Boats Database: Liquid Logic Remix XP9

It is often said that there is gap in kayak design, that no “one” kayak excels in whitewater yet carries speed across flat calm lakes and slow moving rivers… that is until now. The Remix XP was designed to bridge the gap between the two once and for all. The Remix XP is an extension of our popular river runner series and although its roots are firmly planted in whitewater the XP’s extended waterline allows it to cruise the flats with ease. The XP has and integral skeg which when deployed offers superb tracking but with the skeg tucked away the XP offers the agility needed to excel on whitewater.

Getting to know this boat even better.

I've had this yak out a few more times since my review and grow more and more enamored with it (it doesn't have to be that way -- I've got a stack of boats in my garage). Yesterday took it out in 15 knot wind swell (before a cold front) and paddled in through chop and rode a few wind-driven waves. Gets through wave trains nicely too!

Tomorrow has a prediction for nearly 20 knot north winds. Oh man I can't wait!

white water, tell us about the XP9 in white water

I took it out the other day in thrashy wave trains and had a blast with it. It's my fun. I plow through them, find a spot that's putting out rideable swells, and surfed them. Lean on the nose and you get onto the river wave and dig those chines in and she surfs really well. Slightly longer hull helps it rip--very fast. Remember this boat has it's roots in LL's Remix line and it looks (all over, including the hull characteristics) like the Remix (I've never sat in one of those, though). I dunno--being a former surfer I found myself leaving the skeg down for most of this part of the fun.

*But as to the maneuverability: The wind and river current was howling out of the north so I spotted some really interesting water action going on near a bridge and concrete embankment. When I paddled into it I realized what I was dealing with was refractive energy from the north flow ricocheting off the solid embankment and bridge. I paddled into it and and got really tossed around, THEN put the skeg up and headed back into it. It was GREAT! It was this episode that made me fully appreciate how maneuverable the XP9 is. It was a really confused water state with 3-4 foot peaks everywhere in every which direction and some decent energy in the water. I had much more fun parking and playing (it really was like park and play!) on the XP hopping on one peak and dropping into troughs, spinning around on one the get on another. Spins on the hull very fast and sweat! I tell you, I loved this so much I will probably just hunt for refractive action first when things are flowing and blowing!

That's what I can tell you about it at this point. You see, what I like to do is go out onto the Indian and Banana Rivers (actually 150 mile long, up to 8 mile wide lagoons as they have no head way) in really nasty horrible weather and water conditions and ride the white wash, wind-driven current. I plan on taking it on the Toccoa and maybe Nantahala in Georgia this summer. Can then post back on more of the river-type action you're possibly talking about.

Post back and let me know if you specific Q's, though.

all sounds good.

Keep posting. I'm still on obtaining one of these as an all round water craft for taking along on holidays where I won't be paddling any big ww. It seems to be the perfect kind of boat for the lower reaches of the Orange river and perhaps the Doring and the lakes in the Southern Cape.