Warren Williamson in our Illusion |
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfuVuSoHdXI
Warren Williamson Deception Pass some of the best kayaking ever caught on video |
Warren’s comments after a wild day @ Deception Pass
hey sterling / yesterday I put in at cornet bay and was inthe pass right at max ebb of 6.5 at 10:10 am. the west windwas recorded at the navel station at 52 knots. with thefunnel effect of the pass I'm thinking it was 60 plus knotsin the pass. I was talking to a boat captain today on thephone, he was on the bridge yesterday watching me in thepass, he said the wind was over 60 knots going through thepass. I surfed on the standing waves in the pass for fourhours. your kayak surfed in those conditions, it turned intothe wind, away from the wind, rolled with big dumpingfoam piles crashing on top of it. the performance of your kayak in those extreme conditions was excellent. W
ARE STERLING KAYAKS FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE ?
by Joan Jones ( certified “Paddle Canada Level 11 Skills” instructor and a certified rolling instructor)
What do Sterling kayaks offer to someone who isn’t a hardcore surfer, rolling ace or Level Five paddler? The first thing I noticed about my Sterling Illusion was its stability. Not the boring stability of a massive barge, but the lively stability of a beautiful duck, bobbing in the waves while navigating with ease. A very efficient and confidence inspiring ride. In three-meter seas the Illusion took care of itself – and me. The Illusion’s second remarkable feature is its weight, or rather, its lack of weight. Much lighter than kayaks of comparable length and strength making it easy for a single person to balance on their shoulder and carry back and forth from beach to car. Few other kayaks on the market are known for their light weight but I am quite sure that none of them offer the strength of a Sterling kayak. The Standard Infused layup is very strong and the Carbon/Kevlar layup is even stronger and lighter. I paddle a Carbon/Kevlar, low volume Illusion, with a 1” cut, and it weighs in at 38 pounds. Unique to the purchase of a Sterling kayak is the customer service. You’ll spend some time talking to the designer, Sterling Donaldson, after which you’ll make key decisions on the model to purchase and the options you’d like – perhaps moving the front bulkhead to fit your leg length and to increase space for dry storage, and deciding layup, hull colour and paint design. It is a unique and wonderful experience. Are Sterling Kayaks in a league of their own? Some would say the price puts them there and it is true that the price tag of a Sterling Kayak is well above those manufactured overseas. Also true is that your dollars spent give you so much more. Each model offers a fine combination of lightweight, strength, stability and responsiveness. A kayak is the biggest purchase we make when entering this sport. It may also be one of the most important part of your safety gear as too often we find ourselves in situations on the water that we prefer to avoid but were not avoidable. Recently it was my skills in combination with my Sterling Illusion, and not my skills alone, that left me unscathed when the unexpected suddenly happened. So, is paddling a Sterling Kayak part of an ideal Risk Management plan? This is possible, and is why I put Sterling Kayaks in a league of their own. – Joan Jones
Rob Wyness on his new Illusion:
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We love to hear from our customers!
Sterling, Marsha and crew! |
Andy has purchased 3 kayaks from us - He loves them all !
Hello Sterling, Marsha,
Wow, that was quick, ordered in January, completed in January, (and probably delivered to the far corner of the country in January).
And 35.8#, my back will really appreciate that (thanks to the other 2 'Sterlings' I have, I only missed paddling one day last year (the day a hurricane passed by Jax).
As a bit of a confession, the Illusion is to replace another 'lightweight' kayak that got chewed up by sharks.
2 years ago I bought a 'Lincoln' 'Isle Au Haut' sea kayak (for long distance paddles). I can't say anything bad about it, other than my bad luck with it. The first year I had it, it got chomped on by a shark. The 2nd year (last year), it got chomped on by another shark, then later in the year, a very large fish (didn't see it), jumped out of the water, landed on the bow, cracked the kevlar in 2 places. The repair of all cracks & holes would probably be as expensive as a good downpayment on another boat (and add several pounds), so I decided against it. It was a 'nice' cruising kayak, relatively fast (note: relative, not 'fast' boat). However, it wasn't a 'fun' boat to paddle. That is what I like about your boats, they have a 'personality'.
I paddle because I have to (like breathing, or maybe just an addiction), but the 'fun' factor adds much to the experience.
Andy
Hello Sterling, Marsha,
Wow, that was quick, ordered in January, completed in January, (and probably delivered to the far corner of the country in January).
And 35.8#, my back will really appreciate that (thanks to the other 2 'Sterlings' I have, I only missed paddling one day last year (the day a hurricane passed by Jax).
As a bit of a confession, the Illusion is to replace another 'lightweight' kayak that got chewed up by sharks.
2 years ago I bought a 'Lincoln' 'Isle Au Haut' sea kayak (for long distance paddles). I can't say anything bad about it, other than my bad luck with it. The first year I had it, it got chomped on by a shark. The 2nd year (last year), it got chomped on by another shark, then later in the year, a very large fish (didn't see it), jumped out of the water, landed on the bow, cracked the kevlar in 2 places. The repair of all cracks & holes would probably be as expensive as a good downpayment on another boat (and add several pounds), so I decided against it. It was a 'nice' cruising kayak, relatively fast (note: relative, not 'fast' boat). However, it wasn't a 'fun' boat to paddle. That is what I like about your boats, they have a 'personality'.
I paddle because I have to (like breathing, or maybe just an addiction), but the 'fun' factor adds much to the experience.
Andy
Two Sterlings on a fall day in Michigan. Aaron Stander
Hi Sterling,
I had intended to write you this week to tell you how much I continue go enjoy my Illusion. This year I've used it in Florida, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan, as well as the inland lake we live on. I was shocked to see the fire at you plant on Facebook last evening. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that you will rebuild. Your boats are very special, representing great genius and skill. All the best, Aaron Stander |
Aaron on Lake Michigan in April
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