Anybody outfitted an Esquif Echo?

[Whit30]

I think it would be a decent WW boat fully bagged out with saddle, straps, etc. Ive only had it in easy class II so far with no outfitting other than raising the seat a bit to fit my feet under it to kneel. It dances in current, eddy catching machine. Kinda reminds me of my old Mad River ME in the way it handles, but the ME was deeper and wider in the middle and even more rockered.
I plan on adding some 30" bags, knee pads, and thighs straps at some point. Not gonna take it on the Ocoee, but that's more the old man pilot than the boat I think. But Id take it to the Nantahala as is without much concern at all.

 

[dutchlennart]

There are a nummer of European paddlers that have out fitted then with bags. Main issue on movint / whitewater is the lack of dryness. To me esquif has many great options for whitewater paddling.

Enjoy your paddling whatever boat in aĺl kinds of waters

 

[gumpus]

I remember site member Turtle commenting that his Echo was a wet ride. Echo center depth is only 11.5 inches.

 

[M Clemens]

I think it would be a decent WW boat fully bagged out with saddle, straps, etc. Ive only had it in easy class II so far with no outfitting other than raising the seat a bit to fit my feet under it to kneel. It dances in current, eddy catching machine. Kinda reminds me of my old Mad River ME in the way it handles, but the ME was deeper and wider in the middle and even more rockered.
I plan on adding some 30" bags, knee pads, and thighs straps at some point. Not gonna take it on the Ocoee, but that's more the old man pilot than the boat I think. But Id take it to the Nantahala as is without much concern at all.

The Echo T-Formex lite boats are starting to show up in the New York dealers; I'm wondering if you have weighed yours to verify the 42 pound claim. I am interested in one, but always skeptical of advertised weights.

 

[Whit30]

The Echo T-Formex lite boats are starting to show up in the New York dealers; I'm wondering if you have weighed yours to verify the 42 pound claim. I am interested in one, but always skeptical of advertised weights.

I haven't weighed the Echo but Ive owned a Royalex Old Town Pack 12' solo boat since the 90s, advertised in its day at 33lb.
So comparatively speaking, the advertised weight of the Echo in T-Formax Lite seems to be pretty close in line with reality.
Is it light as a feather? No, not compared with fancy modern composite layups. Could you portage it a half mile? Yea if you are young and strong and install a good yoke. Would I? Heck no.
But I can litf it on my shoulder with one hand, tote it 25-50 yards, lift it over my head without putting it down, and slide it onto the rack of my 4 Runner without having a 68 yr arthritic old man heart attack, so far at least.

 

[eckilson]

I have knee pads and can put thigh straps and bags in my Yellowstone Solo. Fun to play in, but it is definitely a submarine.

Yellowstone Solo Outfitting

Explore this photo album by Erik Eckilson on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

I wouldn't go so far as to put a pedestal - nice to be able to sit on the seat in the flatwater