Pelican International Wins Prestigious “Gear of the Year” Award

Pelican International’s Elie Strait 140 XE kayak named best boat by Outside Magazine

Laval, Québec, May 16, 2011- Pelican is proud to announce that its Elie Strait 140 XE kayak has won Outside magazine’s prestigious Summer 2011 Gear of the Year award for best boat. For the past 16 years, the magazine has been selecting its favorite products, spotlighting “only the best-performing gear available” and the “best values in each class”.

“The Straight 140 XE is one of those rare boats that just about every tester liked,” said Buyer’s Guide editor Sam Moulton. “It’s fast and agile enough for quick outings and day trips, but it really shined on longer trips. It tracks beautifully, has plenty of storage, and is impressively stable, even in heavy chop.”
At 14 feet long, the Elie Strait 140 XE weighs just 53 pounds. Made from an exclusive and proprietary material, Poly-XRâ„¢, the Strait provides the durability of polyethylene with the stiffer and lighter feel of a composite boat. The narrow front of the Strait’s asymmetrical Swede-form hull, as well as its V-hull and keel extension, offer superior speed, tracking and steering. Its broader stern allows for ample storage for longer trips.

In addition to its technical prowess, the Elie Strait 140 XE offers exceptional comfort. The craft’s Ergoflex Seating Systemâ„¢ offers a tailored fit for optimal comfort and back support; a mesh back allows air to circulate, and an EVA-padded seat provides thigh support, minimizing paddler fatigue.

Priced at $1100, the Elie Strait 140 XE brings a technically advanced, feature-loaded kayak within the reach of many paddling enthusiasts.
Pelican’s complete line of Elie kayaks can be found at www.eliesport.com
For more information about Pelican International, please visit Pelican’s website at www.pelicansport.com

About Pelican International

Founded in 1968 and based in Laval, Quebec, Pelican International is a leader in kayaks, canoes, small fishing boats, pedal boats and outdoor winter toys. As a company that promotes enjoying the great outdoors, Pelican is committed to protecting our environment and recycles 99.5% of the excess material produced in their manufacturing process to make new products and has installed specially designed ducts that redirect heated air from their molding ovens to heat their production facility in the winter. Pelican International also promotes safe boating, advising all passengers to wear a coast guard-approved personal flotation device at all times when aboard a boat.