Have I missed something? Epic V8?

Just looking through this Swedish site after the cover was featured on a surfski.info facebook post and found this pic, as I cant read Swedish have no idea what this is about?





and after a bit more digging

Ah, ha, the secrets out.
Dealers have been sworn to silence.
There are some in the latest container coming in a couple of weeks to Aussie.
Do they have stock or have they done the naughty and broke silence before the word wide launch?

Looks like the latest V12 "styling" with the "Think" steel handholds at the ends , shorter and wider than a sport for more stability.

Google translated:

First pictures of new Epic V8

Written by paddling jonas on 10/19/10 • In the category News, Gadgets

V8 B2Epic is going on with a new surfski that what we understand is a bit shorter and more stable model based on the same hull as sea kayak 18X. This makes it a good bit shorter than the classic V10 and the new V12.

Otherwise we do not know much more than that the plan is that it will be launched in the U.S. about a week and we certainly have reason to return.

There you go, made nice and clicky for an to see.

Swedish website

I've paddled an 18X sport, which is just a little bit different in the waterline to the 18X.
It paddles very much like any other Epic ski with a good position and narrow legs and good leg drive if you want.

Certainly unlike any other sea kayak I've seen.

I can see this being a fun boat.
Still has a reasonably tight catch position and at the weight I heard of 15kg, well, it all looks good.
I know many smaller tentative beginner paddlers out there that this would be perfect for.

For those like me that didn't realise at first, those piccies in the original post are clicky and bring up nice big images with easy to read information.

That looks good. At last a surfski that fits into a 20ft container. Cant wait to see the launch. Knowing Epic it should be good. Wonder if 'O' will give this one his full and unbridled 'I'll win the Molokai in this one'

Details are now public ...

www.epickayaks.org/introducing-the-new-v8-epic-surfski/

Epic link: "Our goal with the V8 is to provide a boat that bridges the gap between sea kayaks and surfskis".

I think that concept got done 2yrs ago
www.thinkkayaks.com/think-fit.html

Think Site: "The Think Fit is unique in other aspects as well. It is the first of its kind to be a hybrid between a surfski and kayak"

It's actually been up there for a while as a hidden page.....

I'd like to see a rear hatch option, would turn it into an ideal island hopping boat for overnight stays.


So who's going to be the first to start up;

V8 Superski racing on the Gold Coast!

It looks like a nice boat, and will no doubt turn more people on to the concept of fitness paddling. That's always a good thing!

Is this not just a rebranded V10 Sport or is it a new ski?

Definitely a new ski - specs are very different from a V10S.

superted wrote:

Epic link: "Our goal with the V8 is to provide a boat that bridges the gap between sea kayaks and surfskis".

I think that concept got done 2yrs ago
www.thinkkayaks.com/think-fit.html

Think Site: "The Think Fit is unique in other aspects as well. It is the first of its kind to be a hybrid between a surfski and kayak"

My wife owns a Think Fit, and it's a superb boat, but a little different from this concept. The Fit is more of a kayak/wide ICF boat (enclosed cockpit with a rim for a skirt) with a surf ski interior; the V-8 is a surf ski with a kayak bottom. It could be an interesting race between the boats, however: the Fit is a foot shorter but 2 inches narrower.

Looks like a direct response the the Custome Kayaks Horizon.

Horizon is 19" wide
V8 is 22" wide
But they are about the same length

Now if they incorporate the deck cutaways into the 18X, we would then have sea kayak that could really be paddled efficiently.....

My old 18X has deck cut-aways.

The 18X paddles very efficiently as is! In this year's Myall Classic (47Km) overall, 3rd place went to Tony Hogbin paddling his 18X against all comers, in 4hrs 6min. He then backed this up in the Hawkesbury Classic (111Km) finishing 1st in his class (against specialist racing craft) in 9hrs 18min. (The quickest surfski was 9hrs 28Min)

Hi all I had the pleasure of racing my V8 in Canberra last weekend on the sat race I did 10 kms in 1 hour 40 secs in very low water
On Sun I did 13 kms in 1 hour 21 mins I was placed in the Vet 35 section As I was the only Vet65 I managed 2nd place after passing some V10s when the going got tough The V8 was great