Gear Review
Necky Eliza Kayak with Rudder
neoprene covers worthless
By Anne Anderson
Ranked #753 - Kayaks
July 28, 2009
I just bought a necky eliza kayak. Haven't used it yet but I'm sure it will do what I was looking for EXCEPT, the neoprene covers are impossible to put back on once you take them off. It took my husband a half hour to finally get them back on. I'll never be able to use them. I guess I will just have to buy waterproof stuff bags and leave the covers at home.
To me this signifies very poor product design. I wonder what else I will discover once I use the boat. All other reviews I have read do not mention any problems with the covers but customer service for the distributor did mention they had several complaints.
View Details: Necky Eliza Kayak with Rudder
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Hull Material:
- polyethylene
- Width:
- [22 in ]
- Length:
- [15 ft ] 3.5 in
- Cockpit Dimensions:
- 28.25 x 16 in
- Bow Hatch Dimensions:
- 13.25 x 7.5 in
- Stern Hatch Dimensions:
- 13.25 x 7.5 in
- Rudder:
- yes
- Skeg:
- no
- Paddler Skill:
- beginner to advanced
- Recommended Use:
- woman paddlers up to 160 lbs, weekend touring
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- 1 year
Change me.
3 Comments Last Reply: March 31, 2010 By: Kate
Hi Anne, When I went to a Kayak show, the sales associate had to show us how to put the neoprene covers on. There is a trick, it's the same way you would pull up and put a neoprene skirt on when sitting in the kayak. It will take some muscle, but once you know how to put it on, everything will stay nice and dry and it will be worth it. When putting it on, you need to start at one end and pull slowly up the sides of the opening, maintaining pressure on the cover so it doesn't slip off. A little practice and you'll be good to go. I have tried it on a lake at a show, it just glides so easily through the water. If I ever have money I plan on trading my "older" 12' Preception kayak in for a 14' Eliza.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
This definitely gets easier after they've been used a while. The covers on my Eskia were evil to start with and I do it with minimal effort now.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I have a Necky Looksha 17 and thought the same thing about the neoprene covers on it. I found that the trick is to roll one end inside out and then start to put the cover on using the opposite end, slowly moving your hands along to the "inside out" end as you stretch it over the hatch openeings> It goes on fairly quickly.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes