I just bought a Dagger Rx 6.9 at the local boatswap a few weeks ago. I'm making the transition from an RPM to a more play oriented boat and several people at the swap told me that this would be a good segway into the playboating world. I've taken it out on the local pond 3 or 4 times a week to get my rolls dialed in and to get comfortable with a boat with edges.

My Stats:
5'11"
175-180lbs
Size 10 feet

The first few days were great. I couldn't believe how fast I could throw this boat around and how it would just sit on its secondary which in turn has made me more confident in my bracing strokes. It seemed like I could spin on a dime without giving up hardly any of the speed I had in my RPM. Rolls were also easier it seemed except for my back deck which still needs work.

It was only after I got comfortable that I began to have doubts whether this boat was for me. It just feels BIG in volume. After the first week I started to double pump and begin work on stalls, squirts, and the beginnings of cartwheeling. What I've found after two weeks of effort on this is that it's beginning to look more and more improbable that I can get the bow, or the stern for that matter, down in anything resembling flatwater. It seems like the volume in both is simply throwing my best efforts back at me. The closest I can get to an end is paddling hard forward, digging a rear edge in while using a reverse stroke and pulling the nose to get the stern to squirt. Even then the nose is probably only a foot, maybe two on a really good effort, out of the water and nowhere near vertical. It seems like I'm putting my best effort to put the ends down but the volume is keeping me up. I fall on the lower half of the recommended weight for the 6.9 but on the upper end for the 6.7.

Is this just a beginning playboater being overly critical of his abilities or did I (once again) get a boat that is too big for me? I'm not expecting to throw Helixes this season, but a cartwheel once in a while would be nice.

Cliff Notes: Just bought a new boat that feels too big to reasonably throw ends in. Is this just a beginning playboater lacking ability or a case of big-boatitis?

Mitch

Hang in there. It's not the boat, it's you. These skills you're trying to learn take lots of time. I logged over 12 hours in my boat before I could get a half assed cartwheel. Not I can bow stall and do some other tricks, but it takes lots and lots of practice. I have paddled your boat and it is very slicey. You will have no problem getting it vertical once you have the right angle. Angle is everything. Again, your boat is a sweet one. Just hang in there and don't give up hope.

I remember when I got my Superstar. I said to myself, "Now I can finally do all the moves in EJ's DVD." I got it in the pool and... nothing. No bow stall, no cartwheel, not even a plowing ender. I was ready to take it back, when a friend said, "it's not the boat, it's you. You just suck." He was right, and I still suck.

Stick to it, you'll get it!

i second that i thought that id got the wrong boat for me at first but the ni just steped back and realised i was just realy crap theres nowt rong with being crap unless you blame your boat (bad workman blames his tools eh) when i started bmxing i bought all the best bits because i thought that would make me better the ni saw a bloke on a bike that was a pile of shit doin stuff most other people couldnt do on the tp the range bikes. stick at it mate and you will soon discover the secrets.

I had the same problem as you when i first bought my Pyranha Prozone, I was at the bottom of its range limit and kept blaming the boat that I wasnt getting the ends down on such a slicy boat. Not having the money to buy a new one I persisted and now about 3 months later, lol (paddling once a week) I can get my bow down and my stern.

Keep at it and you will do it. Also have you ever cartwheeled or done anything verticle before on flatwater?

Scott

Only ever done flatwater in something I was over the weight limit for, but even then it wasn't really "in control." Thanks for the responses, they're what I needed to hear. OK, going back out to the lake since I can't find a partner for the river on this BEAUTIFUL day.

Yep what the other guys have been saying, it syou, not the boat. IF carthweeels is what your after than you just need to find a ggod hole and work em, thats all theres is to it. Ill admit that the boat being a river runner/play, may inder you slightly, but ive never been in it so i wouldnt know. The feeling of being to big in a boa tis normal when your trying to get that front end down in the water. Like you just kind of bounce back up? thats how i felt when was learning them. Im still not very good but ive found that waht helps me most is completly comiting my whole boidy to the move, i flip a lot, but i get vertical a lot as well.

Just got back from the lake and started to really comit to the ends. I flipped a lot more than usual but I also got a lot closer to vertical than usual and kept a better angle on the bow and stern. Thanks for the words of wisdom guys.

[quote:da56aca6ec="jackb"] when i started bmxing i bought all the best bits because i thought that would make me better the ni saw a bloke on a bike that was a pile of shit doin stuff most other people couldnt do on the tp the range bikes. [/quote:da56aca6ec]

It's BMX not bmxing and would also have to disagree having good products makes a huge difference. Sure you can do most stuff on a crapier product but the realitly is better gear is made better lighter stronger and generally better quality. I find that having crappier products generally make you ride less smooth and also the bike runs alot worse. Sure you can still progress with crap gear but you do notice the difference if you have something that fits you and is of better quality.

P.S this is directed more at bmx.

yer i get your pioint but wot i was sayin is havin the good bits dont make you good. i spent 40 quid on abrs and loads of other stupid amounts of money but cos hadnt bin ridin all that long i was still crap and had wasted loads of money. when started yakin i new it wud be hard cos im not the strongets tool in the shed but i was determined to do it now i find it eesier than i thort it wud be so my advise to anyone startin sumthing new is t oimagine itll be reel hard but still rise to the challenge then youll try so hard itll be easier. as for the bmxin thing who reeli gives a rates heini lol .

I think it's a bit of both. Commitment and Equipment.
When i first started out i was using a riot 007, now thats like a dam sub. I tried for weeks to just get the stern down and there was never any progress. Then i hopped into a friends Disco and "BAM!" it was up first time round.

At the end of the day you have to gauge whether there's been any progress or whether the boat is holding you back.

Good lines
Scotty R

You could try moving your seat forward so that it is easier to throw your bow down. Also check that your boat is as on edge as possible so that it slices down in the water and your in balance so that the paddle in being used for your double pump and not to keep you upright.

Other than that and a few years of practice no worries!!

Neil

www.swiftwaterrescue.at

I got my first ends yesterday and a large part of it was you guys telling me to just get after it. Thanks for the kick in the butt, it was obviously what I needed.

Cheers.