On, Wisconsin, On, to QCC
Published December 30, 2005 | 
Raise her glowing flame
Stand, Fellows, let us now
Salute her name! – Carl Beck
One thing is for sure, the Wisconsin “Fight” song certainly has nothing on Manchester United. Why don’t our football songs start with lines like, “We’ve won the f****in’n lot. .” !
These days there are not a lot of kayaks out there that I really want to “test” paddle. I think I’ve probably taken most of the well known sea kayaks out for a romp. The Alaw from Rockpool calls to me but without flying to the UK there’s no way to try one. Which is probobly the same problem folks in the UK would have if they wanted to paddle a QCC. Which by the way, is the other kayak I really want to paddle. The Q700X by QCC looks like flippin’ fast boat.
QCC is one of just a couple of Wisconsin kayak makers. Founded in 1991 QCC is located in in Exeland, WI which is about 40 miles east of Rice Lake in North West Wisconsin. Over the years they have nurtured a reputation for high quality kayaks. One thing is sure, QCC owners are a very vocal and loyal bunch. Interestingly you have to purchase a QCC kayak directly from the manufacturer so running out to the local shop to try one is right out. According to QCC avoiding dealerships allows the customer to save 35% to 40% on the cost of the kayak. These days that can be a good chunk of change!
The thing that got me interested in paddling a QCC is actually a chart they provided on their website comparing waterlines of various kayaks. According to their website, a QCC with a length of 16′ 10″ would on average, have a waterline equal to a 18′ 8″ kayak. That jumped right out at me. Obviously a kayak designed with a longer waterline should be much more efficient and pretty darn quick. The chart really gets interesting when you start comparing QCC boats to say, a Valley Nordkapp or an Artic Hawk. Obviously these boats are all designed with different goals in mind, but still on paper it’s amazing to think that a 17′+ kayak may only have a waterline of around 15 feet. I wonder how the Q700x waterline would compare to our NDK Greenlander!?
QCC has a nice range of kayaks from the 13 foot Q300 right up to the 18 foot Q700x. They offer choices of; Fiberglass, Kevlar, Kevlar/carbon or carbon construction, and lots of other options depending on your needs, and the size of your check book. Of course I’m interested in the “long boats” and the fact that QCC says that the “Q700x may be the fastest touring kayak available today” also has me intrigued. I’ll certainly have to paddle one sometime. As you know I’m not really a speed junkie as much as I like rough water, but it sure is a blast to just open’er up once in awhile. The Q700x promises to do that.
Anyone bringing a 700 to the Fog Bowl??
For more details about Wisconsin’s QCC Kayaks go to QCCKayaks.com.
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7 Responses to On, Wisconsin, On, to QCC
Cay (who I’m driving up with) has a QCC 600 (for smaller folks than the 700) but I think she’ll probably bring her Impex Montauk. I also want to try the 600/700 someday to see what the hype is all about. The plumb bow doesn’t really appeal to me aesthetically but obviously that’s what gives it it’s longer waterline and speed. As for fastest touring kayak… it’s close to the fastest but I think the Epic Endurance 18 may edge them out on that one. Your Greenlander is one of the faster greenland/british style boats but it probably would get blown away by the qcc (paddling skills being equal) on flat water. The waterline numbers on the Arctic Hawk may be a bit misleading as I remember it topped the list for kayak efficiency (at 4-5 knots i believe) based on Sea Kayaker drag figures on one comparison site that I remember looking at.
I agree on the aesthetics, but like you said, that’s how it gets it’s speed.
Phil and Steve at QCC are great to work with. When they were still located in Janesville I used to go down and teach some classes there–in Janesville. They supplied all, and I mean ALL, the equipment. Additionally, when a friend of mine needed a boat with a skeg, they worked with him to build him a boat that met his needs–due to a spinal cord injury he did not have use of his legs so a rudder was out of the question. They built him a boat with a skeg, their first, and the quality was top shelf–as always!
I’ve been pondering the purchase of a QCC700x for some time now. I went to Exeland in July and got to see several of their boats in various stages of construction. Depite the plumb bow, I have never seen gel-coat and fiberglass look so good.
I have a QCC 600 carbon kevlar. It really is light and fast. In confused water it is somewhat less stable than others but I haven’t tipped it yet and that feeling of instability mostly went away by the end of my first season with the boat. After the second season it felt very stable on all but the most windy, water churning days. But then I don’t like being out on the water much on those days anyway. It is very comfortable to sit in for long paddles.
They aren’t being made anymore…for now…but has anyone ever paddled a Mariner Coaster in the waves or tidal races. I own a beauty and they seem quite similar in design concepts as QCCs. Check out the Coaster action in any Tsunami Rangers Video. People chain them up in California and leave their bicycles naked and exposed
Healthy Solstice to you all…Cheerio Tom
OOPPPs oh yeah the Illusion by Sterling Kayaks is a new and great performance design, looks more modern like Rockpool and NDK or more ancient like Anas Acuta or West Greenland SOF. The Illusion is said to be the “2nd best surfing sea kayak, after the Coaster”…George Gronseth@ Kayak Academy:)) T