Thanks Stewart, the curiosity was getting to me 

The pictures quality are good enough to see what a different direction Think has taken. For those that havent seen it yet the LEGEND hull looks like a normal type ski front that morphs into a nearly flat bottom hard chined rear end. Looks very fast like it could get up on the plain.

Stewart if you havent had a chance to take it in the ocean..maybe Willy can answer

With that hard chine how is the transition between primary and secondary stability, coping with direction changes and cross chop to the rear.

This is what Willy said:

Cant fault it, fastest boat i have ever been in. Linked up run after run so easy.



So I guess the direction changes weren't a problem for him. He commented on how stable the ski was, as did everyone who demoed it at the weekend, from low to intermediate paddlers, to one of the top racers in Australia.

Hi Stewart,

If you get a chance, please send a set my way. Thanks.


paddleshop@hotmail.com


Aloha,
pog


P.S. To Daryl, will keep trying !

Hi all,

I have not seen the pictures that Stew has shot yet, but I imagine they make the hull look pretty flat.

This is an illusion created by the hard chines, as the hull actually has a gently curved cross section between the chines. In fact it is not as "flat" as a competitors hull. This curve allows the paddler to easily control the attitude of the boat, and not be forced into fighting a flat hulled boats tendancy to stay square to the surface of the water.

The hard chines offer tons of secondary stability, and once up and running offer better release, making the boat nice and slippery for linking runs together.

Best regards,

Daryl

Second batch.  Interesting hull shape!

It's not actually. If you see the ski and inspect it you will see that to be the case.





Experts designed it, so they're more than happy with their work.


[/quote] 
What is the drawback of having such a flat bottom and sharp angles? I looks  like it is very stable but slow in the chop as those angles resist the roll.
[/quote]

On the contrary, this ski takes off in the chop, is exceptionally easy to paddle. If you ever get a chance to paddle it you will get to appreciate how well it deals with choppy water. Reaction here has been fantastic.

Looks like a skiff. I would think that secondary stability would be determined by the topside profile, not the hull bottom, which appears to have a V shape to some degree. A couple of minor points. It might be the photography, but the rudder does not look like a proper foil. The other would be the footstraps. This is mostly a personal preference thing on my part, but I like a one piece padded velcro adjustable strap, so that the feet can be strapped in tight. This ski needs to be downhill reviewed by a paddler experienced with the two benchmarks--the V10 and M6.

I'm going to keep an open mind as I am currently in the market for a new ski, although I'll have to say that I am most highly impressed at this point with the direction that the Surf70 Pro has taken.

Things are definitely heating up, as I recall Greg Barton mentioning in Dubai having some new designs, either on the table or in at least in mind. I love an arms race.

The straps are adjustable, so can be made as tight or lose as you like.

I also have in stock, velcro straps for our kayak range, and they fit on nicely, so you can have it either way.



Do you mind if I don't let someone take my ski downhill!!!

Only joking.

Willy, who posted earlier, has moved from an XLR8, so his thoughts are more than valid I would say. In that paddle downwind, he knocked out 14kms in 56 mins, after paddling 12 kms across a bay to get out through the heads chase the runs north.

I know he tried all of the skis you mentioned, Ritchie.

I think though, that rather than make direct comparisons between skis, people should get out there and try everything that's available, and whatever feels right for them, then go for that ski. Of course I'm going to be biased towards Think Kayaks, the same way the designers and manufacturers of other craft are going to tell you what they do is best. But if this continual search for improvement in hull designs keeps everyone on their toes and thinking of how to do things better, well than you guys who are out there doing the paddling can only benefit. There have been some exciting designs of late, and the guys who have done the hard work coming up with them should be applauded.