-Home
-News
-Products
-Kayak Sales
-Videos and Reviews
-Repair
-Molds and Tooling
-Materials
-Why Strong Lite & Why Custom?
-Photos
-Biography
-Contacts
-Links

 

Illusion

The Illusion has performance beyond anything we hoped for see the Video and Review pages

The Illusion was designed for the performance kayaker. We listened to what the experienced instructors, guides and kayakers wanted and set out to produce a kayak that would surpass their expectations in wind, waves and combined coastal conditions.
Their list:
Light and strong
Easy to roll
Responsive in all conditions
Safety rigging
Trouble free skeg
Boat control by edging and stroking
Volume preferences varied so made 3 sizes of deck/hull cut to fit the buyer.
length
beam
weight
17'
21.5"
38 to 48 lbs

.

High performance with a skeg.

New skeg "skeel" deployed it will even hold course in rear quartering seas.

Stable, very easy to control with boat lean and paddle strokes.

 

Perfect combination of speed and maneuverability

 

The Illusion is a quick, responsive kayak that performs well in inter-coastal paddling, rolling, surf, tide rips, climbing over waves or a relaxing day in calm waters.

The volume allows packing for a week + trip.

The Illusion's high performance enhances the ability level of its paddler.

 It is suited for beginning kayakers through advanced kayakers with weights up to the 230 lb. range.

.

 

Sterling's Illusion - Not just another kayak

Designed, Quality controlled and Built at the Owner's Shop, Sterling Donalson

Standard Features

  • Strong-Lite lay-ups are a proprietary lay-up which delivers: Kayaks 10% to 25% lighter than competitors. Eco friendly bagging of quality materials produces optimum strength to weight. These two combined create unequalled strength and lightweights!
  • Radiused cockpit combing for lay-back rolls, cockpit is ergonomic and has added thigh braces
  • Large Sea Dog Hatches 10" forward, 8" day hatch, 18" oval rear hatch
  • Recessed deck fittings
  • Internally attached foot braces-no leaking
  • 2 Lightweight beveled bulkheads and an "L" shaped dayhatch to increase space in rear compartment.
  • Proprietary inside/outside sean joint
  • Paddle float arrangement
  • Lift Handles
  • Joe Greenley Custom seats -custom comfort
  • Sea Dog quick adjust pedals
  • Perimeter ropes and bungee's
  • Proprietary designed and built skeg " Skeel" (aft central retractable skeg with kink free cable design)
  • 3sizes of deck/hull cut for a perfect fit
  • Water safety inspection before leaving the shop

Options:

Custom bulkhead placement, Reflective graphics, security pin, wear strip, custom side wave paint option, bulkhead in lieu of foot pedals.

Pricing:

Regular "Strong-Lite" Composite Construction 45-48 lbs
add infusion to deck and hull-- stronger and lighter 41-45 lbs
Carbon composite resin infused STRONG-LITE lay-up under 40 lbs
+ Shipping varies according to distance shipped  
Sizing: High Volume, Med. Volume, Low Volume  
Illusion price/ order page
  

 

 

Sterling's Kayaks @ 360-398-2410

Contact us for dealers and sales information

e-mail:sterlingskayaks@msn.com  or fax 360-398-2027
Mike Dedman-photo by Damon Maguire
 

 

Marianne Banks paddling Illusion

 

Rodger Funk's Illusion.....High Visibility Yellow-Green with a White Side Wave

 

Example of "Extreme Paddling"---17 foot swells -----White Ice Kap left------High Visibility Yellow Illusion

 

 

  

 

70 Years Young & Having Fun

Dear Sterling,
My name is Jacqui Bostrom. I met you very briefly at a Portland Kayak Demo day last April or May. I was completely taken by your Illusion but couldn't demo it until later. So impressed was I that I bought
your lightest version for my 70th birthday. I know the kayak is designed for kayakers that will do way more then I do. I have however kayaked for about 9 years, I thought my kayak was just fine until I tried the Illusion.I always paddle with people 10-15 years younger then I and have managed to do just fine but with the Illusion I fly ahead and constantly have to wait. One stroke and you are at 4.5 miles a little effort at 6. I was always very nervous in following seas and side seas, now I am not. I can surf the waves while my friends stay close to shore.
I find the handling of your boat phenomenal. It turns so well, the bracing is easy and I imagine should I ever want to roll which I do not that too would be easy.I take an 8 day camping trip to the West or East Coast of Vancouver Island every year with my friends and the only compliant I would have is that the packing for that many days is tight, but who cares. I kayak every week around Portland or Puget Sound and just finished a
river trip that was at the edge of the kind of river a kayak should be on. Unfortunately I cracked the gell coat giving Mike something to do. One does have to be more careful I am afraid.When I decided to buy the Illusion I thought maybe it would be wasted on me given that I am not an open ocean paddler or a
surfer but it has made we into a way better and more secure paddler then I was before. I have so much fun when I go out. Of course it is always fun when you turn 70 to be able to keep up with the 50 year
olds and sometimes surpass them at that. So the point of all this is to tell you what a great boat you designed and to let you that you are never to old to have the best . Thanks for making my paddling days so much fun.
Best,
Jacqui

 

George Gronseth (Kayak Academy) does a 360