|
| Elan
Review |
| Reviewers |
| GL 5' 11",
165-pound male. Day trips and pool practice. Conditions from calm to winds of 30 knots
gusting to 40, waves 3 to 4 feet. |
| KC 5'7",140-pound
female. 13-mile day trip with 10- to 15-knot winds. |
| VK 5'7",120-pound
female. Day trips in winds from 8 to 12 knots, waves to 1 1/2 feet. |
| Our reviewers liked
the Elan`s "sleek appearance, nice upswept bow," (GL) and "elegant, clean
lines" (VK). The kayak has "a solid feel, hull and deck seam solidly
glassed" (GL). "The kayak is smooth and cleanly finished, inside and out"
(VK). |
| For a solo carry, the
boat balances at the front of the coaming, making it "slightly more awkward to pick
up and heft onto the shoulder," but, at 47 pounds, "the boat is light and
relatively easy to carry" (KC). At the ends of the kayak the carry toggles are
attached to 3/8"-thick stainless steel U-bolts that provide reliable points for
locking the boat. |
| Nylon padeyes
"anchor intelligently laid-out deck lines. On the foredeck is a paddle park and a
place for a chart case. A spare breakdown paddle can fit under the rear nylon deck
lines" (GL). On the foredeck a painter doubles as a perimeter grab line. Under the
foredeck there is the optional plastic stowage shelf and loops for a bilge pump. |
| The cockpit opening
was long enough for KC to get in seat first then feet, though not long enough for GL to
get into the boat that way without loosening the back band. The vertical space in the
cockpit is low to fit smaller paddlers. There wasn’t quite enough room for GL's size
10 shoes, although size 9 neoprene booties fit just fine. GL still had room enough to
change foot and knee positions easily, and KC had "plenty of leg room and was still
able to crank the boat into a hard lean using knee and thigh leverage." VK agreed
that the low deck results in really secure contact for bracing and boat control." |
| The seat supplied with
the test kayak was molded foam with fold-up hip supports. It was not fastened to the boat.
Our reviewers found it very comfortable, though it can slip out of position. The back band
is comfortable and "stays out of the way when you sit down" (KC). It "is a
great complement to the low aft deck for lay-back rolls and braces" (GL). |
| Thigh braces are molded
contours around the cockpit opening padded with 1/4" foam: "They allowed me to
grip the boat firmly and set it on edge to carve turns with a remarkable degree of
control" (KC). |
| The Keepers footbraces
are "very solid" (GL). VK could adjust them with her feet, while GL and KC found
it was difficult to adjust them while afloat. |
| On the water the
initial stability was "moderate, despite the narrow hull" (GL). Secondary
stability was rated very good: it "hangs forever. I can lean way over and still feel
secure" (KC). |
| The Elan "responds
beautifully to leans and sweep strokes. It carves turns beautifully" (KC).
"Edging to make minor adjustments was effortless. More serious leans resulted in
quick, responsive turns" (VK). |
| "For a boat that
turns so well," wrote GL, "tracking was remarkable in all directions of wind and
waves." "The Elan has neither rudder nor skeg and does not need either. It
tracks extremely well" (VK). |
| KC felt no
weathercocking in a 10-knot wind, and a 15-knot wind required only minor corrections. For
VK, paddling in a 12-knot wind, the Elan "stayed dead on course or required only
minor stroke adjustments or leans." GL noted a "slight tendency for the bow to
fall to the leeward in a crosswind. In 30-knot winds turning upwind took a little
effort-usually several sweep strokes accompanied by leans. Overall, the low profile cut
right through the wind, making it a joy for the advanced paddler in storm
conditions." |
| "The peaked
foredeck shed water very well and the bow rides over rather than into the waves, making
for a dry ride" (VK). KC noted that the bow "slaps when paddling out in large
surf or upwind with a load in chop." |
| The reviewers thought
the Elan is a "fast boat. It accelerates well and holds its speed" (KC).
"The ease of tracking, quick acceleration and good fit all contribute" to the
Elan's speed (GL). On wind waves GL and KC found that the Elan accelerated well to catch
waves and demonstrated little tendency to broach: "It maintains direction well with
only an occasional correcting stroke" (GL). Surfing a shore break, GL and KC found
the Elan was easy to get into position to catch waves, accelerated well and tracked well
down the wave. GL "loved this kayak for surfing." When broached it was easy for
him to control the Elan "with a little lean and brace |
| The Elan rolls easily.
"The low back deck allows the paddler to lean back fully when completing a sweep
roll. The snug fit is an asset to control while rolling" (KC). In the pool, GL had no
trouble executing a paddle float reentry, and reported that "reentry and roll was not
difficult." |
| The Elan has room
enough for a week’s worth of gear for the careful packer. The model tested had no
hatches or bulkheads. All loading was done through the cockpit. Flotation was provided by
float bags and/or drybags. "With a 60-pound load aboard, the kayak handled
beautifully," wrote GL. "It felt more stable, tracked perfectly, turned on a
dime, felt only a little slower and didn't ride too low in the water." With 50 pounds
aboard, KC agreed the stability and turning ability were still "very
impressive." |
| The Elan "is a
sporty kayak suited for the action-oriented smaller paddler and medium-sized paddler if
his or her shoes fit. It can handle high winds and rough water and makes you feel the
kayak is an extension of yourself" (GL). The Elan is well suited for "the
experienced smaller paddler who wants excellent speed, tracking, steering and overall
performance" (KC). "Scaled to the needs of the smaller paddler, the Elan is a
joy to paddle. Novice paddlers will find that the Elan rewards and encourages their
advancing skills. A sporty, highly maneuverable and fun boat" (VK). |
| Design Response |
| Thanks to the testers
for their thoroughness. We’re especially pleased that you tried the Elan in extreme
winds, rough seas and surf -- conditions we design for but which shoppers don’t often
get to experience before they buy. |
| The testers were all
bigger than the "short paddler" niche the Elan targets. GL especially would
better fit our 1" deeper Express. It has the same hull and handling characteristics
but fits size 12 feet, holds more gear, and has even more secondary stability. The 2"
deeper Express EX can accommodate size 14 feet and holds a huge gear load. |
| Numerous seat
options are available. Two bolt in place. Another is a seat/footbrace unit that can be
instantly moved to best trim the kayak for different conditions. The loose foam seat
(tested) saves weight and still allows some trimming capability. The Elan has a good
sensitivity to trimming, so paddlers need to remember that if they move the seat for some
reason, perhaps to make entry easier, they are affecting performance as well. In fact, our
demo boat had the backrest adjusted aft of trim to help us cram our own six foot frames
into it and we forgot to readjust it to level trim for the testers. A stern heavy trim
like this can reduce top speed, contribute to slapping in head seas, cause lee helm (in a
windage balanced kayak), and makes it harder to turn into strong winds. For perspective:
turning into a sustained 30 knot wind is almost impossible in many sea kayaks and none
make it effortless. |
| Moving the seat back
is most helpful for running downwind or balancing a bow heavy load. Some who prefer the
foam seat fixed more firmly in place have used Velcro patches, but this makes trimming
difficult at sea. Strips of "non-skid" glued to the hull under the seat might be
a better solution. Thanks for making us think about this -- we’ll evaluate it. |
| Though small, the
Elan is big on performance. Its excellent surfing ability, seakindly handling in extreme
conditions, raked ends that slide easily over kelp in either direction, and a surprising
gear capacity make the Elan a true coastal touring kayak, every bit as capable as our
other kayaks designed for the open coast, the Coaster, Express, Max, and Mariner II. |
Matt and Cam Broze |
| Options and pricing: (Note: the words below in lightweight italics were edited out from the
information we provided to the magazine.) |
| Designed: In
production since 1997. |
| Standard
Lay-up: Vacuum-bagged woven and biaxial rovings with reinforcements bonded with
vinylester/polyester co-resin. Deck and hull joined with fiberglass outside seams, as
well as tapered thickness inside seams to reduce stress risers. Huge color
choice. |
| Other
Lay-ups: Lightweight, heavy duty (Expedition), and Icebreaker in fiberglass or
exotic materials (Kevlar™ , graphite, or hybrid fabric). |
| Standard
Features: 3/8" stainless U-bolts embedded in each end (lockable
security), toggled T-grab loops, chart holders, paddle park, bow towline/painter/grab
line, rear deck storage/self rescue/grab lines, spare paddle holder, stern
towline/painter/grab line, tethered 4" bow access port, foam seat or fiberglass
"hung" seat in two widths, adjustable backrest, adjustable footbraces, padded
knee/thigh braces, detailed manuals. |
| Options:
Instantly adjustable sliding seat/footbrace unit, 17"x13" double-sealed stern
hatch, fiberglass bulkhead, underdeck chart pocket with hand pump holder, choose from
several functional deck line arrangements, and Feathercraft rudder system. |
| Approximate
weight: Standard lay-up with: foam seat 44 lb., hung seat, 45 lb., sliding seat
50 lb. Custom lay-ups 33 to 65 lb. |
| Price:
$2345 [in 2007 is $2695] |
| Availability:
Only available directly from Mariner Kayaks. Limited production, allow four to eight
weeks. |
Manufacturers
Address: [ in 2007 is: Mariner Kayaks, P.O. Box 65011, Shoreline,
WA 98155-9011 (206)367-2831
Website: www.marinerkayaks.com
e-mail: marinerkayaks@msn.com] |
| |
| FYI: Below is our first draft
of the Elan Design Statement (before we had to edit it down to 200 words): |
| The Elan is the third kayak
in our Express series. It is lower and narrower than the
others to provide shorter adults an excellent
fit in a sea kayak that even the most expert among them can love. The cockpit is lower and
was further recessed in back to allow those with shorter torsos more elbow clearance and
easier Eskimo rolls. Because smaller paddlers are inherently more stable they can
enjoy the efficiency of a narrow hull without feeling tippy. Wide kayaks are difficult for
small folks to tilt when that is desirable (such as to turn quicker) or necessary (when
sideways to breaking seas). Unfortunately, most narrow kayaks are just too long and stiff
tracking for smaller paddlers to handle in strong winds. Quicker turning is a big
advantage in wind as well as in tight places. The Elan is sporty and maneuverable at lower
speeds and with light loads. However it was designed to automatically increase tracking
stiffness when that is desireable (when speed or gear weight is increased). |
| A smaller lighter paddler is more easily
blown about by the wind The lighter paddler also floats higher exposing more of their
kayak to the wind. A shorter narrower kayak like the Elan will sit deeper in the water.
This cuts windage and the greater draft also reduces sideways drift. Its low profile
further cuts windage. The Elan is long and narrow enough (and was given a high enough
prismatic coefficient) to be fast in a sprint. At the same time it puts such a small
fooprint on the water that frictional drag at cruising speeds is especially low. This is
an ideal combination for a smaller less powerful paddler. A kayak that "fits" a
smaller paddler in these important ways means its paddler doesn’t need to be as
strong as a bigger paddler to maintain the same speed (or turn in the same wind). Being
smaller and lighter the Elan is easier to handle on land as well. |
| The Elan’s low cockpit, built in
thigh braces, and some elbow room provide a smaller paddler a level of control rarely
experienced by someone who normally rattles around in the cockpit. Like all Mariner Kayaks
the Elan has: a comfortable, soft, dry ride and a secure neutrality in rough seas.
Weathercocking and broaching are minimal. This along with a nimble responsiveness to the
paddle and crisp carved turns that are precisely controlled by leaning, means a rudder is
just unnecessary clutter: Its excellent surfing ability, raked ends that easily slide over
kelp in either direction, neutral handling in wind and waves, and crisp control without a
vulnerable rudder make the Elan a true ocean coast kayak like its larger relatives. |
