Great old boat from the pre specialization days of kayaking...get one if you can find one!

About the reviewer

i ve been kayaking for about 2 years and im not that experianced i can roll and scull all the basics but not that mutch

Test environment

small surf and estuary

Review

In the surf i was quite pleased with the boat, it court the waves exelantly and was quite good for learning to surf but the only thing i did find was the carving was poor and that it wasn't very manororable atorl. as soon as the wave started to turn you it was quite hard to get the boat back on track. As for the estuary the boat was oright but as it was quite a windy day and there was a cross wind hitting us the boat was constanttly turning. even when i was paddiling on 1 side and putting a stern rudder in it was still turning a bit and it was quite frustrating as i was in a race and sea kayakers where flying by me. so for long distance paddiling ok but you wouldn't want to go far as i was pretty fed up after 4 miles of it.comfort wise the seat and backrest are quite good. there not expensive and cusiony but for a budget kayak there quite good i found. the knee pads though are horrid they are solid plastic but have a grove down the middle witch was cutting into my leg when i was rolling also they don't hold your knees in very well and i was finding sometimes my knee would slip out of place while rolling.

Conclusion

A good beginer boat and allrounder but not the best boat i've ever been in.

i river run and lite creek most of the time. not a play boater. but i do surf some. been boating 4 years.

i bought the diablo for $120 plus $35 for gas.(ebay)
loved the shape and the saw it being run on the liquid lifestyle video. looked liked fun boat.

first run was down chattooga section 4. at first i felt unstable but very maneuvarable. as we made our way down i felt like i paddle this boat all the time. rolled easy boofed great, fast good tracking, good lines on everything till seven foot falls it could have been the level or boater but could not drive the boat for the boof/flar ended up running down the main flow. the rest of the trip was easy as pie. ( i walked 3 out of five falls) now for the lake paddle very fast and easy loved it. ( not saying this a good lake boat just a lot nicer than paddleing a g-force across it )

the chattooga was dry all summer so i went to noc for many nice river runs. i like it because its fast and you can boof evey little rock.

now to the boat. the lines look great and they help shead water quick. the seat is rubber and after your body heat warms it up it comforms to you butt for a nice fit. the thigh braces do not move but i found them cumfortable and they kept my legs locked in place. no plilers makes it easy to get in and out of. the back band had to go a bomber gear back band fit nicely.

if you want to river run and are not afraide or a long boat this is a boat to try.