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Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Nighthawk175 [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 20:56:16 06/11/04 Fri In reply to: Nick M. 's message, "Re: Eddyline Merlin XT" on 22:54:53 05/25/04 Tue >Having been a former owner of a Merlin XT, I can tell >you this kayak is VERY hard to keep upright. It's not that hard to keep upright, however it is a lively hull. All you have to understand is the stages of it's stability. It will 'rest' on the edge a bit all day long. Being a performance oriented 'V' hull of course it doesn't like to sit straight up...just slip it to the side a bit and you're golden. This boat is designed and marketed as a play boat. It's made to be poking around in surf zones and rock gardens, places with turbulent water that demand a maneuverable hull. >The Eddyline kayaks look sleek and >have many great features, just none I was willing to >live with. Sold mine for what I paid for it, over a >year later. The Merlin XT is made for smaller >paddlers, I'd say up to 5'9" and around 170 pounds >tops. Absolute bunk, I'm 6'7" 37" inseam, size 14 feet, 270lbs The 'new' cockpit with the keyhole design is a bit snug, but the old style open cockpit is just huge and fit isn't an issue there. You had a boat beyond your ability and things didn't work out, that's fine. Not every boat is for every paddler. There wasn't any problem with the boat though. I do agree that they shouldn't try to imply the Carbonlite is light, it isn't, but it's TOUGH and it holds its appearance extremely well with little care. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Nick M [Edit] Date Posted: 07:32:45 06/14/04 Mon >>Having been a former owner of a Merlin XT, I can tell >>you this kayak is VERY hard to keep upright. > >It's not that hard to keep upright, however it is a >lively hull. All you have to understand is the stages >of it's stability. What I understood was that it was a pain in the ass to paddle and I was trying to save the person inquiring about it some grief in buying this kayak that he wouldn't be happy with. > >This boat is designed and marketed as a play boat. >It's made to be poking around in surf zones and rock >gardens, places with turbulent water that demand a >maneuverable hull. In any kind of waves you'd be over in a heartbeat! > >>The Eddyline kayaks look sleek and >>have many great features, just none I was willing to >>live with. Sold mine for what I paid for it, over a >>year later. The Merlin XT is made for smaller paddlers. > >Absolute bunk, I'm 6'7" 37" inseam, size 14 feet, >270lbs The 'new' cockpit with the keyhole design is a >bit snug, but the old style open cockpit is just huge >and fit isn't an issue there. If you are that big, there is NO WAY ON EARTH that you could have fit into that tiny cockpit on my boat. I am 6'3", 200# and 36" inseam and it was a real "challenge" (to be nice about it) getting in and out of that thing. > >You had a boat beyond your ability and things didn't >work out, that's fine. Not every boat is for every >paddler. There wasn't any problem with the boat >though. I had a boat that terrified the hell out of me, it wasn't beyond my ability. I could paddle it just fine. It wasn't fast, it was uncomfortable, the seatback provided NO support (and was flimsy too!) and it was CRAMPED. I'd love to see a 270 pound man get into that thing! In a wet exit, you'd have to do some pretty fast maneuvers to get out of it, even at my size. And I want the person inquiring about this kayak to know that he will be wet exiting a lot with it. He was asking opinions of people who actually OWNED this kayak, not people who have just looked at them in a store. I owned it, and didn't like it. I have every right to say so, whether you like it or not. But you are right, the boat was NOT right for me. It would be right for a smaller person period. If you can wedge into it, then great. NOT EVERYONE CAN, or would want to. > >I do agree that they shouldn't try to imply the >Carbonlite is light, it isn't, but it's TOUGH and it >holds its appearance extremely well with little care. It also scratches VERY easily, the hardware sucks, as it snaps off after two outings and the hatch covers are too tight and a pain to get on and off. Other than that, it's a great boat to hang on your wall in your den. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Nighthawk175 [Edit] Date Posted: 19:55:13 06/15/04 Tue >I could paddle it >just fine. It wasn't fast, it was uncomfortable, the >seatback provided NO support (and was flimsy too!) and >it was CRAMPED. I'd love to see a 270 pound man get >into that thing! In a wet exit, you'd have to do some >pretty fast maneuvers to get out of it, even at my >size. I want people to know that you have the wrong boat again, you were probably in the Merlin LT which is entirely too small for a big paddler, or the early edition XT, from three or so years ago with the very small keyhole cockpit. The latter models are a different hull design with a large cockpit opening. And I want the person inquiring about this >kayak to know that he will be wet exiting a lot with >it. He was asking opinions of people who actually >OWNED this kayak, not people who have just looked at >them in a store. I have probably 40-60 miles experience in an XT and four or five times that in my Nighthawk 17.5 easy. I know this boat. >I owned it, and didn't like it. Obviously. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Tom [Edit] Date Posted: 20:55:03 06/16/04 Wed >>I now have about 30 hrs paddle time with my Merlin XT and have to weigh in on the side of " a fun lively high quality boat"[Responding to the person who is so critical] Deep V hulls go through the water like a knife through butter. They are gentle in seas and contribute to stability not detract. They rise and fall with wave action not rock back and fourth. A deep V hull lowers the center of gravity of the boat, thus, the farthur you lean the more the hull wants to bring the boat back. I'm new to Kayaking but I've been a sailor all my life. It is the same on a Keel sailboat, or a deep V runabout for that matter. The sacrifice is some initial stability. If you can't sit in this boat at rest, without tipping it over after a little practice [even for a beginner like me], please stay on the shallow end of the lake or get yourself a flat bottom canoe [a big one]and stay away from Kayaks. Anyone who can find a boat this size at half the weight/half the price is looking at inflatable beach toys. Might be a good choice for you. I could paddle it >>just fine. It wasn't fast, it was uncomfortable, the >>seatback provided NO support (and was flimsy too!) and >>it was CRAMPED. I'd love to see a 270 pound man get >>into that thing! In a wet exit, you'd have to do some >>pretty fast maneuvers to get out of it, even at my >>size. > >I want people to know that you have the wrong boat >again, you were probably in the Merlin LT which is >entirely too small for a big paddler, or the early >edition XT, from three or so years ago with the very >small keyhole cockpit. The latter models are a >different hull design with a large cockpit opening. > > >And I want the person inquiring about this >>kayak to know that he will be wet exiting a lot with >>it. He was asking opinions of people who actually >>OWNED this kayak, not people who have just looked at >>them in a store. > >I have probably 40-60 miles experience in an XT and >four or five times that in my Nighthawk 17.5 easy. I >know this boat. > >>I owned it, and didn't like it. > >Obviously. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Nick M [Edit] Date Posted: 13:03:48 06/17/04 Thu Deep V hulls go through the water like a >knife through butter. They are gentle in seas and >contribute to stability not detract. They rise and >fall with wave action not rock back and fourth. A >deep V hull lowers the center of gravity of the boat, >thus, the farthur you lean the more the hull wants to >bring the boat back. I'm new to Kayaking but I've >been a sailor all my life. It is the same on a Keel >sailboat, or a deep V runabout for that matter. The >sacrifice is some initial stability. If you can't sit >in this boat at rest, without tipping it over after a >little practice [even for a beginner like me], please >stay on the shallow end of the lake or get yourself a >flat bottom canoe [a big one]and stay away from >Kayaks. Anyone who can find a boat this size at half >the weight/half the price is looking at inflatable >beach toys. Might be a good choice for you. Ok, first of all, I don't know who you are, but if you OWN an early model Eddyline Merlin XT (which retails for $1,900.00) and you are 6'3" and over 200 lbs. and can fit easily into this kayak, then my apologies. My hunch is that you DON'T own this kayak, so you know NOT of what you speak. There are plenty of great fiberglass and kevlar kayaks on the market for hundreds, if not thousands less than ANY Eddyline kayak. They are known for being "high-end" kayaks in price. I fell for the "hype" about Carbonlite, which I found was easy to scratch, wasn't any more structurally sound than any other material, had the cheapest deck rigging even ones sold at REI had better, had a cramped and uncomfortable cockpit, terrible seatback, and hatch covers that took two to remove, and which still leaked, and for a 15' kayak, was HEAVY as sin. If you are my size, and you get into a 23" wide deep V kayak like the Merlin XT, you will NOT be able to stay upright in it at rest, unless you are at the shallow end of the lake resting on the bottom or are in water with no waves. Taller people have high centers of gravity, in case you don't understand physics. The seat is suspended about 2 inches above the hull. I had two years of "practice" with this kayak. It was still scary to paddle, it was slow, and it was heavy. I now have a kevlar kayak that is half the weight, more than half the price, about 10 times more comfortable, and about 110% more stable. I have canoed for about 10 years, and tried a sea kayak at an outfitter in northern Minnesota. It was a Necky Pinta, a great seaworthy kayak that I grew to love in the 4 to 5 foot seas we paddled on Lake Superior. I have been kayaking for 8 years now, and have paddled/tested 50 or 60 different kayaks, from tandems to 21 foot singles, from wide recreational to surf skis. So please don't sit there and tell me (you as a beginner) that I don't know what I am talking about. Go ahead and buy a Merlin XT with the tiny cockpit. See for yourself how fun it is to wedge into it, especially in surf. Get knocked out of it in breaking waves as it dashes you against the rocks. NO THANK YOU. This kayak is NOT for everyone, and if you don't like my opinion, get some real-world experience and get back to me. >> >>>I owned it, and didn't like it. >> >>Obviously. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Tom [Edit] Date Posted: 08:26:51 06/26/04 Sat My boat is a 2003 Merlin XT. I purchased it spring of 2004 new for 1400. I am interested in a Kevlar please share where I might pick up a new 15 footer for half the price of my Merlin. [midwest dealer prefered.] Speed? According to my GPS the Merlin gets to hull speed quickly and maintains it. I am a begginer as you point out but it seems to me you can't really expect more. I did spend last weekend playing on Lake Michigan with the boat. We took them on the Ferry to South Manitou. It felt solid and safe in some pretty heavy surf [although somewhat wet.] By the way the cockpit is 35X19. It fits big people well. I'm 6 ft 250 lbs. The seat is very comfortable for me. It seems too light but it is incredibly strong. It's made of carbonlight just like the boat. At any rate I am really enjoying this ittle boat and as I have said would recomend it to paddlers big and small alike. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Nick M [Edit] Date Posted: 14:00:15 06/28/04 Mon >My boat is a 2003 Merlin XT. I purchased it spring of >2004 new for 1400. At any rate I >am really enjoying this ittle boat and as I have said >would recomend it to paddlers big and small alike. If you got a Eddyline Merlin XT for $1,400.00 new, then you got the bargain of the century. This kayak retails everywhere for $1,900.00. I know that they made the cockpit bigger (probably from customers like myself that complained and complained about the cramped little cockpit in the earlier models) but still wouldn't recommend this kayak to "big and small alike" by any stretch of the imagination. The cockpit is sloppy width wise, and has to be padded out to fit anyone with smallish hips. If you have big wide hips and short legs, then you might fit ok. Not everyone is built like that. I have 36" inseam and had the footpegs all the way out to the end, and that still wasn't long enough. And the deep V hull made my heels fall to the lowest part of the hull in a V, comfortable for about 30 minutes and then numbness. The seat back is still cheap, for such a "high-end" kayak, and the deck rigging looks like an afterthought, rather than well thought out and laid out. The Carbonlite still flexes and cracks just like everything else in composite, and it still scratches and gouges quite easily. The hatches are still hard to get on and off, and mine leaked front and rear in any wave conditions. I am happy that you seem to fit this small kayak well, and that you are happy with it. I was just telling the original poster to try it before he buys it, and to shop around, as there are many many kayaks in kevlar and fiberglass that are far more functional, faster, and use better materials than the Eddyline kayaks. (and are cheaper in price!) Being a former owner, I feel I have a right to inform people of MY experiences with the boat. If it goes against your feelings, I understand, but you have to be subjective enough to hear other people's opinions about this kayak. It ISN'T for everyone, that's for sure. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Eddyline Merlin XT Author: Tom [Edit] Date Posted: 19:47:40 06/28/04 Mon Sounds like your mind is made up. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]