I'm looking to get a new boat for this season, but find myself questioning and second guessing which size is right for me. I paddled a Prescription 6.9 last season and while it was super forgiving I felt as though it was a bit on the large size.

Me:
5'11\"/ 1.8 metres
180lbs/82kilo
Size 10/43 shoe

I'm looking at getting a Jackson this season as I was very disappointed with the plastic quality in my Dagger. Constant flexing of the deck with the only thing holding it in shape being the large plastic pillar in the center. I could feel it popping in and out of shape on a wave. I checked out the new Agent and it appeared to have the same construction.

I sat in an All-Star at our local dealer and it felt like it fit extremely well but find myself over the recommended playboating weight. Will I be limited in terms of river running in this boat? I really don't want to get another boat that feels \"too big\" constantly which is what I'm worried about if I get the Super-Star which weighs in at a hefty 63 gallons in comparison with 58 for the RX 6.9. I'm at the bottom of the river running category in the Super-Star.

I seem to be much more in the weight range for the new Fun, so should I go with the less \"harcore\" boat and get the one that fits my weight better? Suggestions for other boats are welcome.

I'm almost exactly the same dimensions as you, and I've paddled an all star for nearly a year. It was my first serious playboat so I can't compare it to much else -before that I had a Dagger Honcho. I find the all star too small for river running but it feels ok for playboating (I paddle most often at Hurley Weir in the UK). It's slow and a little unstable in bigger waves / eddy lines for me. If I was buying a boat now I'd be more tempted by the Fun; watching others paddle it has more speed than the allstar and good paddlers can do pretty much all the freestyle moves. I haven't tried the new allstar which is claimed to be faster on a wave - my boat can struggle on slower, flatter waves, and I think being at the top of the weight range doesn't help. The superstar looks a bit blobby to me, but I did consider it when I was choosing a new boat. In the end I decided I was better off losing a few kilos!

Heya,

Are you only looking into last season boats?
If not - I would take a look at LL Vision 56. Should fit you like a glove. The boat is quite fast, user-friendly, plays AND runs well (once you have river-running skills... not for complete beginner).
It all depends on what kind of paddler you are, what kind of rivers you run and play.
One thing for sure - DEMO, DEMO, DEMO and then some more DEMO.

Enjoy!
D

Sadly, nobody within 200 miles of me demos, so I have to go on hearsay and luck. I also don't have a LL dealer within the same distance or I would be looking into them. And no, I'm open for any season of boat, the Jacksons are new this season however. Spring is the wrong time to buy a used boat so I'll probably be buying new, EEK!