BOAT TEST
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 occupant 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 kayakers are found.
First launched in 1984, its classic blend of stability, speed, reasonable maneuverability 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 opportunity. “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 vol- ume, 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 comfortably sustained touring pace of three to four knots. Tracking with or without the rudder is excellent, adding to the effort- less feel of open-water cruising.
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video preview. 68 | ADVENTURE KAYAK
Above the water, the sleek and practical deck layout will also look familiar to Solstice paddlers. Color-matched, flush-mount hatch covers, recessed deck fittings and reflective decklines round out Cur- rent 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 Equi- nox 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
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