Quick review of Esquif Echo.

[Idiot Savant]

After a very long wait, I finally got my Esquif Echo.
Pretty happy with it overall. Reasonably fast, pretty stable, easy to keep going straight, yet turns without a lot of effort.
I let a fellow club member, who is an ACA instructor, take it out and she seemed very impressed with it.
On the negative side, it might be a tad wide for some people.
It also has very low sides. Might not be the best choice for a big lake on a windy day and you might need to leave the cooler home on a multiday river trip.
I was planning on using it for an upcoming overnight river trip, but it looks like I'll be paddling tandem, so I won't get to try it for that till next year.

 

[billconner]

Congrats! I test paddled one at Paddlefest in 2019 and quite liked it. It's only disadvantage was weight as one would have to accept with t-formax.

 

[Idiot Savant]

Congrats! I test paddled one at Paddlefest in 2019 and quite liked it. It's only disadvantage was weight as one would have to accept with t-formax.

Not really a BWCA boat. At least not at my age. I bought it, mostly, because I couldn't see taking my Northstar, North Wind down a rocky river.

 

[billconner]

I was thinking about NFCT when looking at the Echo.

 

[adkjoe]

I've been considering the Echo for a river boat due to the t-formex and that from what I've read you could sit or kneel in this boat unlike the NS Phoenix. My knees do not like the kneeling. I would gather a foot bar would install rather easy as well.

 

[Idiot Savant]

I've been considering the Echo for a river boat due to the t-formex and that from what I've read you could sit or kneel in this boat unlike the NS Phoenix. My knees do not like the kneeling. I would gather a foot bar would install rather easy as well.

If you have big feet, I'm not sure kneeling would work that well with this boat. I don't kneel, so I never tried it.
I'm undecided about installing foot braces. When paddling a loaded canoe I generally sit with my legs crossed, leaving more room for cargo.
If I installed braces, they'd be the kind you find on kayaks rather than the bar you typically see in canoes.
I think this boat will work great on rivers, but I think it's limited to class II, at most. Just not deep enough for rough water.

 

[adkjoe]

If you have big feet, I'm not sure kneeling would work that well with this boat. I don't kneel, so I never tried it.
I'm undecided about installing foot braces. When paddling a loaded canoe I generally sit with my legs crossed, leaving more room for cargo.
If I installed braces, they'd be the kind you find on kayaks rather than the bar you typically see in canoes.
I think this boat will work great on rivers, but I think it's limited to class II, at most. Just not deep enough for rough water.

Great insight, thank you! Not much of a WW guy but wouldn't mind a boat for rivers... Class ll is perfect for what I do.

 

[Art D]

I too recently purchased an Echo for mixed lakes-to-river trips that I do here in Maine. It's been quite a transition from paddling my Magic. However, I find that there is plenty of room to kneel barefoot or while wearing Crocs. I also find the boat incredibly stable. I took it out in heavy winds and white caps early this week and never felt out of control. The Echo is forcing me to learn a whole new set of paddling skills, and that's exactly why I got it.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I too recently purchased an Echo for mixed lakes-to-river trips that I do here in Maine.

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