hiya everyone.

im 15 and in scouting and have been kayaking for over three years now and currently have the 2* and CST under my belt. i have recently completed my 3 star training and waiting to get assesed. i mostly run rivers at the momment but would like to learn some playboating moves and start having some serious fun:D

anyway thats me and now onto my main point.

Im looking at buying my own boat as i have used the scouts ones up till now and they arn't the best boats to say the least. i was wouindering what boats would you recommend for someone like me who is about 5 ft 9 and jus over 11 stone (last time i weighted myself). im looking for something that i can easily lern some fun playboating moves in yet still run rivers.

like i say i am only 15 and dont have rediculas amounts of money. i want something that will last me a while.

allso while i am here what paddles would people recomend.

thanks for any help in advance it is much apreciated!!


Dorbin

Look for anything second-hand... A good playboat might be a Pyranha s6f s6x and the like... really any boat that fits you well should work, Im assuming that you know how to spot your boats... chances are you'll not be keeping the boat for a long, long time so any used playboat that you feel good in should do

Now as for paddles

There are so many out there... to keep the funds down Id suggest any straight shaft F-Glass... Paddles are so specific that you can spend as much as you want to... Id stay away from the aluminium ones though... now remember that you'll also need a helmet, Bouyancy aid and spray deck so set a good ammt of cash aside and see if there are any package deals out there... some ppl are selling everything as a package...keep an eye on ebay

good luck and once you find a boat or something that you fancy, post back and Im willing to help out from there

Take it easy

I'm 15 too, i have a Dagger Kingpin 6.2. I am also 5'9\" and 140 lbs. My boat works great for play boating and river running and I can run class 4+ in my boat. I also have a Werner Sidekick that I LOVE!!! I would suggest that you demo boats and see what you like.
Best of Luck,
Joe

thanks. i have been looking on ebay and there seems to be a few nice ones.

i have allso been looking at the dagger g-force and g-ride both seem like good allround boats and not as expensive as most new boats.

thanks guys.

hi everyone.

a wavesport EZ may be going up for sale nearby. i was woundering if anyone had any knowledge/personal experience with the boat.

as far as paddles goes im still no clearer but the robson green seems to be a nice paddle.



also the pyrahna 4twenty-is it to short for river running or would it do the job.

11 st is 154 lbs. The EZ would suit you well and it would take a while for you to outgrow it. Provided of course you don't get a lot taller. I paddled a Big EZ for almost two years and it was a great transition for me into play boating and also running rivers in it at that stage. It's still a good boat. If your budget is tight and the price is right and the boat is still in a reasonable condition, you can't go far wrong. Good luck.

unfortunatly the ez is no longer up for sale (they decided not to sell it for some reason) so still looking

Dorbin, Your avatar is the greatest shirt EVER.

i know ive been meaning to buy one for ages. but with saving up for a boat and paddle it sort of got left behind, but hopefully when i have all my new gear i will have some money left over for one.

o its a hard life being young

Yea, They are some of the most clever shirts.



Pyranha muh hahahaha

they sure are.

just woundering, how important is the outfitting in the boat. i know why it is there. its just the same boat can cost different amounts depending on the outfitting.

example a pyrahna with connect 30- £749 but with rapid plus its alot less- £499

Dude, you're the same height and apparent weight as me, we're practically cousins lol!
My boat is a Dagger Agent 6.2 and I find it perfect in terms of what it can do and how comfortable it is. Also, if you're planning to grow more in height, it is an excellent choice as the outfitting allows complete customization.

It's one of the more faster playboats i have paddled and is great for learning all the playboating fundamentals.

Good luck in getting your new boat!

hey im 15 aswel and kayak wit my scouties wana gt in2 playboatin but u no d issue wit funds...

Not having much money, have you considered buying a second hand boat? You can't get a brand new boat used, but an ez should be doable...

Also, when you're 15, you probably have about 1 to 2 years of growth up ahead, after that it slows down a lot. So you could consider buying a boat slightly to large. Playboating would become easier over the course of the next years with you growing.

edit: well, growth in height slows a lot...

I cant comment in terms of individual boats, because I was already 6'1\" when I was 15, but demoing boats is super super important, and because you WILL grow lots between now and about 17 buying the biggest boat you can still sensibly use and then adjusting it as you grow taller and so forth...

One thing to think of is, you want a boat with enough volume to let you pop out and do loops, etc, but not so much that you struggle to cartwheel, if you join a local canoe club you may get more of a chance to use play boats and even learn the basic moves before you get your own.

And on your route to playboater success, learn to roll well on both sides and learn to handroll on one side. There's now't worse than swimming because you've lost your paddles.

And talking of paddles, another vote for the werner sidekicks, probably the best playboating paddle available in my mind, if you suddenly come into lots of lovely cash you might like the extra stiffness from a carbon one, otherwise a glass sidekick or player from werner will last you four or five years of daily use and abuse.

Most importantly.... Have lots and lots and lots of fun along the way

WEL TANX 4 ALL D ADVICE...GR8 TO HAV SUM1 2 ASK..I WAS LOOKING IN TO GETING A LL SPACE CADET WHAT YOU THINK OF IT?YE I WAS TOLD TO GET SOMETHING ID GROW INTO..FOR SOME REASON NO ONE IN IRELAND SEEMS TO HAVE A LL POCKET ROCKET GOING...

oh ye on the subject of paddles what you think of rough stuff?and what aboutthe werner twist?

Werner twist seems a tad small, unless you're really diminutive the player would probs be better.

The Space cadet is a nice boat, I nearly bought one but after a demo decided that it would reshape my feet something chronic, you however should have a whale of a time in such a boat.