STELLAR S14 G2

I bought the Stellar S14 G2 3 years ago. I was looking for a lightweight, versatile kayak - suitable for large and heavy paddlers. I really liked the look of the S14 and so I only bought it after trying it out. I've never regretted it - because...

I bought the Stellar S14 G2 3 years ago. I was looking for a lightweight, versatile kayak - suitable for large and heavy paddlers. I really liked the look of the S14 and so I only bought it after trying it out. I've never regretted it - because it's a boat full of surprises.

Before the seat test, I had some reservations - but the boat fit like a well-fitting pair of jeans. That's how it should be, especially with boats that come without a rudder like the S14 G2. I took the first trip out on a quarry pond - to minimise the risk of not getting to grips with the boat. My concerns were completely unfounded - as soon as I got on board, the boat exuded confidence without anchoring "degenerating into work", for example. First impression: A manoeuvrable boat - without the skeg activated - a very manoeuvrable boat that only advanced paddlers with a clean paddling style can paddle straight ahead. With the skeg, it goes straight ahead as if on rails without losing too much of its manoeuvrability.

Placed on the edge and held there and paddled only with a forward stroke - it goes cleanly in a circle of approx. 20 m in diameter - with the skeg. Wow - I've never managed that with any boat before. If you deactivate the skeg, it picks up speed a little and indicates a bow stroke - it's better not to edge as well: The centrifugal force is enormous, as the boat turns very quickly. You stand with the bow against the direction of travel and glide backwards. Great fun - if you get involved. You also need to be careful when entering eddies and lean nicely into the bend so that you don't suddenly have to brace yourself.

One thing is certain: this boat doesn't need a rudder. It can be steered so well by anchoring that you don't even need manoeuvres such as a stern rudder or bow rudder most of the time. The flat floor under the cockpit makes it possible. Lateral manoeuvring - to avoid an obstacle - is child's play. And the flat floor ensures something else. The boat surfs that it is a joy. Whether downwind on the quarry pond or upstream on the Middle Elbe with a tailwind against the current. It's great fun. Over time, you forget that you are actually sailing a "recreational kayak". That's what it is, but it can do much more.

Tested at 6-7 BFT on Lake Kummerow - wave fun at its best. No "weather vane effect" - the boat stays on course. Skeg adjuster failed - fully loaded with camping equipment up the Alte Fahrt - near Mirow. No problem: under full load without skeg - the boat runs straight ahead - and fast. This "short, fat boat" always encourages a few drivers of sleek sea kayaks or the occasional touring pair with father and son to try to overtake - but they don't really want to succeed.

Not only does it run long, the wetted area on the hull should also be small - and it is. Anyway, this made me curious and I wanted to know how fast the boat runs in a sprint. As I wanted to watch, a sports friend of mine - a little lighter than me (95 kg) - put the GPS on and sprinted off. A top speed of 12.5 km/h - then the stern wave became so big that the boat reminded me of an ocean-going tugboat at full speed. ... But still - the value is very good for a 14-footer - and explains my experience.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test the boat in the surf - you should catch up on that. One more comment on the multisport layup of the hull: it is very robust and can withstand the occasional contact with gravel banks without visible damage. Unfortunately, the extended skeg tolerates this somewhat less well - unless the skeg adjuster slides really easily. Then the very stiff skeg wire can kink and the silent loss of the skeg is the inevitable consequence. This is not a major problem. The complete skeg is a spare part and replacing it takes about 10 minutes. My only wish for Stellar would be a tightly closing day hatch. The model installed at the time was not tight.

The Stellar S14 G2 can do a lot: big water, small water, full load with camping equipment, being hoisted onto a small car on its own, an after-work lap upstream against a 4.5 km/h current, having fun in waves and wind - and there's nothing it can't do - if the rider weighs a maximum of 95 kg and wants to maximise the speed potential. That's exactly why I sold the S14 G2 after 2 years of use and a lot of fun - and replaced it with a Stellar S18 Exp, which is better suited to my weight class. All in all, a great boat for all occasions.