Impex Force 4 Review

Impex Force 4

Reviewed by Ryan Rushton, October 30, 2006
While attending BCU week at Sea Kayak Georgia and had a day "off" from training in which I was able to take out an Impex Force 4 for a test paddle. The conditions in which I paddled the boat were this - winds light and variable and seas 1-3 feet. Though mostly flat, picturesque conditions for paddling, I was able to take the boat into an area referred to by paddlers as the "triangle", which is a sandbar located at the mouth of the Tybee River that is known for it's surf. In the triangle I found sloppy 2-4 foot breaking waves that werer semi-condusive for surfing a sea kayak. I was also paddling this boat relatively unloaded.

The Force 4, which is also available for different size paddlers in a smaller version (Force 3) and a larger version (Force 5), is targeted at the intermediate to advanced paddler. You can read more about the boat at www.impexkayak.com for further boat stats and the manufacturer's description of the boat.

Construction
I was very impressed by the quality of construction and the thoughtfulness that Impex put into the boat. Little features such as "hand grips" molded into the bow and stern of the boat, lanyards attaching hatch covers to the deck lines, recessed hatches and deck fittings, Immersion Research outfitting, and curved bulkheads all point to excellent fit and finish. The boat I paddled was the glass version of this kayak, and at 58 lbs, although heavier than some of it's competition, looked like it could stand up to the abuse of dedicated sea paddlers and those who might scrape a river bottom every once and a while.

Performance
My test paddle was mostly in flat water and small waves. With that in mind, here's my personal opinion of the boat:
Speed
The boat accelerated quickly and had great hull speed while cruising.
Stability
The initial stability of the boat was not as confidence inspiring as some comparable boats (NDK Explorer, Valley Aquanuat, Island Expedition, P&H Quest LV), but I feel a low intermediate to advanced paddler would quickly move past this lack of initial stability and will greatly appreciate one of the great qualities of this boat - it's secondary or final stability! This boat holds an edge like few other boats I've paddled! The secondary stability left me feeling very confident in edged turns and the waves which I played in. The boat rolled easily and was solid while sculling for support
Tracking
The boat tracked extremely well due to the straighter waterline that the Force series has in comparison to other Impex boats. As with any "British" hull style, you have to paddle more actively (pay attention to where you're going!), but I was able to make whatever slight corrections were needed with a slight lean timed with a forward stroke to that side. I used very few corrective strokes to cross between Tybee Island and Little Tybee Island.
Maneuverability
Due to the straighter waterline, while performing sweep strokes to rotate the boat 360 degrees, is a must! That being said, when you put the boat on edge it maneuvers quite nicely for a boat of it's length. On the move, holding various degrees of edge will make the boat carve nicely into turns, with or without corrective strokes.
Rough Water Handling
The Force 4 surfed nicely as the rails are more pronounced and the bow and stern felt appropriately loose. I would like to spend more time in larger seas to get a great feeling for the boat in rough water, but from what I experienced, I liked how it handled.

Summary
Overall, how a paddler feels about the Force 4 will vary highly depending on their skill level. For beginning paddlers, this boat would definitely be a challenge although not un-doable. For intermediate to advanced paddlers looking for a tripping kayak that is fast and maneuverable, the Force may be a perfect match! Come on down to the Geneva Kayak Center to test paddle this boat, it's a great way to figure out if this boat is "perfect" for you!
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Paddler Stats - Ryan
Height - 5'11"
Inseam - 33"
Weight - 185 lbs
Ability - Advanced

Boat Stats - Force 4
Length - 18 ft
Width - 20.75 inches
Midship (Deck Height) - 12 inches
Weight - 58 lbs
Material - Fiberglass