Big Dog are a UK based firm that is pretty much the new kid on the block. However the people behind Big Dog have decades of experience within the kayak industry.
Tag: river runner (Page 21 of 21)
I’ve been paddling the Axiom 8.5 for some time now and, being at the top of its weight range (I’m 185lb dry weight) and at the limit of its internal dimensions (6’4″ with size 15 feet), I wondered how the 9.0 would feel for me. After paddling both for a few months, I can share my impressions, in case someone else would be trying to make a similar choice.
One the really great things about Prijon and Eskimo river running and creeking boats was the fact that they all came supplied with a bow air bag. That bag played an important role keeping water out of the void between the full plate footrest and the bow.
Zet are relatively new to the UK market but have gathered a loyal band of supporters. The Zet Raptor in particular has been getting quite a lot of attention since it was released.
Zet are based in the Czech Republic and are a technical and design collaboration of the production engineer/kayak producer Zelezny, extreme kayaker Honza Lasko and the Czech whitewater slalom paddler Viktor Legat.
Specification:
Length: 255cm, 8′
Width: 68cm, 27″
Volume: 303l, 80gal
Weight Range: 65-100kg, 120-220lbs
Kayak Weight: 19kg, 42lbs
Today I spend a few hours in the new Jackson Karma. Now today was quite unusual as once I was in the Karma and on the water I took an instant dislike to it!
Karma (Large)
Length: 270cm
Width: 71cm
Weight: 22.7kg
Volume: 390L
Paddler Weight: Range 83-136kg
The large Karma was supplied by Northshore Watersports here in the UK. On picking up the boat I noticed it was pretty light. This was a surprise given the fact that it looks really really big. I was expecting something more akin to the Dagger Mamba and Wavesport Recon but the Karma was noticeably lighter. Continue reading
The Dagger RPM (Radical Play Machine) arrived in the mid to late 1990’s and has since become one of the best (if not the best) selling kayaks of all time.
I must admit that I have largely ignored the Wavesport Diesel over the years. It hasn’t really been a boat that has made it onto my radar. Over the last few months this has changed as I have seen more and more Diesels on the water and have had an opportunity to try one out.
The Diesel from Wavesport has been around for some time but it has had a major design change over the years. The Diesel 65, 75 and 85 are generation I and the 70, 80 and 90 are generation II. Gen I models are still available but are marketed as the D65 and D75.
Continue readingI have been considering a Xeno as my next river runner and is competing with the Pyranha I3 and Necky Mission for a space in my boat collection for the next year.
I caught a glimpse of a Xeno around two months ago and it has taken some time to track one down so I could give it a go.
As with the Nano and other Eskimo boats the outfitting isn’t radical and is even reminiscent of some of the boats I used to paddle years back. For me this isn’t an issue. Outfitting can easily be adapted, hull performance etc cannot. Many paddlers forget this! Foot room is quite low for my size 10’s but its not uncomfortable.
The Xeno has taken the Nano to the next level. Loose, fast etc… It has better volume distribution, seat padding and the newer versions have moulded in graphics. Because of the better volume distribution, it has no problem with staying horizontal in a hole.
The Xeno handles well in a range of environments, and because of its softer chines, it is less likely to catch you unaware and power flip.
After trying out the Xeno, its going to be hard decide which river runner to go for as the design meets my criteria well. We’ll wait and see.
Sam Ellis styles it down Cauldrons Snout. A class V+ stretch of whitewater on the River Tees (UK).
Sam Ellis running the Cauldron Snout on the River Tees. You can count on one hand how many times this section has been successfully run. But this is the first time it has been ran with a substantial amount of water. The river was at approximately 0.7 on the nearest river level gauge.
Cauldron Snout is 180m long and is recognised as Englands longest waterfall which looses 61m giving it a gradient of 34 percent. Sit back watch and enjoy!
Since the good old days of the LL Session and Session+, Liquid Logic has focused on designs for the park ‘n play market. They have been so successful that it often seems that LL have taken over the market.
The Hoss is a departure from the park ‘ n play side of the sport and aims it sights quite clearly on the river runners amongst you.
The Flip Stick is a relatively new boat from New Zealand manufacturers Bliss-Stick. I first saw the boat on the stands at the International Canoe show in the UK last February and was quite impressed by its overall look and design. I’m 6ft 2inch with size 10 feet and found the Flip Stick really comfy and felt like it fitted. The Flip Stick is 200cm long and has a flat planning hull and therefore is extremely loose. The ends are so short and rockered, they do not catch and pearl in the oncoming greenwater, allowing for easy spins on the greenest of waves it will also allow for those yet to be achieved arial moves. On the negative side the boat is noticably slower than similar boats I have tried.
Pure Land Expeditions
Northshore Watersports
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