet passages of the Discovery Islands, to the inland shores of the Great Lakes and beyond to the rugged Maine Coast, the Solstice GT is ubiquitous wherever touring kayak- ers are found. First launched in 1984, its classic blend of stability, speed, reasonable maneuverabil- ity and gear-swallowing storage has made it one of the best-selling boats of all time. For the growing numbers of paddlers who venture out for only a
week or less, however, those ample hatches are often largely empty. Enter the Equinox GT. Noticing the trend to shorter trips—and shorter boats—Current Designs recognized an opportuni- ty. “We knew we had a winning hull and a winning design,” says vice president Bill Kueper, “so we just scaled it down.”
At nearly two feet shorter, the 16-foot Equinox GT has the same roomy 24-inch beam (a lower volume, 22-inch-wide GTS version offers a sportier fit), shallow-V hull and soft chines for rock-solid initial stability and smooth edging. In a family hailed for superb acceleration and glide, the Equinox’s shorter waterline actually makes for even greater efficiency at a comfort- ably sustained touring pace of three to four knots. Tracking with or without the rudder is excellent, adding to the effortless feel of open-water cruising.
Above the water, the sleek and practical deck layout will also look familiar to Solstice pad- dlers. Color-matched, flush-mount hatch covers, recessed deck fittings and reflective decklines round out Current Designs’ flawless composite layup. Our Kevlar Equinox felt lighter than its listed 47 pounds and its impeccable regatta blue finish attracted admiring glances from gas station attendants and fellow paddlers.
Larger boaters will find plenty of room in the keyhole cockpit for all-day comfort. Outfitting is classic West Coast influence, with a cushy padded seat, supportive backrest and high knee position. The rudder control lines are easy to reach and route below the back deck to prevent snags during rescues and transport.
Efficiently sized for today’s shorter trips, the Equinox GT rewards touring kayakers with the same user-friendly features that Solstice paddlers have been enjoying for three decades. In fact, the only real surprise is that it took Current Designs this long to build it. VIRGINIA MARSHALL
DIGITAL EXTRA: Watch a video review at
Rapidmedia.com/0xxx or check out the Apple or Android editions of Adventure Kayak. 68 | ADVENTURE KAYAK
classic, the Equinox.
www.rapidmedia.com/0314. Watch for this icon throughout this issue of
Adventure Kayak for bonus digital content. Y CM MY CY CMY K
The Line Reader response to our coverage of non-traditional and light touring kayaks in recent issues.
“You are on-target about what we aging paddlers are looking for—smaller, lighter boats.”
LOVIN' IT
“Shallow and too non-sea kayak. I definitively won't unsubscribe!”(Huh? —Ed.)
LIVID
FIND US:
editor@adventurekayakmag.com |
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www.twitter.com/advkayakmag www.adventurekayaktv.com
www.adventurekayakmag.com | 11
GAME CHANGER
NEW ULTRALIGHT WEIGHT REC PADDLE FROM H2O
28 oz | MSRP $119 POLYMER GLASS BLADE FIBERGLASS SHAFT
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PHOTO: LEE GILBERT
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