Stellar S-14: Ultra Light Touring Kayak 

I have but it’s been years. I tried to get my hands on some of their newer stuff, but they’ve been sold out like everyone else. Hopefully I get to play with one in the future

I'll be doing one for sure. It's more forgiving on an edge than a Sitka, quicker to speed, and higher top speed. The initial stability may feel a little looser because of the soft chine, but as it leans it will feel more stable. Hard to explain in comments, but it is a more stable platform overall compared to an LT. Both boats are easy-handing and playful, but the Stellar is a bit looser when turning. Also more playful in choppy conditions due to the volume and rocker profile. The Sitka is a great do it all boat that is meant to behave well in all conditions. It's very predictable and that's why it's so well loved. The durability of an Eddyline is great, Carbonlite takes a beating for sure. The Stellar Fiberglass is stout, but the gel coat will always be a little more fragile. With that said, long-term fiberglass is much more repairable, just higher maintenance. Hope that helps until I get the video done.

@@HeadwatersKayak absolutely thanks!

I have a few different Stellar kayaks and my inlaws own Wilderness boats. I cannot compare it to other brands I haven't tried but I think the world of the S14 G2. It's fast, very fast for its length and picks up speed quickly. It does have a HUGE speed potential, was faster than a local well known instructor paddling a much longer plastic P&H boat I believe the 18 foot long Virgo. I can pass most plastic and recreational or sit on top boats like they are standing still; approaching from behind I have been told I make it look like they are going in reverse. It sure looks like it. Once a guided group even clapped at me. I get compliments on the looks and speed all the time. Thanks to this boat I manage to get mistaken for a serious paddler who actually knows what he is doing. For the record I am quite strong, lift weights and in excellent shape exercising doing multiple different things at least 2 hours most days, more on the weekends. I am just an unsteady klutz and this boat is stable enough to allow me to be fast but have fun on the water. It is a little tippy but I think most composite boats will be unstable as it comes with being light, stiff, efficient and responsive. I appreciate the wider 24.5" hull that is a nice touch for stability; I wish more composite boats were as wide or wider so they don't always want to flip on you. Thanks to not being totally needle shaped it's not totally terrifying, you can take a drink or have a meal on the water and not flip over if you stop paddling, unlike the first S14 or any version of the S16 which are a lot more unstable where you couldn't do anything except keep paddling as fast as you could and not even turn your head to look at things or the stability would get upset. Other than the S12 which is a lot slower this is about the most stable single composite Kayak I have ever tried though because even in strong wind, like 20mph and white caps coming from the side, the boat doesn't get upset that much and stays mostly level only bobbing around a little bit and never threatening to flip. The blend of stability and speed is confidence inspiring as long as the going doesn't get too tough. I still won't take this S14 out on open water though, good as it is it's a little too tippy for that and nowhere near as unflappable or unflippable as my inlaws' Wilderness Tsunami boats. That's a whole other level of seaworthiness, nothing can compete with the rock steady Tsunamis! It also tracks really well in bad conditions but you need the skeg down. Without the skeg it goes this way and that. You can customize this handling by how far down you keep it I prefer full down all the time as it seems to make the boat more stable and you can go faster too not having to worry about course corrections as much. In my experience a skeg is more reliable than rudder. I have an ST17 and the rudder breaks about once a year despite being careful; too many fragile moving parts. I had the previous S14 for a couple years as well but sold it to being a little small and way too tippy but on that one the skeg never failed either. It's quite light at 37lbs and carries easily which makes it a wonderful flatwater boat as I live inland with many lakes and rivers with dubious boat ramps that are closed a lot of the year so I can hop the fences or leave my vehicle in industrial parks next to the bodies of water and go through forest to put in wherever carrying this boat. I find the Advantage lay up to be fairly durable. Rock impacts more often than not don't leave scratches but over time yes the gelcoat will require maintenance and upkeep. You still need to be careful and not beach or launch this boat making sure it touches only water and never bottom or rocks; this goes 10x if you're sitting in it! The Advantage helps you get away with most accidental violations of that requisite policy of owning a composite boat, notice I said most not all. Fortunately this type of composite fiberglass boats is one of the cheapest and easiest to maintain even if you pay someone to do it for you. I have a Stellar Dragonfly that is a delight in different ways but the Excel layup is very fragile. Every time it touches a rock there will be a gouge on the paint or worse. It's far more responsive but IMHO not worth the extra cost, fragility and risk you take as with those higher end layups as damage to the hollow sandwich Nomex layer is permanent. Once crushed you have to fill it in with fiberglass patches eventually negating the weight savings. So Advantage really is the "best" all round layup when you consider long term considerations, durability, and bang for the buck. Plus fast as this boat is I don't think it can make the most out of the extra performance you will get from the higher end layups, if you want/need that much speed you should probably be looking at the surfskis. And expect to swim a LOT. You could probably do better for more money or a more specific design but for me any boat that picks up any more performance sacrifices so much stability as the surfskis or moving to the S16 that I just cannot handle it. I think this boat fulfills a nice niche for something light, relatively small and easy to store, easy to carry, very fast and easy(ish) to paddle. If you don't want to go to any of the advanced "technical" stuff that is really hard and downright terrifying involving you upside down in freezing water like rolling, skirts or rescue, and enjoy paddling close to shore without ever wanting to take a swim this is about the fastest rig out there. I have made peace that my paddling will not improve past the point of what this boat can offer because where I live the water sucks it's so cold and the reason I paddle is to enjoy the lakes and rivers without ever having to experience the unpleasant sensation of entering them and getting wet, dry suit or not. Did I mention how light, crisp, responsive, durable, and incredibly fast it is?

I hope to get my demo in April. I'll get it out on the water as soon as I can.

@@HeadwatersKayak That would be awesome! Thanks!

Faster for sure, and much more playful. This honestly compares more to a Sitka LT in Performace, but has the larger cockpit and even more stability than the Equinox.

Lendal Storm or Cadence are my favorites

@@HeadwatersKayak fantastic! I'll take a look at both of them. Thanks, Dan. I replied regarding the demo on my other post.

Now it’s considered middle volume there was no HV when this video was made.