Perception Expression

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We have waited a long time for the true replacement for the Perception Carolina 15 that we used to know and love. The Carolina 12 and 14 do not quite fit into the UK touring kayaks stable, but the Expression certainly does.

What is the diference between Recreational Day Touring, Touring and Sea Kayaking? "Nothing much" is the truthful answer, other than kayak length, distance paddled and paddler experience. Longer narrower kayaks are usually paddled by more experienced paddlers over longer distances. On that basis, the Perception Expression fits perfectly into Touring. More performance and forward speed than a Day Touring kayak, but not as quick as a sea kayak which can cost twice as much, and more.

We had given the Expression a serious Mk1 eyeball test and a good "sitting-in-it-on-the-floor" test at the annual trade show in Nuremburg and both sizes are comfortable stunners. The bow and foredeck lines are very pleasing to the eye and if Perception had made a boat that did not paddle well, then it's time to throw in the towel.

This was our first opportunity to paddle the Expression. It was bitterly cold, and snowing, with a stiff easterly wind blowing off the South Downs.

This is a limited test until we get get the boat to sea in more interesting and warmer conditions. Expression has a slight V-shaped hull which felt very reassuring yet responsive. The kayak is not unduly tippy and responds to edging as a Touring kayak of these proportions should. In fact, both the 14 and 15 behaved exactly as we hoped they would.

The skeg deployed and retracted as it should, although there was no way for us to test its effectiveness in quartering seas and breezes.

The hull shape, bow entry, fore deck and rear deck are of classic UK touring kayak designs. The Venture Easkys and Dagger Charlestons now have a Touring kayak competitor from Perception in the form of the Expression.

The cockpit configuration is good and the Zone DLX outfitting is very comfortable. Despite the fact that there is a lot of adjustment, like everything on the market these days the seat back is too high and fouls your spraydeck and buoyancy aid a bit. This is regrettably par for the course - "one must take one's armchair to sea with one". Gone are the days when we taught paddlers to sit and paddle correctly, said a grumpy Old Duffer.

So Perception Expression is with us at last. Good news for touring paddlers as the choice of great touring kayaks has just got wider.

Spraydeck

The Perception Expresstion will take a range of spraydecks in UK size 5 (R5 or N5). We recommend the Palm Roanoke spraydeck for those looking for a neoprene deck, or a Palm Coniston for a Nylon deck.

 

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Perception Expression Stats

Reviewed by:
The Chilly Willies from Brighton Canoes
(The Canoe Shops Group - November)