KAYAK ACADEMY

Impex Sea Kayaks

ASSATEAGUE

The Assateague is Impex's newest and longest sea kayak (introduced in mid 2003). It is best suited for paddlers 5' 10" to 6' 6", 190-240 lbs who want a fast, state-of-the-art, expedition Geenland style sea kayak with enough storage for multi-week trips. The Assateague comes with all the latest features you would expect in a top-of-the-line sea kayak (i.e. retractable skeg, day hatch, recessed deck fittings and reflective safety lines, rubber VCP hatches), and yet it is priced much lower than most kayaks in it's class. The lines of the Assateague make it a sleek, fast kayak, yet it probably fits big people better than any other "Greenland style" kayak.

The Assateague shares the same overall styling common to the entire line of Impex sea kayaks -- an "Americanized" variation on the smart looks and proven seaworthiness of the Greenland/British look, without the back breaking weight or tippyness usually associated with kayaks of this genre. As with all the Impex sea kayaks we sell, the Assateague is built from composite (i.e. fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon/Kevlar co-weave lay-up) with a moderately chined hull that carves turns quickly and handles well in rough seas without the added drag of a harder chine. The Assateague comes standard with all the usual Impex features: a retractable skeg* with state-of-the-art precise, smooth slider bar/cable control,

front and rear hatches (plus a day hatch), front and rear fiberglass bulkheads (two rear bulkheads), fiberglass seams inside and out, recessed deck fittings for safety lines, self-rescue bungies and chart holder bungies, 16" X 30" keyhole shaped cockpit with good hip and knee braces, and a comfortable back band with snowboard binding style ratcheting buckles that allow you to adjust the back support while seated in the kayak -- even on the water.

Plus we outfit all sea kayaks we sell with a custom pump and sponge holder below the front deck, a paddle tether and SOLAS reflective tape.

The Assateague also features a day hatch to keep your lunch and other items close at hand. All three hatches on the Assateague are the VCP brand of rubber hatches that seal like air tight food containers. These are widely recognized as the driest easiest to use kayak hatches on the market, and the most tested/proven of all the rubber hatches on the market. The bow and stern compartments are accessed through large oval VCP hatches and the day hatch is a round VCP hatch.

*A skeg looks like the fin on the bottom of a surf board except on sea kayaks this skeg is designed to retract into a trunk on the bottom of the hull. With the skeg up, the Assateague is maneuverable for a nearly 18 foot sea kayak. Put the skeg down and the Assateague tracks straight even in side wind conditions where most kayaks without rudders weathercock (turn up wind). This combination of good hull design and a retractable skeg are fast making rudders (and all their problems and limitations) obsolete on sea kayaks (at least for people who know how to paddle).

If you like the features and stability of this kayak but want something smaller and tighter fitting, try the Impex Currituck. For a slightly smaller, more maneuverable kayak, try the Impex Susquehanna. For an equally roomy and stable kayak that is much more maneuverable, try the Impex Serenity Sport.

Call the Kayak Academy to arrange a demo.
206 527-1825

© George Gronseth 2003, all rights reserved.