Looking for a review on a lettman Pinball. I am looking for an ok used boat to be my first ww boat. I would mainly use it in mild ocean surf. I am about 5'9" 175 lbs. any input would be awesome.
I saw this boat pretty cheap!

[img:4c09999506]www.lettmann.de/catalog/images/pinball.jpg[/img:4c09999506]

Hehe - I had the misfortune to paddle a pinball for a while a few years back, when I was beginning to learn how to paddle, so take into account that my experience of the boat is determined by my relative inexperience as a paddler!

As far as outfitting and comfort go - don't expect much. The original outfitting is about as basic as you can get and not very comforable, especially the medieval tourture device masquerading as a backband.

On the plus side the plastic in the boat is unbelieveably tough - coming from ireland where there are more rocks than water in most of our rivers the pinball withstood a incredible amount of abuse, and even if you set out to, you will find the boat nearly impossible to break!

-= River Running =-
Surprisingly it manages to run rivers fairly well, so long as there are no long flat stretches, and I think in the long run I got more use out of it as a creeker/river runner than as a playboat. On the downside due to the restricted foot room in the end, running any falls where you stand a chance of smacking the bottom is going to hurt, so be warned. That aside, its got plenty of volume and because of its short length its pretty manouverable and also easy enough to boof, and a cinch to roll, so apart from the uncomforable outfitting it makes for a pleasant enough day out on the river.

-= Flat Water =-
As I said before, do yourself a big favour and leave it at home if you think that there is a chance your going to have to paddle any flat stretches of water - its mind bendlingly s-l-o-w on the flat. And again bear in mind that I was only learning but cartwheels are only a further exercise in frustration - because of the big fat ends on the boat, getting it up there requires a lot of brute force and ignorance and usually by the time you've got it on the nose your so knackered that all you've got energy left for is a nice face plant.

-= Wave/Hole
Because its got a slighly rounded hull and roundish edges its performance on a wave is a bit bruteish, and the same in a hole where the overall impression is a bit cork like the boat likes to bounce all over the place and its very hard to get under control to set up for moves.


Hope this helps you, you can read what the makers have to say about it here:
www.lettmann.de/catalog/product_info.php...7_64/products_id/102
Personally I'd only reccommend it if its going very cheap, as if your a beginner you will grow out of it very quickly and if your a competent paddler your probably already looking for something with a bit of a better performance. That said whats written above is only my impressions of the boat, if you are considering buying it - get a demo in the boat before you part with your cash and see what you think of it, if you like what you feel then by all means buy it otherwise, keep your money in your pocket and try looking at some other boats.

By the sounds of it..... I'd leave it well alone.. Rather save the extra cash, will probably be more beneficial in the long run. Look at the excellent after sales service of some of the manufacturers. I've had 2 Wave Sport boats crack due to a manufacturing fault and they replaced them no problem whatsoever! Good luck.

I like the right up Ronnie, hahahaha