Description

The Xcite is designed as a fast yet manoeuvrable costal touring kayak. At home playing in rough water, equally comfortable carving turns through rock gardens, the Xcite has ample storage for week long trips. Its high stability and quick turning response make this boat a joy for those paddlers looking to improve their skills and take on advanced conditions.

The Xcite has been in development since it was originally designed by Aled Williams in 2001. This final version is totally redeveloped through the use of CAD design software and a new wood strip plug was made. The Xcite now benefits from a more refined hull design: waterline volume distribution has been equalised, waterline length increased by 80mm,  lowering of waterplane(cwp), prismatic(cp), midship area(cx) and block(cb) coefficients and finer Half Angle of Entry and Exit, giving a more efficient hull. The bow volume has been redistributed to reduce slamming in choppy waters and the stern area shaped to reduce squatting of the stern while paddling forward. The rear deck has been raised to increase stiffness and storage, a fore-deck hatch added and the bow hatch profiled to ease vacuum construction. The final version of the Xcite is faster and more efficient while still retaining volume, stability and the seaworthy rough water handling performance is has become renowned for.

Details

The Xcite is suited for paddlers ranging between 5' 5" and 6' 2", and weighing up to 16stone.  The Xcite can accommodate large feet.

The Xcite may be used as a "day boat" by taller / heavier paddlers.

Lines Plan

Stability

Stability curve generated for Xcite: Paddler weight = 80kg, Boat weight = 24kg, Cargo = 7kg

Design Brief

The Brief: Design a touring sea kayak with playful performance and the best handling in rough seas.

This kayak should fit paddlers 5’ 4” to 6’ 2”, capable of week long expeditioning, be stable and responsive in rough conditions, set new performance levels for playing on the sea.

Notes from the Designer: I consider myself very lucky to be born and brought up in Holyhead, the sea conditions around the islands make for a perfect sea kayak play ground. To take best advantage of the strong tide around Anglesey, you need a special kind of boat. The most exhilarating thrill for me is paddling out to a tide swept headland and surfing its overfall and tidal race. The power of the sea is evident here, it’s in your face, it’s all around. It pushes me to new limits, it occasionally allows me to think that I can master it, but never for very long. The Xcite is my choice boat here, and it’s all about having a reserve, a performance margin and a comfort zone.
This final computer generated hull of the Xcite gives the boat more speed, a tighter carving arc, equalised longitudinal balance and a stable and more progressive edging characteristic.

Setup

For touring purposes, the Xcite seat location is best in the standard position for all sizes of paddlers. Due to the exagerated rocker of the Xcite, boat trim is important for maximum paddling efficiency during touring. Over loading the stern will cause slight drag, while overloading the bow will reduce directional stability.

The trim of the Xcite may be exploited for high performance paddling in waves and rough conditions by moving the seat outside of the recommended touring position. Moving the seat forward will loosen up the boat while surfing; this makes manouvering on a wave easier at the risk of "spin-out" on steep waves. Moving the seat back will cause the Xcite to run straighter on a wave. Best all round performance is achieved in the standard middle position.