KAYAK ACADEMY

Impex Sea Kayaks

MYSTIC

The Mystic is Impex's smallest, lightest, most maneuverable sea kayak -- proof that good things really do come in small packages. It is best suited for paddlers 5' 6" and shorter (possibly up to 5' 8" if you wanted a day tripping sea kayak only). This is a highly maneuverable sea kayak that also tracks well; great boat for strong winds and rough seas or for playing in rock gardens, and its low profile is good for practicing Greenland rolls too. Those who are under 5' 6" and weigh less than 150 lbs will find the Mystic has enough storage capacity for multi-day camping trips, but if you have plans for multi-week trips (do you really get that much vacation?), you will either have to get creative with your packing (get into the new "go-light" camping gear) or consider a larger model such as the Impex Montauk or Currituck. The Mystic comes with all the great features common to the Impex line of sea kayaks plus VCP brand rubber hatches, and yet its price is very modest. The lines of the Mystic make it a sleek, efficient kayak without excessive stability for smaller paddlers (e.g. easy to Eskimo roll and edge for carved turns), yet it is probably the most stable feeling "Greenland style kayak" on the market for smaller folks.

The Mystic 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 Mystic is a built from composite materials (i.e. fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon/Kevlar 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 Mystic 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, front and rear fiberglass bulkheads, fiberglass seams inside and out, recessed deck fittings, reflective safety lines, self rescue bungies and chart holder bungies, 16" X 30" keyhole shaped cockpit with good hip and knee braces, neoprene seat pad, and a comfortable IR 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.

Both hatches on the Mystic are the VCP brand of rubber hatches that seal like air tight food containers. These are widely recognized as the driest and easiest to use kayak hatches on the market. The bow hatch is a round VCP hatch and the rear hatch is a large oval 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 Mystic is one of the most maneuverable sea kayaks on the market. Put the skeg down and the Mystic 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 a longer with more storage space, try the Impex Currituck. For a slightly more stable and roomier kayak try the Impex Montuak.

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

“I just wanted to say that I am really liking the Mystic, super responsive, easy to control, cinch to roll, and bonus really easy to load on the car” Tammi, Port Angeles, WA

© George Gronseth 2003, all rights reserved.