As I've reported, my two previous kayaks (Dirigo 17 and custom CLC Patuxent) are with their new owners, who report themselves very pleased with them. I paddled the Patuxent (17' long, 22" beam, hard chines) most of the year, and the Dirigo (17' long, 26" beam) during drysuit season. Both boats, though, were getting to be Very Heavy, and my goal was to replace them with a single craft. I was looking for a shorter, lighter, hard-chine boat with a rudder, and a slightly wider beam than 22" for the increased stability it would provide for cold-water winter paddling.

After trying several boats, I test-paddled the Epic 16X extensively twice, then bought it. It answers all the above requirements except for a hard-chine hull. The 2008 SK review of the Epic 18X, the boat Freya H. is paddling around Australia, pretty much covers all the bases for the 16X, but here are a few additional comments--

SK is right about the comfort and utility of the seat and the rudder foot controls; it is the most comfortable seat I've yet been in, and the rudder controls/footrest combo is unique and perfectly fulfills the tasks of providing a rigid anchor for the feet and also can't-go-wrong rudder control. The sliding seat can be moved front-and-back to get optimum seat-pedal distance if/when you switch from legs-splayed to legs-together/knees up posture.

I use kayak rudders as variable-azimuth skegs on open water, and only steer with the rudder in narrow, twisting saltmarsh channels. The Epic articulated-stern rudder is very good for this sort of paddling. There is still a question as to whether the rudder is deep enough in the water for boat control in steep following seas; Epic is reportedly working on a retrofit rudder. I've not yet had a problem. Another cause for attention is the possible fragility of the rudder itself, in that it does not flip up out of harm's way when not in use--the rudder is always deployed, so you have to be careful of grinding against rocks, etc. when coming ashore. I've already altered my coming-ashore routine to favor the rudder, and I tie it up with a spacer between the rudder and the hull stern when transporting the boat.

The Epic 16X handles very well in a seaway, in busy chop, in crosswinds (no weathercocking in winds that always induced weathercocking in my two other boats). It surfs chop cleanly, and, due to its light weight and acceleration, I can jump from wave to wave more easily than in my Patuxent. It has a higher maintainable top speed also, so I can easily catch up with my paddling partners (Nordkapp and Caribou, usually) if I fall behind while looking at birds or whatever. And monster cargo-carrying space is available.

Workmanship has been an issue with some Epic boats. They've either solved the problem, or are now hyperinspecting their boats. I went over my boat with a fine-tooth comb prior to purchase, and the finish is exemplary. I've replaced the wimpy deck bungees with thicker ones.

I don't know what Epic had in mind when they designed the 16X--the 18X is clearly a go-fast boat that seems to be doing just fine around Australia (so far). But it's working out very well for me as a touring/exploring boat that's stable, easy to get on/off the Forester roof, load up with stuff, surf chop, paddle all day in all kinds of water and wind, and keep up with or outrun my paddling partners. It's not perfect, but, for me, it's close to perfect. And, it doesn't look like everybody else's boat.