Stellar S18 R Marathon Racer

"I bought the Stellar S18R in the multisport version as a switch from the Lettmann Streamliner, which I sold again after 6 months. My personal experience with the S18R: My boat in the multisport layout weighs 16.8 kg and is therefore comfortabl...

"I bought the Stellar S18R in the multisport version as a switch from the Lettmann Streamliner, which I sold again after 6 months. My personal experience with the S18R: My boat in the multisport layout weighs 16.8 kg and is therefore comfortable to carry to the water. When you get on the S18R, you notice the high initial stability. You almost have the feeling of getting into a sporty hiking boat. The cockpit is extremely comfortable, especially the visually rather uncomfortable, unpadded seat which, unlike other boats, doesn't cause me any problems with my sciatic nerve. I am 1.93m tall and would still have a few centimetres of space up to the front bulkhead.
Unlike the Streamliner, there are no real thigh supports, but in my opinion these are not needed in this type of boat either, as it is usually intended to be driven with racing technique and these are then only annoying during active leg work.
With the wing paddle, I can accelerate the boat very quickly and quite effortlessly to around 9 km/h as a rider with average paddling experience, which can be maintained for a long time with moderate effort without a headwind or wave. This is where the extra 30 cm in length (5.48 m) is definitely noticeable for me in a direct comparison with the Streamliner (length does matter). Beyond 10 km/h it becomes more strenuous for me, at approx. 14.5 km/h over short distances I personally had to call it a day.
The footboard is great for active leg work, in combination with the steering, which reacts extremely sensitively via the pedals even at high speed, simply a dream.
This part was my biggest criticism of the Lettmann Streamliner, for which there is currently no usable footboard option. The stem board with tiller steering was too unstable for me and required constant corrections for straight-ahead sailing, but even with the standard steering pedestal, the steering was unsatisfactory for me.
The straight-ahead performance of the S18R is impeccable thanks to the perfect steering, even at high speeds and with a lot of effort, and it hardly leaves the track even when the wind blows from diagonally forwards.
Without steering, the Stellar S18R is still easy to steer straight ahead, but the boat also loses noticeable stability to the sides. However, my technique is not good enough for higher speeds without the helm and I leave the intended course.

Optically, the S18R impresses me with the modern appearance of the deck and an impeccably crafted lower hull made of exposed laminate. I only use the boat for training, but the factory-fitted double bulkhead at the front and rear with luggage hatches provides a considerable load capacity, which also makes multi-day luggage trips possible. Additional luggage could be lashed to the boat thanks to numerous deck lines. I simply removed the lines to make cleaning easier."

"The maiden voyage took place in November with two friends who had expedition kayaks. We travelled 10 km southwest of the Helsinki clubhouse to an island where you can have a break and a fire. During the night it was -2C, but 0 when we left and...

"The maiden voyage took place in November with two friends who had expedition kayaks. We travelled 10 km southwest of the Helsinki clubhouse to an island where you can have a break and a fire. During the night it was -2C, but 0 when we left and +1 when we came back. The wind was 6 ms SW and the sea almost calm. When I sat down in the kayak it felt like a racing kayak and I was ready to balance with the paddle. But after a few pushes, the kayak felt stable and I didn't have to think about balance anymore. As my friends had slower boats and wanted to keep their clothes dry for the break, we paddled in accordance. I found that the S18R can be paddled slowly because you don't have to put power into the strokes to get support from the paddle. The kayak feels more stable. And that's exactly what I was looking for. In one section, the waves were reflected off the bank and I hardly noticed them. This is promising behaviour in wind and waves and I'm looking forward to next season!

"A top combination of speed, tipping stability, touring and everyday suitability, in waves and flat water + lightness! The S18R has a big keyhole hatch with an outside length of approx. 90cm. I fit in and out easily at 185cm without throwing o...

"A top combination of speed, tipping stability, touring and everyday suitability, in waves and flat water + lightness! The S18R has a big keyhole hatch with an outside length of approx. 90cm. I fit in and out easily at 185cm without throwing out the back section. Lite Venture's description of the boat really does match the characteristics 100 per cent (never experienced anything like it!). I have tested a number of sea kayaks under realistic, rough conditions and I am delighted. I can also recommend the Skim Beaufort for wind and waves at sea. Both boats radiate calm in choppy water, where others react terribly stubbornly. There are also mercilessly false "marketing slogans" about some boats in this respect. It's better to spend a little money and the fun starts with loading (18kg versus PE 28kg) and doesn't stop with wind and waves. When you start surfing on inland waves and it's rushing at the bow, you forget your age ... I treated myself to the Stellar S18R for my 70th birthday (in advance) - now I can easily keep up with the younger paddlers in our group for a few more years."