Traditionally, most sit-on-top kayaks are designed to be extremely stable. To do this, designers must add width and ensure that the hull features react appropriately to ensure a high level of initial stability. We clearly noticed that the Necky Vector 14 Sea And Touring kayak is not your “traditional” sit-on-top. This cool kayak was undoubtedly designed to push the performance envelope. While the secondary stability is high, the initial stability allows the paddlers to turn or sit on the edge easily. In fact, the design premise of Vector 14 was to make sure that its hull performs very similarly to our high-end sea kayaks. Thus, this unique kayak will take the sit-on-top kayak to a whole new level.
We happened to have the opportunity to take the Necky Vector 14 kayak out on the water for a test ride a few days ago and we thought we would like to share our experience here in this article. First, we tried it on an inner tank, but the water was quite choppy. It was a pretty strong wind, but we thought this would be ideal for testing the Vector in more unforgiving conditions. Here’s what we found.
Features of Necky Vector 14 Sea And Touring Kayak:
- Touring chair with back band collar.
- Quick Seal bow and stern hatch with Cross Lock buckle system.
- Large tank well with an innovative nylon lid for tanks with multiple adjustment points.
- Extremely convenient storage bag with pouch.
- Water bottle holder.
- 4 medium Scupper valves also included (patent pending).
- Low profile transport handles.
- Foot brace system support.
- Optional rudder system with foot pedals.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fast.
- Comfortable.
- Stable.
- Tracks very well.
- Excellent and secure storage capacity.
Cons:
- Low chair.
Specifications
- The length: 14 feet
- The width: 2 feet, 1 inch
- The weight: 63 lbs
- The maximum load: 325 lbs
- The hull material: polymer
- The rudder: Optional (Foot rudder)
Build quality
The Necky Vector 14 Sea And Touring kayak has a polymer hull that makes it very sturdy, but still light enough for easy maneuverability in and out of the water, especially compared to other sea kayaks. The construction quality is good and has a beautiful finish to it. It has an excellent rigidity of the body and an additional length of the body, with a beautifully rounded upper shape, which was quite good at shedding water. There are two main storage compartments at the bow and stern, which have a total volume of about 160 liters.
The hatches are airtight and have a cross-buckle access system, which prevents the walls from softening but simplifies opening quickly. That being said, we appreciate security over the speed of access every time it comes to storage. The construction quality of this wonderful kayak felt more than adequate, thus, you will surely not be disappointed!
Comfort and placement of the seats
The first thing we noticed when we sat on this kayak was how comfortable the chair was. It has a beautiful foam base, with a fairly high back, which provided excellent support, and we imagine it would be a real blessing for longer trips throughout the day. The position of the seat is quite low, which can make you get a little wet, but this is counteracted by the feeling of control you get from the low center of gravity when you are on the water. This aspect is especially useful for tallet people. It has fully adjustable foot pedals in the cockpit, which slides to fit your height or the length of your foot. There is a lot of space in the cockpit, which is mainly useful if you have a larger frame.
Handling and performance
One of the most important aspects is how does this sit on top kayak do compared to others? First of all, it feels very fast over the water. We were impressed with the rowing effort required to start this kayak (We’re very good at it, but you can always learn a few tips from the manufacturer). Even with a little effort, it felt fast, although we felt that the pursuit was interrupted a little by longer stroke lengths.
When you stop rowing, it has an excellent drift, which we feel is missing in many of the other sit-on-top kayaks we’ve tried. As mentioned earlier, the low center of gravity provides high stability, and the secondary stability facilitates tilt, rotation, and edge. The extra length of the body allows for excellent tracking. Thus, we found it very easy to keep it straight and narrow even on one of those blustery days. In addition, there is an optional foot rudder if you feel the need to use one.
Conclusion
We had a lot of fun trying Necky Vector 14 Sea And Touring Kayak. On windy days when we tested the kayak, it tracked very well and also offered a good drift. The body length is good, with plenty of storage and space for larger kayakers. Stability is great for a sit-on that adds to the feeling of control. It is well-built and a beautiful sea and touring kayak, which we would definitely like to try again soon. More so, if you are interested in purchasing and enjoy the experience of using one of your own Necky Vector 14 Sea and Touring Kayaks we guarantee you’ll find the best prices on amazon.com or rei.com.
