C-Forum

Hi,

Does anyone have an opinion on the Esquif Factory outfitting, anyone using it? I'm currently looking into a zoom and it looks like it would cost approx the same more or less as custom outfitting. Obviously the advantage of doing it myself would to have it tailored for me, but there is something to be said for being able to jump into your new boat and paddle as soon as you get it.

What do you think?

Brad

he had his boat sent ot him with the mike yee outfitting, and i paddled it a few times, we were the same relative size so it worked. i have nothing to say thats negative about it in otherwords.
cheers
-isaac

If the factory outfitting is North Water then I don't like it very much to the point where I am considering not buying a boat that has that outfitting. I have Mike Yee outfitting in mine and really like it. I found that the foot holds on the North Water outfitting doesn't provide the same positive feel. Maybe it's something you get used to. The North Water foot holds are also time consuming to adjust and shoelaces can get caught on the wing nuts.

I don't think Esquif is using Mike Yee outfitting anymore. I've heard a couple of people express reservations about the North Water system. If they are using the old Beluga system, I would go for it, but if its the Norht Water, I'd be pretty tempted to go with the custom outfitting.

Martyn

I like their outfitting but strongly disagree with where they choose to mount the side anchors for the knee straps. The knee strap wraps around your knee and then goes down very low which allows a lot of side to side knee movement. If you mount the side anchors barely below the level of your knee, it won't move around like that.

A good option might be to have them outfit the pedastal and floor anchor for the thigh/knee strap and then install the side anchors for the thigh and knee strap yourself.

I installed Mike Yee outfitting in my boat and even though I love it, from now on I will use bulkhead ( Spanish Fly ) style foam outfitting in all my boats including royalex "gunnel" boats.

I think that north waters Mike yee inspired outfitting is great however I would have to agree with who ever said they dont like the placement.
If you are buying the boat with outfitting I would not have them glue it in just do it yourself an the boat will fit you fantastically then and you cannot complain. as fara as the footpegs go they are NOT THE FOOT CUPS they are a mike yee style saddle or Foote whoever its all one piece.

I bought an Esquif Vertige X and outfitted it myself with NorthWater adjustable/removable saddles, including a solo position.

I tried to get some info from Esquif on what sort of factory outfitting they use for their 3-position set up, but after several tries they never got back to me with anything.

I wish manufacturer's would get with being more upfront and providing more complete info on their outfitting strategies and hardware - it's such an important element of actually using the boat.

For example, I like that the NorthWater gear comes with outfitting diagrams with measurements etc. While it's obviously not the gospel or right for everyone, I'm sure their info is good guidance for lot of people - I wish the boat-makers would offer the same.

Good luck, Pat.

so it might not be mike yee, but the bet thing to do is to just get the boat, and get what ever strap system youre currently running. i definetely changed my outfit around alot. but it works for some, and not for others.
cheers
-isaac

Hi,

I have a zoom and it came outfitted. The pedestal and toe pegs are great, but I had to adapt the strapping system. This was predominantly because I like a single thigh strap and bulkhead for my knees.

I put an extra thwart in to attach the top of the straps to the gunwhale and found the anchor points in front of the pedestal excellent for the bottom attachment.

I put my own bulkhead in. This meant it was customised to be exactly what I needed.

I used Voyageur claw type straps.

If anyone wants to see the pictures drop me an email kjhughes@darlington.ac.uk

A last word on the Zoom.....Fantastic boat!

Ken

We got all of our Esquif canoes outfitted from the factory this year at NOC which included:

1 Detonator
3 Nitro
1 Blast (tandem)
1 Blast (triple)
2 Vertige
3 Vertige X (1 each, solo, tandem, triple)

We already had a Zoom with factory outfitting and I personally have a Spark. For me personally, I fit perfectly in the outfitting and it seems to fit a reasonably wide range of sizes of people. Long legged folks tended to have trouble with the triple saddle boats, especially when paddling solo. The thigh strap anchors seemed to be in a place that was a good compromise for several sizes of folks.

If anyone has specific questions, please feel free to send me an email.

Paddle on!

Wayner

I paddled the New on Bridge Day this past weekend, and I got a chance to check out an Esquif Spark. I'm 95% sure that the boat was factory outfitted. The straps, saddle, and toe blocks were all very Mike Yee- esque. The straps didn't look like anything I've seen from Beluga. They could have been Northwater Rodeo straps made special for Esquif.

The setup looked pretty bomber- if you like the whole knee/thigh work in unison thing. If the positioning of any of the strap anchors made for a loose fit, you sure couldn't tell from watching the guy paddle it

BTW- I knew the Spark was fast, but I didn't know it was CRAZY FAST!

MotorCityOC-1 wrote: BTW- I knew the Spark was fast, but I didn't know it was CRAZY FAST!

Snicker... My Spark is the slowest boat I own. (The others are a Reaktor, a Cobra, a slalom C! and a Hornet.)

Does that mean I'm spoiled?

So Bob, which is the faster boat, Cobra or Reaktor? Which is the better slalom boat?
Just from the photos, the Reaktor looks dry, but the Cobra looks real fast.

yes, bob that means exactly that. you, are spoiled, but i cant really talk either.
cheers
-isaac

The Hornet is really that fast? I had no idea- and I'm intrigued...

How does it compare to, say, a Viper C-1?