Hi all!

I was thinking about giving the Fluid Nemesis a try but i am not sure about which size to go for?
The problem is that i weigh something between 65 and 70 kgs and i'm about 175 cm tall which would place me at the top end of the S and a bit above the bottom end of the M.

Maybe i should start to enjoy some more of the scottish foods?

CHeers,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I paddle a medium Nemesis and I'm about 86kg, 183cm tall. At the moment, you don't have a choice. The small is not out, yet. But the small will be really small and even if it was in production, I would still say you'd be better off in a medium. The small Nemesis will be a little smaller than the small Flirt and keep in tradition with Fluids motto of making their small boats really small and their large boats really large. You'll be more retentive in a hole and have more pop too for aerial moves with the slighty larger boat. If you are unsure, try one out. You've got to demo it to really know for yourself. I can easily do flat water moves in my boat and I'm sure even with your weight you won't have a problem. Some people are concerned about being able to throw a boat down on the flats... Check out my review:
playak.com/go/Nemesis_review

Good luck, and have fun!

Thanks for your answer, Adrian!

Was thinking about testing some boats as long as i'm up here in Scotland. I'm not sure about my flatwater moves but if i actually manage to do some I'll buy one and name it "Wonderboat"

Do you think it would be a good choice for people new to playboating?

Good idea. Test as many boats from as many different manufacturers as possible.

Yes, it's an excellent boat for someone new to playboating. I assume you're not new to kayaking though.. If you're a total beginner, a playboat may not be the best choice. Unless you're only going to 'park and play' or happen to paddle exclusively on big volume rivers.

Enjoy Scotland, it has some great people!

Hi Tom,

I bought a medium last December and have been messing about in a pool since then. Last weekend I went on to the wave for the first time with the boat, which was also my first 'real' time on the wave, aside from a short hour one evening last autumn with an InaZone.

Let me tell you that I am an absolute beginner, having just started kayaking last August. On the other hand I do learn at a quite decent pace. Just for perspective.

I'm 178cm tall and around 71-72kg in weight, so quite comparable to you.

Flatwater:
Having such a large boat does take quite some getting used to - I ride with my seat one notch ahead of center - but in the three months of training twice weekly in the pool I have learnt to flatwater cartwheel (5 ends has been my record up to now), I can do loops when seal-launching in from a swimmer's block (and, yes. The boat does POP - I think I even managed an air-loop once!) I learnt to hand-roll within half an hour of trying and to back-deck roll on my second try.

In review, I would probably say that the M Nemesis, may not be 'The Machine' for flatwater work for people of my size and weight, but I did learn to double-pump within about 4 training sessions and all the rest mentioned above in a reasonably short time, I think. And it practically rolls for free (compared to an AllStar and ZG - just my personal opinion) Another reason for me to buy this size is my intention of doing some play-the-river type stuff with it. I think the additional volume will make that more enjoyable...

The wave:
As I already mentioned. I've been on a wave once before last weekend. On that evening last autumn, I got round to trying to enter the wave about six times in total (in between going for swims due to lack of rolling prowess) and actually managed to enter the wave once in a rather surprised 3-second surf in an InaZone.

So last weekend - after waiting for all this blasted Swiss snow to finally melt a bit and give us kayakers some water - I went for my first weekend of playboating on the Bremgarten wave.

On Saturday I went for about half an hour's boating before lunch. After lunch disaster struck. But more about that and why I now consider Adrian to be my personal hero and Celliers to be simply one of the most nice and honourable chaps out there when I get round to write a full review of the boat.

Anyway. After calming down a bit over night and some generous application of duct tape (it really does save the world) in true samaritan pressure-bandage style, I went on the wave again on Sunday and learnt my on-/ and offside flatspins within about two hours (with photography and lunch breaks). I'd say, a beginner such as me being able to pull that off says something about the looseness of the hull and the boat in general.

I can't compare this boat to anything else but an InaZone and I don't think that would be appropriate, them being totally different boats, so I won't. But I feel really comfortable in the boat and it makes me feel nice and safe when the water's pounding my boat from underneath (the wave was really pumping). And did I mention, it rolls for free?

Anyway. The boat may not be able to perform miracles - my two attempts at blunting didn't quite work out. But I think that probably has more to do with my lack of skill than anything else, it being my first real full day on the wave I think I'm allowed to give myself another couple of weeks to learn those!


This has turned into a bit of a review. Hope it isn't too long-winded. Just my two - beginner's - pennies worth.

-Kevin

I got a medium about 3 weeks before easter and am absolutely loving it, I'd really suggest you try it. I'm a little heavier than you but its kept me safe playing at HPP and surfing. On the flat its not slow either and its incredibly stable. Give it a go but I'm sure anyone who tries it will enjoy it!

Wow! Thanks for the answers!

Kevin: You should consider posting a review on that boat on playak or even eddyflower.com ?

I think its great to hear the opinion of al kinds of paddlers. I wouldn't consider myself a real "beginner" anymore but 7 months are not too much of experience either.
I have already tried playing/surfing in a few holes and smaller waves and on the sea and it was good fun. But the allround clubboat i paddled (Perception Blaze) seemed to be busy with the river bed and rather bulky. (sweet boat though for downriver and probably big surf if you fit in it) So far my roll didn't really fail on the white either so i thought it would be interesting to take down a real playboat down a river (class 3 or so) and see how i will manage with the experience i have.
And so far i think the Nemesis might be really worth a try. It would be a boat to keep me busy back home in germany since there is not really much creeking (except in the south) around. Having said that, there are still a (Mini-)Mystic, Burn and a Remix on my list of boats worth trying

Thanks again!

Tom

Shot Kevin! Glad to be of service. Sounds like you're moving forward very fast! Well done.

Tom, you should check out the Fluid Solo while you're at it. Super stiff hull and built strong. Exactly what you want in a creek boat. Just demo as many as possible and from as many manufacteres as possible to get the full persective on what is out there and what works for you.

Good to see you're still stoked Adam.

tkretek wrote:

Kevin: You should consider posting a review on that boat on playak

That's right Kevin, easy as pie:
playak.com/kayaks.php?op=newreview&bid=604

I'll get to that as soon as my girlfriend gives me some time to myself. She doesn't like feeling second to my MacBook Pro!

Although, I don't know how trustworthy my opinion is, as I can't really compare the boat to anything else...

Just write the review anyway and be honest. (single life is the way forward to maximum kayaking time... )

kevinrohrbach wrote:

I'll get to that as soon as my girlfriend gives me some time to myself. She doesn't like feeling second to my MacBook Pro!

Although, I don't know how trustworthy my opinion is, as I can't really compare the boat to anything else...

dude, the review is already here. all you have to do is copy-paste your own text. you really have to ask permission by your gf to do that?

I wouldn't worry too much about it Kevin. Reviews are always helpful! You could compare the outfitting to the inazone though

I've seen some really bad reviews over a long period of time... at least you can string a sentence together! I can promise you that there will be more than one person out there that will find what you have written very useful. No doubt. Submit, submit

AdrianTregoning wrote:

Just write the review anyway and be honest. (single life is the way forward to maximum kayaking time... )

...There are other reasons for NOT being single though

Anyway. My girlfriend paddles too - well she got me really into it actually...!

The review is posted.

kevinrohrbach wrote:

...There are other reasons for NOT being single though

Anyway. My girlfriend paddles too - well she got me really into it actually...!

Lucky man! Yep, like sex on tap (please don't crucify me ladies.... )

My Girlfriend bakes awesome cake! I wouldn't wanna miss out on that either ..

tkretek wrote:

My Girlfriend bakes awesome cake! I wouldn't wanna miss out on that either ..

hehehe, I don't have a sweet tooth and am allergic to sugar so that doesn't appeal to me...

After an almost 3 year relationship and then another of just over 2 years, I'm quite happy now being single!!! Much better, for now anyway.