ok, I'm 17, 170 something pounds give or take a few, around 6'2\", and have a necky chronic.
I got the chronic free from a friend(this explains a few things regarding the condition), so it won't be a huge loss if it just won't work for me, though it would be very nice if it did and for the most part is in good shape. It does, however, leak a good bit, i believe the culprit is the drain plug but im not sure and the right thigh hook/brace thing is bent upwards and causing problems when i brace. Now for the questions.

1. Is this the right boat for me size wise? ill be using it mostly to play in a local hole and small class 3 to 4 stuff.

2. Any trick to locating(if it isn't the drainplug) and fixing the leak besides the obvious.

3. How hard would it be to order a new part for a necky? i dont think i can bend the piece back to the correct angle. I guess i could compensate for the loss of angle with foam.

4. What boat might better fit me if this doesn't? I have a full tilt i can get fairly easily at a low price.

Thanks alot in advance,
Wiliam

ps. Theres a bit of a concaved dent area on the hull, I think this is called oil canning or something?Anyway how would this affect the boats performance?

Just a suggestion on trying to locate the leak. If you think the leak is coming from the drain plug, go to a pool or something and hold the kayak under the water with the drain plug near the surface of the water and watch to see if any air bubbles are coming through. If there is, chances are that this means water is getting in whilst paddling.

I hope you get what I mean - obviously most of your boat will need to be filled with water, and just some air in the end near the plug that you're holding under.

Also, generally it would be more likely water is getting in around your spray deck area, instead of through the boat somehow (although if you got the kayak for free, this may not be the case!)

According to Necky you are in the weight range. A friend of mine had one and styled in it, although he was shorter and lighter.

Every bolt that goes through the boat is a 'weak point' where water can enter the boat. When boats are made these holes are usually drilled smaller than the bolt and then the bolt forced through for a nice tight interference fit. Over time, the bolt causes the hole to become larger, and then water leaks in. Use silicon glue to stop this and apply to the bolt head on the outside of the boat.

Check the boat spine, it is made of aluminium and may have bent upwards, maybe not though. Put foam under your seat to help stop the dent. This oil canning happens to a lot of boats.

Apply more silicon to your drain plug too. My mates boat had silicon there and he also has on his Blunt.

The Chronic is a good river runner, in the right hands. Check out this article:

adrian.playak.com/index.php?option=com_c...p;id=24&Itemid=3

It's the orange boat with the orange Werner paddle. Also in the video, running a rapid with a rather large, river wide hole. Bad quality video..