Submitted: 11-19-2010 by JeffG
The Phoenix by Eddyline is a very capable kayak in many respects. At 55 pounds it is light for its 17 foot length because it is made out of Carbonlite 2000, the proprietary co-extruded plastic laminate of the manufacturer. The Phoenix has been described as a "station wagon" among kayaks because it is so capacious. I took it on a camping expedition to an island off the Massachusetts coast, and its compartments with watertight bulkheads held everything but the kitchen sink--camp stove, sleeping bag, tent, drybags--you name it. It is very stable--both primary and secondary--and is quite fast. Its hull design, however, lacks the hydrodynamics of its cousin, the Night Hawk, so it is a little slower than a seventeen foot kayak with a more tapered stern. Another drawback is that the Phoenix weathercocks in even moderate winds. Even when the skeg is deployed, it requires some correcting strokes to keep it on course. All in all, though, the Phoenix is solid for open crossings and certainly for expedition kayaking. It provides a dry and comfortable ride even in choppy conditions. It's too bad that the Phoenix was discontinued because it filled a niche for larger paddlers or those looking to carry more gear in a stable seaworthy kayak. |