Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Over the last month or so I have had around 30 emails asking if I could do I little comparison between these boats.
Having paddled the Liquid Logic Stomper, Wavesport Recon, Dagger Mamba and Jackson Karma over recent months I thought it would be quite good to gather a few statistics and thoughts in one place.
Over the last couple of months I have had lots on enquiries from smaller (than me) paddlers asking about the Wavesport 70. There is no way I could possibly shoe horn myself into a 70 and give any kind of sensible verdict. I put a few feelers out and Elaine Campbell answered the call and has compiled the following. Many Thanks.
I’ve been paddling the Wave Sport Recon 70 since September and couldn’t be happier with it’s performance. Prior to that I paddled the Diesel 70 as my creek boat for about 3 years, the Habitat for one year, and Huck for 2 years.
Yes, I do paddle for Wave Sport and of course I want you to purchase a Wave Sport boat but I also want you to buy a boat that you are going to be comfortable in. I’m just letting you know my opinion of the Wave Sport Recon 70. The best advice I have for you is to go to your local dealer or try a friends Recon or look me up and we can meet up and you can try mine. I have a Recon 70 and a Recon 83 that I’d be more than happy for you try and then you tell me how you like it. I’ll bet you will be super impressed with this boat and will more than likely go buy one. Believe me if I didn’t feel comfortable in this boat I’d still use my Diesel 70 as my creek boat but guess what I’m not! Continue reading
I took the Recon out for another spin yesterday and took an allen key along with me. I spent the day lapping the Tees Barrage International Whitewater Course and making fine adjustments to the seat position each time.
In some respects the birth of uber flexible outfitting in kayaks has killed off the need for the many hours spent shaping and glueing foam together to get that perfect fit. However if you are not using a bean bag footrest or want some outfitting that is a little bit more bespoke then you do need to rely upon cutting/shaping and glueing foam.
The plastic seat most manufacturers install in their kayaks is molded to generic size even if the kayak is available in several different sizes. To get the most of any kayak design it is important that it fits you well. This means that all contact points – seat base, seat sides, back rest, foot rest and thigh braces should be adjusted/customised to fit your body. In this post I’m going to concentrate on the seat and what you can do to improve fit.
We all know that feeling – The deep pain/numbness associated with being packed tightly into a plastic container and thrown around for an hour or two. Continue reading
The shots below show the process of removing a seat from a Liquid Logic Stomper. The way in which this seat is fastened into the shell will be very similar to all other recent LL kayaks. Before removing the seat I used a pencil to mark the inside of the hull so I knew its position ready for when it was fastened back in.
The seat is held in place by two bolts. Each one is located to the side of the cockpit. A Phillips headed screwdriver is all that is required to remove them. The bolt fastens into a threaded plastic slug that is located within a channel on the seat. You can safely remove the bolts without fear of parts dropping into the kayak. The aluminium guides that help keep the backrest straps in position are also held in with the same bolts and can be pulled out by hand once the bolts have been removed.
From the very first moment you sit in a boat you start to get “a feel for it”, how it fits and possibly even how it may perform. As beginners we start off in boats that may be used by many different size paddlers, which results in cockpits being kept clutter free. Loose, comfortable boats feel good on flat water, but they can make leaning and bracing difficult. Once the boat is padded to provide a close, body-hugging fit that still allows for quick and easy water exits, performance can dramatically improve. This same rule applies to all levels of kayakers, whether they’re paddling easy whitewater, big water runs or creeks. Customised outfitting helps transfer every trace in the river’s current through the kayak’s hull to your body, helping you sense your surroundings, make critical maneuvers and maintain your balance, thus staying upright!
Since paddlers press against their boat’s inner hull with the small of their backs, butts, hips, thighs, knees and feet, it is these key areas that should be customised to match the shape and size of the paddler. To make this as easy as possible I am going to break the cockpit into a handful of sections and tailor each one to help you get the best control possible from your boat.
Continue readingBefore I discuss the fitting of such devices in a boat I need to make something perfectly clear – Any device that slows down or restricts your exit from your boat is DANGEROUS, there is a reason why they are termed SUICIDE STRAPS. If you are daft enough to fit a lapstrap, thigh straps or any other system then it is at your own risk. Unsponsored and the kayakers who have submitted images of there systems take NO RESPONSIBILITY for damage caused to boats or lives resulting from the use of such systems. You’ve been warned! If you do decide to install a system please take note of the following guidelines:
Any system MUST be quick release
Any system MUST be quick release
If you’re getting munched in a hole you must be able to get out
Any system MUST be quick release
You get the message!
Fitting a strap system
For this job you will be dealing with the seat of your boat. There is no need to drill or tamper with the boat shell. This could easily mean leaks, or permanent damage!
Continue reading
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