I am a beginning Kayaker looking for some advice on boats. I have been reading on this website about boats. There is some great advice and very knowledgeable particpants on this website. I will be doing whitewater paddling eventually up to class III and I would like to learn to playboat a little. I am 5'11 and about 175 pounds. Whatever boat I get will be used. Below are some boats I am considering. What are your thoughts on these boats?

• Eskimo Xeno
  
  
• Dagger RPM 9.0
  
  
• Dagger Mamba 8.0

Thank you for any help,
Paul Lohr

the only boat from that listi have any knowlege of is the rpm. its a good boat for learning the basics in. very easy to roll. if you want a boat capable of playing though i would look elsewhere.

my 1st boat was a pyranha inazone which i still use. i really like it and dont plan on replacing it for a while. both these boats are now quite old though and there are probably better boats for you on the market at the moment. i would not buy a boat unless i had tried it on the water first. demo as many boats as you can before spending any money.

First off, I've never paddled any of those boats..

I'm not sure which Zeno you mean:
playak.com/kayaks.php?id2=342&id=96

They are very long for playboats. They would probably excel more on the surf and on waves or very deep and big holes. The majority of holes that people play in are pretty small so something shorter would be able to cartwheel and would also be better for the more radical, aerial moves. A long boat in a shallow hole will only hit the bottom. Unless you're lucky enough to have high volume rivers nearby.

Assuming the smaller of the two RPM's and comparing it to the Mamba:
playak.com/kayaks.php?id2=252&id=147

The RPM is an old river runner. A good boat for it's time I believe. The Mamba is a creek boat. So the part of you saying you want to play worries me.. These two boats will not be able to play on a wave/hole. Ok, so maybe a front surf but that's about it and it would be nothing to write home about.

So, are you willing to fork out a lot of cash? Or are you on a budget? New or second hand? I am assuming there is a shop near to you. What brand of kayaks do they offer. There is no point in me saying yeah, get a Wave Sport when your local dealer only stocks Dagger and Eskimo, know what I mean?

Perhaps look at a river running playboat like the Dagger RX 6.9 or the Wave Sport EZG60 or the Fluid Spice (medium).
playak.com/kayaks.php?id=345
These boats have edges that are raised and won't catch as easily, keeping you upright. They are longer in length than a full on play boat and there won't back flip as easily and also have more speed to punch a hole and to keep a line. In other words, to keep going where you want to be going, and upright. For sure they are not as radical in playing but there's always that sacrifice...

There are many many posts about this topic out in the forums so I would start there...

What would be easier is look about your area then once you have found a few boats/researched some boats post back.

Adrian hit it on the head with his addvise. I would consider the river running playboats if you are looking to learn and learn to play... A creeker is breat for learning and less catchy but you will not have much fun learning to play in one (unless you are living by the sea:grin: )

The RPM is a great boat to learn in but once you get better you might want another kayak...Will always go down in history as one of the best designs of all time.

Fluid Spice
Jackson Fun series
Wave Sport EZG, EZ
Dagger Rx
Pyranha Stretch,7:0, recoil. or any of their I: series

That is a little list to get started

The biggest thing is to DEMO!!!! and sit in the boat for 15 min to see if you are comfy:roflol: Nothing worse than getting a new boat and hating it because your feet fall asleep (CR250 Im looking in your direction:puke:)

Hey All,
As a youth I was an avid kayaker, but haven't been in a boat since I was about 20. I am now 52 and am looking for a kayak that I can really sink my teeth into and have fun with. So, I feel like a beginner and am not sure where to go from here. I have several choices that I am looking at and am wondering what to do and where to go.

1) Purchase a kayak from a reputable store (LLBean) where you get a great warrante and a lot of help but pay $$$.

2) Purchase a kayak from a private source for less $$$, and go from there?

The choices are:

Potomac 100ES Kayak

OR

Corsica ProLine with a graphic shaft/fiberglass blade whitewater paddle.

What to do? I loved white water, enjoy lakes and rivers and am surrounded by all. Delema!