- Location
- Mesa, Arizona
HI all,
I have been waiting for awhile to write this as I wanted to ride this ski and really get the feel of working on it before doing a review. I bought it back in January and have been building/testing it ever sense. Let me give you a bit of background first.
1. I am a novice level rider that has been trying to learn freestyle. My time is very limited so I only ride a few times per month year round. A couple seasons ago I cut up a square and did the widened tray, rocker nose, lowered hood ect and was pretty happy with it. However...it was still very heavy and I was ready for the next step...the Stryker is where I ended up.
2. Currently the ski has a very custom 760...I wanted to hone my skills on the smaller motor before making the big investment. As explained I only get to ride a few days a month so I have a hard time dropping big cash on a billet motor. I know its the direction I'll most likely go but for now its the 771 with lowered port timing, porting done by a buddy using the port logic templates and every bolt on available with the exception of TBM or some other AM Flywheel (running #zero lightened). Also not running total loss...MSD enhancer instead. 155 OEM pump with 6/10 Skat prop....OEM 44's 210 psi.
3. I know Chris at Epic well and have watched him develop this hull for several years. He is a fantastic guy always willing to lend a hand and someone that is as serious about riding as he is making parts. Additionally, he helps EVERYONE. Always willing to help tune, or help with a composite project. Seriously, I knew if something went bad with this product he'd stand behind it.
So here is my review.
Quality of craftsmanship:
Excellent....This hull is made of full carbon and comes in at 60lbs with no motor in it. He makes several layups for different levels of riding. I went with rec style as I wanted the strength and I have no aspirations of competing. The hood and hull look almost factory perfect. He vacuum bags everything which makes the finish and lay up flawless. The interior and exterior both are perfect. Its obvious some serious time is spent making this hull.
Handling:
This ski will turn on itself. The ride plate is crazy on this thing..never seen anything like it. It has double built in strakes and will absolutely RAIL. For a freestyle boat I was shocked at how well it turned and stays planted in the water. The additional width of the tray is like a damn patio. Makes for a very wide / low stance...I had zero issue jumping on the ski and just riding. I was anticipating falls...but the hull is just that easy to ride.
Overall ride:
She rides extremely high in the water...almost like you are riding water skiis. Its really an odd feeling at first but you grow to love it. My old chopped square rode very low so this was a huge change. It does ride a little nose high but nothing like an EME (My only other AM hull to reference). It starts off high but its really easy to board. The nose drops instantly. I noticed on my friends Q8 that I felt like I had to climb the ski as I was boarding. The Stryker is nothing like that. Its easy to flick one way or the other, but I will say the strakes make it harder to break lose of the water with my power plant and weight of 210lbs. The foot holds scared me at first but I love them now. Easy to get into and lock you in pretty well. Easy to get out of when you under rotate a flip or other trick. I would say I wasn't in love with the bolt/track set up. It was extremely hard to get the holds on once I had turfed under it. I ended up buying some longer bolts. I should have asked before spending 2 hours trying to fit them. He doens't turf under the holds.
Ease of Wrenching:
Quite a bit easier than I expected. The wide top deck allows you to get your hands in and out of places I have read other hulls do not. I have easy access to about 65% of the motor. I mounted my ebox like you would on an SJ but that was my choice. I have to pull the head pipe to get to it...I'd say that is the worst part of working on this ski.
Freestyle Capability:
Fantastic! I watch two of my buds on Strykers rip flips and many other tricks with ease. I know they are running huge motors so that helps but I know its only a short time before I am pulling at least 360's and small backflips. I just need more tray time. Off a boat wake this ski just wants to flip. Its almost impossible to keep it from rotating. I am sure I will learn how but for now I just go for the flip off the wake.
Overall:
These hulls are a fantastic beginner freestyle ski. Super easy to ride, extremely stable and very durable. I bought this hull used and it held up to 2 years of freestyle. I have flopped this thing a million times and I see no signs of stress cracks.
Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. These hulls have been out for about 2 years now and not much is known of them.
I have been waiting for awhile to write this as I wanted to ride this ski and really get the feel of working on it before doing a review. I bought it back in January and have been building/testing it ever sense. Let me give you a bit of background first.
1. I am a novice level rider that has been trying to learn freestyle. My time is very limited so I only ride a few times per month year round. A couple seasons ago I cut up a square and did the widened tray, rocker nose, lowered hood ect and was pretty happy with it. However...it was still very heavy and I was ready for the next step...the Stryker is where I ended up.
2. Currently the ski has a very custom 760...I wanted to hone my skills on the smaller motor before making the big investment. As explained I only get to ride a few days a month so I have a hard time dropping big cash on a billet motor. I know its the direction I'll most likely go but for now its the 771 with lowered port timing, porting done by a buddy using the port logic templates and every bolt on available with the exception of TBM or some other AM Flywheel (running #zero lightened). Also not running total loss...MSD enhancer instead. 155 OEM pump with 6/10 Skat prop....OEM 44's 210 psi.
3. I know Chris at Epic well and have watched him develop this hull for several years. He is a fantastic guy always willing to lend a hand and someone that is as serious about riding as he is making parts. Additionally, he helps EVERYONE. Always willing to help tune, or help with a composite project. Seriously, I knew if something went bad with this product he'd stand behind it.
So here is my review.
Quality of craftsmanship:
Excellent....This hull is made of full carbon and comes in at 60lbs with no motor in it. He makes several layups for different levels of riding. I went with rec style as I wanted the strength and I have no aspirations of competing. The hood and hull look almost factory perfect. He vacuum bags everything which makes the finish and lay up flawless. The interior and exterior both are perfect. Its obvious some serious time is spent making this hull.
Handling:
This ski will turn on itself. The ride plate is crazy on this thing..never seen anything like it. It has double built in strakes and will absolutely RAIL. For a freestyle boat I was shocked at how well it turned and stays planted in the water. The additional width of the tray is like a damn patio. Makes for a very wide / low stance...I had zero issue jumping on the ski and just riding. I was anticipating falls...but the hull is just that easy to ride.
Overall ride:
She rides extremely high in the water...almost like you are riding water skiis. Its really an odd feeling at first but you grow to love it. My old chopped square rode very low so this was a huge change. It does ride a little nose high but nothing like an EME (My only other AM hull to reference). It starts off high but its really easy to board. The nose drops instantly. I noticed on my friends Q8 that I felt like I had to climb the ski as I was boarding. The Stryker is nothing like that. Its easy to flick one way or the other, but I will say the strakes make it harder to break lose of the water with my power plant and weight of 210lbs. The foot holds scared me at first but I love them now. Easy to get into and lock you in pretty well. Easy to get out of when you under rotate a flip or other trick. I would say I wasn't in love with the bolt/track set up. It was extremely hard to get the holds on once I had turfed under it. I ended up buying some longer bolts. I should have asked before spending 2 hours trying to fit them. He doens't turf under the holds.
Ease of Wrenching:
Quite a bit easier than I expected. The wide top deck allows you to get your hands in and out of places I have read other hulls do not. I have easy access to about 65% of the motor. I mounted my ebox like you would on an SJ but that was my choice. I have to pull the head pipe to get to it...I'd say that is the worst part of working on this ski.
Freestyle Capability:
Fantastic! I watch two of my buds on Strykers rip flips and many other tricks with ease. I know they are running huge motors so that helps but I know its only a short time before I am pulling at least 360's and small backflips. I just need more tray time. Off a boat wake this ski just wants to flip. Its almost impossible to keep it from rotating. I am sure I will learn how but for now I just go for the flip off the wake.
Overall:
These hulls are a fantastic beginner freestyle ski. Super easy to ride, extremely stable and very durable. I bought this hull used and it held up to 2 years of freestyle. I have flopped this thing a million times and I see no signs of stress cracks.
Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. These hulls have been out for about 2 years now and not much is known of them.
