Create a New Forum Owner Login Contribute & Create Your Member account VoyUser Login (see contribute) VoyForums Directory/Categories No-ads: Completely remove ads from your forum VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News Help Desk VoyForums Exchange FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions Search VoyForums

[ VoyUser Login optional ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3 ]

Subject: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Rmplstlskn [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 19:43:30 10/21/02 Mon I rented a white Carbonlite 2000 Eddyline NightHawk 17.5 for 4 hours this past weekend. We paddled a calm Tampa Bay with mild gusts of wind so I will be unable to comment on rough water handling. I am 6'-1" at 290# and a 48" waist. I also do mountain biking so I have large thighs. These are ALWAYS the problem with fitting in a cockpit kayak moreso than my hips. I am a big dude... The NH175 was an absolute dream to get in and out of!!! A paddle brace at rear of coaming was very comfortable and secure. A very easy entrance and exit. Unlike the NH16 which has a "keyhole" type thigh braces, the NH175 does not have a keyhole shape. The cockpit doesn't look like it has braces until you look under the coaming, where they curve up under the deck to the side. I found with my big thighs I was UNABLE to get my knees and lower thighs up under the lip without discomfort and having my legs spread to wide. I spent my whole four hours out of the braces with the sharp edge of the braces digging into my thighs. The braces are NOT removeable. It was bearable (as the rest of the boat was a dream) but not for much longer than four hours. That was a major bummer for me as I had hoped the NH175 was to be my next kayak up from my Captiva. The seat was comfortable for only hard plastic, no foam. I have been told the new models have some padding at hips and backrest. The seat was adjustable UP as well. I found it very comfortable in the HIGHEST position for calm waters. Rougher seas would require a lower position I think. I also found that the edge of the seat support dug into my hips uncomfortably after a couple hours. Other than these issues, the NH175 was a JOY!!! It was fast for a wide-beam kayak, responsive and very stable in initial and secondary. It carried my weight very well. Tracking was above average and rock-solid with skeg down. The Cardonlite 2000 material is awesome!!! It is as smooth as glass but abuse resistant like plastic. I was very impressed! The bottom is a mild "V" and held its shape without any additional bar supports needed. A light female of 115# did sit on the front deck forward the hatch and the material did begin to buckle and dent inwards. It came back out when she stood without any damage but I question the NH175's decks ability to hold a large paddler during a water re-entry. (I didn't try it...) The deck lines are anchored by small cross-shaped plastic fittings. They are NOT STRONG as I was able to flex them without much pulling effort. I wouldn't trust them during a serious rescue or re-entry. The cargo hatches are also not recessed into the hull. The front cover is exposed directly to all wave forces that may shoot across the deck. They snap on tight but I don't like such an exposed position. I rate this kayak an "8" due to eventual comfort issues for a guy my size. A standard-thigh 250#'er would probably LOVE THIS boat. I also plan on demo'ing a Necky Pinta and Tesla in November. I'll let you know how it goes... Robert [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Nighthawk175 [Edit] Date Posted: 15:14:42 10/22/02 Tue I'm really not sure how that boat could have been snug at the thighs...you mentioned the seat adjusts up/down. I suspect that is the issue. With a 36" inseam I have several inches above my thighs with the pegs on the last notch. I have to very consciously raise up into a brace position. I would strongly recommend if you can to try this boat again but from a different dealer. It sounds a lot like one of the little sales guys did the setup on it. I'm going to be putting in knee braces in mine and I'm going to have to use 3" blocks of minicell to do it. I'm 270 and don't have tiny legs at all, 40" waist with a lot more than that hanging over it these days. I truly suspect some sort of bad rigging was done to that poor 17.5. My father at 6'8" and 350 can fit in my cockpit. >I rented a white Carbonlite 2000 Eddyline NightHawk >17.5 for 4 hours this past weekend. We paddled a calm >Tampa Bay with mild gusts of wind so I will be unable >to comment on rough water handling. > >I am 6'-1" at 290# and a 48" waist. I also do mountain >biking so I have large thighs. These are ALWAYS the >problem with fitting in a cockpit kayak moreso than my >hips. I am a big dude... > >The NH175 was an absolute dream to get in and out >of!!! A paddle brace at rear of coaming was very >comfortable and secure. A very easy entrance and exit. > >Unlike the NH16 which has a "keyhole" type thigh >braces, the NH175 does not have a keyhole shape. The >cockpit doesn't look like it has braces until you look >under the coaming, where they curve up under the deck >to the side. > >I found with my big thighs I was UNABLE to get my >knees and lower thighs up under the lip without >discomfort and having my legs spread to wide. I spent >my whole four hours out of the braces with the sharp >edge of the braces digging into my thighs. The braces >are NOT removeable. It was bearable (as the rest of >the boat was a dream) but not for much longer than >four hours. That was a major bummer for me as I had >hoped the NH175 was to be my next kayak up from my >Captiva. > >The seat was comfortable for only hard plastic, no >foam. I have been told the new models have some >padding at hips and backrest. The seat was adjustable >UP as well. I found it very comfortable in the HIGHEST >position for calm waters. Rougher seas would require a >lower position I think. I also found that the edge of >the seat support dug into my hips uncomfortably after >a couple hours. > >Other than these issues, the NH175 was a JOY!!! It was >fast for a wide-beam kayak, responsive and very stable >in initial and secondary. It carried my weight very >well. Tracking was above average and rock-solid with >skeg down. > >The Cardonlite 2000 material is awesome!!! It is as >smooth as glass but abuse resistant like plastic. I >was very impressed! The bottom is a mild "V" and held >its shape without any additional bar supports needed. >A light female of 115# did sit on the front deck >forward the hatch and the material did begin to buckle >and dent inwards. It came back out when she stood >without any damage but I question the NH175's decks >ability to hold a large paddler during a water >re-entry. (I didn't try it...) > >The deck lines are anchored by small cross-shaped >plastic fittings. They are NOT STRONG as I was able to >flex them without much pulling effort. I wouldn't >trust them during a serious rescue or re-entry. > >The cargo hatches are also not recessed into the hull. >The front cover is exposed directly to all wave forces >that may shoot across the deck. They snap on tight but >I don't like such an exposed position. > >I rate this kayak an "8" due to eventual comfort >issues for a guy my size. A standard-thigh 250#'er >would probably LOVE THIS boat. > >I also plan on demo'ing a Necky Pinta and Tesla in >November. I'll let you know how it goes... > >Robert

[> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Rmplstlskn [Edit] Date Posted: 17:07:09 10/22/02 Tue >I'm really not sure how that boat could have been snug >at the thighs...you mentioned the seat adjusts >up/down. I suspect that is the issue. Only the seat BACK raised up or down... I should have been more clear. As for the thigh/brace issue: The NH175 I was in had a traditional egg shape cockpit. It is hard to describe, but the forward section of the cockpit coaming on both left and right, the coaming carbonlite plunges straight down several inches. It then ends with an edge where the carbonlite then arcs back up towards the side of the deck where the hull joins the deck. It has a pad here and is arched for a brace. My problem is that I must have a big a$$ as well as big thighs and there is no way I can squeeze my thighs "comfortably" under that edge into the arched brace. My thighs seem too far forward. I am fully back in the seat but the braces are just too far back. It would work if the braces were 3~4 inches more forward. Like I said, I am a hard fellow to fit... I resemble more of a linebacker where my WHOLE body is big, including a big butt. This butt moves me forward in the seat moreso than maybe someone who just has a big chest and/or belly but a smaller waist and lower body. This is probably why the "cup holder" on my Perception Captiva is lost somewhere under me. There is NO WAY I can use the cup holder... it is gone when I sit down, under my boys somewhere. Anyways... I really wished the NH175 fit me better. I will look at one again to see if anything was funky on my rental compared to a new one for sale... Robert

[> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Nighthawk175 [Edit] Date Posted: 00:11:10 10/24/02 Thu Oh o.k. I think I got you a bit more clearly. Yeah the underside of the coaming is sharp. Sharp enough that more than once in the rain moving the boat around I could have sworn I cut my hand. The stock pads underneath are pretty thin and don't cover a big area, they do happen to catch my knees just right but I can imagine if they didn't land properly it would be well more than uncomfortable. Fwiw, after about 100 miles or so in the boat the left pad is starting to peel back. That's part of my motivation to more permanently outfit with my own foam braces. Bottom line is though if it doesn't fit, don't buy it. I wound up in my Nighthawk by way of a boat that I should have admitted to myself didn't fit. I bet the Pinta fits ;-) if that one doesn't you can start getting nervous. >>I'm really not sure how that boat could have been snug >>at the thighs...you mentioned the seat adjusts >>up/down. I suspect that is the issue. > >Only the seat BACK raised up or down... I should have >been more clear. > >As for the thigh/brace issue: The NH175 I was in had a >traditional egg shape cockpit. It is hard to describe, >but the forward section of the cockpit coaming on both >left and right, the coaming carbonlite plunges >straight down several inches. It then ends with an >edge where the carbonlite then arcs back up towards >the side of the deck where the hull joins the deck. It >has a pad here and is arched for a brace. My problem >is that I must have a big a$$ as well as big thighs >and there is no way I can squeeze my thighs >"comfortably" under that edge into the arched brace. >My thighs seem too far forward. I am fully back in the >seat but the braces are just too far back. It would >work if the braces were 3~4 inches more forward. > >Like I said, I am a hard fellow to fit... > >I resemble more of a linebacker where my WHOLE body is >big, including a big butt. This butt moves me forward >in the seat moreso than maybe someone who just has a >big chest and/or belly but a smaller waist and lower >body. This is probably why the "cup holder" on my >Perception Captiva is lost somewhere under me. There >is NO WAY I can use the cup holder... it is gone when >I sit down, under my boys somewhere. > >Anyways... I really wished the NH175 fit me better. I >will look at one again to see if anything was funky on >my rental compared to a new one for sale... > >Robert

[> Subject: Re: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Lawrence D Burns [Edit] Date Posted: 07:14:08 01/18/03 Sat Would you mind telling me where in Tampa area you rented the Eddyline NightHawk? I'll be in area in June and would like to try it for fit. Last week my wife bought an Impex Mystic at Clearwater Kayaks, and I knew better that try to sit in it! Larry >I rented a white Carbonlite 2000 Eddyline NightHawk >17.5 for 4 hours this past weekend. We paddled a calm >Tampa Bay with mild gusts of wind so I will be unable >to comment on rough water handling. > >I am 6'-1" at 290# and a 48" waist. I also do mountain >biking so I have large thighs. These are ALWAYS the >problem with fitting in a cockpit kayak moreso than my >hips. I am a big dude... > >The NH175 was an absolute dream to get in and out >of!!! A paddle brace at rear of coaming was very >comfortable and secure. A very easy entrance and exit. > >Unlike the NH16 which has a "keyhole" type thigh >braces, the NH175 does not have a keyhole shape. The >cockpit doesn't look like it has braces until you look >under the coaming, where they curve up under the deck >to the side. > >I found with my big thighs I was UNABLE to get my >knees and lower thighs up under the lip without >discomfort and having my legs spread to wide. I spent >my whole four hours out of the braces with the sharp >edge of the braces digging into my thighs. The braces >are NOT removeable. It was bearable (as the rest of >the boat was a dream) but not for much longer than >four hours. That was a major bummer for me as I had >hoped the NH175 was to be my next kayak up from my >Captiva. > >The seat was comfortable for only hard plastic, no >foam. I have been told the new models have some >padding at hips and backrest. The seat was adjustable >UP as well. I found it very comfortable in the HIGHEST >position for calm waters. Rougher seas would require a >lower position I think. I also found that the edge of >the seat support dug into my hips uncomfortably after >a couple hours. > >Other than these issues, the NH175 was a JOY!!! It was >fast for a wide-beam kayak, responsive and very stable >in initial and secondary. It carried my weight very >well. Tracking was above average and rock-solid with >skeg down. > >The Cardonlite 2000 material is awesome!!! It is as >smooth as glass but abuse resistant like plastic. I >was very impressed! The bottom is a mild "V" and held >its shape without any additional bar supports needed. >A light female of 115# did sit on the front deck >forward the hatch and the material did begin to buckle >and dent inwards. It came back out when she stood >without any damage but I question the NH175's decks >ability to hold a large paddler during a water >re-entry. (I didn't try it...) > >The deck lines are anchored by small cross-shaped >plastic fittings. They are NOT STRONG as I was able to >flex them without much pulling effort. I wouldn't >trust them during a serious rescue or re-entry. > >The cargo hatches are also not recessed into the hull. >The front cover is exposed directly to all wave forces >that may shoot across the deck. They snap on tight but >I don't like such an exposed position. > >I rate this kayak an "8" due to eventual comfort >issues for a guy my size. A standard-thigh 250#'er >would probably LOVE THIS boat. > >I also plan on demo'ing a Necky Pinta and Tesla in >November. I'll let you know how it goes... > >Robert

[> Subject: Re: Eddyline Nighthawk 17.5 opinions (after 4 hours) Author: Dan [Edit] Date Posted: 19:47:07 01/22/03 Wed I don't know where he rented it from, but you could try Sweetwater Kayaks ( http://www.sweetwaterkayaks.com/ ) in St Petersburg. They have a rental fleet, and will also let you try models on sale right behind the store. They will also drop-ship anywhere! I found them to be very helpful. Dan >I rented a white Carbonlite 2000 Eddyline NightHawk >17.5 for 4 hours this past weekend. We paddled a calm >Tampa Bay with mild gusts of wind so I will be unable >to comment on rough water handling. >