I have been researching for the last two weeks and can't seem to find anything bad about this boat. I am looking for an all arounder boat that can play a little bit, but mostly for creeking. I live in central Kentucky, so everything is mostly low volume creek like. When it flows that is. Does anyone else think this would fit well? Does anyone know the weight range of this boat? I am 5'10 and weigh 200. Does anyone know how the boat compares to the ammo? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for me. I want a shorter boat, one that is 7'9 and below. thanks alot.

Cassidy Bond

PS I am a fairly new boater and will be purchasing a new boat in the spring. As of right now I paddle a dagger rec boat.

If you consider 7' 9" to be short, then there are plenty of boats to look at. First, i would look at the Ammo, only because there have been quite a few people that think the Bliss-stick plastic is too soft. Also, the medium Fluid Solo creekboat is 7'7", which would be a great boat to look at for low volume creeks. Prijon and Eskimo have the best plastic, so if you want a boat that is very durable, look at the Prijon Cross, which is 8'1". As for Eskimo, they don't have any creekboat/playboat crossover boats. If you have any other questions, fire away.

P.S. I would not recommend paddling low-volume rivers, especially for a beginner.

actually nothing wrong with bliss-stick plastic they hve a very high rnking in the white water world scud will be fine up to 110 kg so 205 pounds. very fun boat and boofs like a dream

I was thinking that I had heard good things about the plastic being thick and hard on the SCUD. I also thought though that it had a higher weight range. I weigh in around 200, so with gear would be well over 205.

The SCUD and Solo are at least $100 cheaper than an ammo, which is one of the reason I have been further looking into different boats with some of the same qualities. I started out looking at the solo m, then the ammo then the SCUD. Does anyone else have input on these boats? Or further information on the weight range of the SCUD? It seems like I saw a video on youtube of a larger fella in a SCUD doing a backroll. He looked like he had to be around 220.

Thanks
Cassidy

Hey Cassidy, have several friends running SCUDS in the 210 range. As with any smaller sized boat it will depend on how you carry your weight that will determine how the boat will, fit, feel and react. Best to try any new boat.

As for the plastic comment? Check out reviews, blogs and talk to people who own and trust their lives to Bliss-Stick Plastic. SCUDS are running the Sh*# all over the world. For elf boating (extra low flow) the SCUD ROCKS!! Check our website www.bliss-stick.com for some great creeking pictures and reviews of not only the SCUD but the entire line of Bliss-Stick plastic.

Good luck and welcome to Creeking!! You are going to LOVE it!!! which ever boat you end up with.


t

The only reason I mentioned the plastic is because some people say that they have broken a few Bliss-Sticks. Also, Cassidy, be sure to work on easier rapids to improve your technique before going down low volume creeks. One more thing to keep in mind is that the more volume the boat has, the higher it should sit in the water.

P.S. what is your local river that you plan on paddling?

Thanks for the replies. I live in Lexington, Ky, so once we get some rain I will be running Silver Creek (richmond, ky), Cumberland River(Corbin, ky), Red River, and some local creeks around Lexington like Hckman creek, Otter and such. None of the above are over a class three. I have been on Hickman Creek a couple times. It's super low and had to portage alot due to that but it dumps into Kentucky River and I think when it is around 200-300 cfs will be pretty challenging. This weekend I will be going to Cumberland River which is also super low at 140 cfs or something like that. I guess every bit of paddling experience helps though.
As for the SCUD I'm still hung up on it. At first I looked into the Fluid M, then the Ammo M and finally came along the SCUD. All the reviews seemed great. I hope the plastic will hold up for sometime. I would like to get a nice boat and have it for a few years. the SCUD seemed like a good allrounder that creeked well and resurfaced fast. The reviews said it was easy to flip and any paddler could jump in and have a good time, with a little getting used to before hand. I figure going to a WW boat from a rec boat will take some getting used to anyway and I may need to spend some time on the flat water to get the outfitting set up correctly before I went out on the creeks. Anyway I have plenty of time to try to progress, take roll classes and whitewater courses at Frankfort on the Elkhorn when the water gets right. I will be purchasing a boat next spring and just wanted to see what everyone thought about the SCUD. If you all have any suggestions, shoot. I'm all up for them. Did you all take roll classes or WW classes when you started paddling, or just get out there and figure it out yourself? So far I've been doing it myself, although when you're out there 5 miles deep and still have 5 more to go it seems like you need a little more experience. This happened recently when a trip went bad down Hickman. The creek got steep and the water was too low, so it took 1 hour after dark before we hit the river and the takeout. Not cool.

Cassidy Bond

The SCUD is a sweet boat!

If you will contact me through my website, I will send you a copy of AOTEAROA II for FREE.

WakaWai.com

Bliss-Stick's new video. It has plenty of footage of the SCUD in action and will make your decision for you!

Holla!

if its at all possible i would demo the boats and make a decision for yourself.
when the SCUD first came out there was a spate of incredibly positive reviews from bliss stick paddlers saying how fast and manouverable and awesome it was, followed by some very damning independant reviews saying exactly the opposite. I wouldnt worry about the plastic, me and all my mates paddle bliss stick boats and have never had any issues, infact we all love our boats.
basically make your own decision, but be very careful of manufacturers "reviews" that claim things are better than they are.

I've not heard many negative things on Bliss Sticks plastic. If I wasn't paddling for Fluid, I'd probably be in a Bliss Stick.

Shorter VS longer creek boats is mostly a personal choice. Shorter boats don't have as much reach when boofing over holes and less speed to punch them. They turn much quicker and as a result require faster reflexes as well. Longer boats have more reach, are faster but don't turn as easily. They are a little slower to react. Try and paddle a 'long' and a 'short' creek boat to get a feel for the difference. Both have advantages and disadvantages..

If you have time for a vacation to Charlotte, head over to the USNWC. They don't carry Bliss-stick or Fluid, but you could try paddling the Pyranha Ammo, Burn, Liquid Logic Remix and the Dagger Green Boat to get a feel for what kind of boat you want. here is a link to their site: www.usnwc.org/Kayak-Instruction.html . The main boats that they carry are Dagger, LL, Pyranha, Riot, and for some reason, DragoRossi. Also, I am still working on my roll, but be sure to take at least 1 roll clinic to get a general idea of how to roll and what you may be doing wrong, such as pulling your head up, or in my case, keeping your arms closer to your body.

Definately when I get a boat it will be demo'd first. Whether I travel down to Tennessee of the Carolinas, or demo a used boat. There is actually a Fluid Solo L for sale in Lexington. I saw it up on Boatertalk the other day. So I may look at boatertalk for some quick demos. thanks for all the replies guys.

Cassidy Bond

btw if anyone has or knows of any mixed reviews of these boats please send me a link in this post. I read a lot of team paddlers reviews, the reviews on here and on boatertalk and didnt really read a really bad review. I would like to hear other's opinion on the boat and its downfalls. thanks

Cassidy Bond

here's a link to the SCUD on Eddyflower. Hit reviews, either paddler or magazine, and read them. www.eddyflower.com/ShowBoat.aspx?BoatId=512

have you tried the obvious?

playak.com/kayaks.php?bid=336&op=showreviews
playak.com/kayaks.php?op=showreviews&bid=231

yea i read all the reviews on eddyflower, boatertalk, and playak... as well as the ones that showed up on a good search, which were mostly from blissstick team members. I didnt know if anyone knew of a magazine that did a comparison of the bliss stick and ammo or just an in depth review on it. Is there a good whitewater magazine being published? I wouldnt mind picking one up if so.

here is a link to the Pyranha Ammo review that is pretty long. It is on Playak, but under the Independent Kayak Reviews, so I don't know if you saw it. playak.com/article.php?sid=1302 . As for the SCUD, I can't find too much.

Here is the original post that I saw where somebody said that the Bliss-Stick plastic was bad: www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/mystic-solo-hercules-14989.html . Just read a few people's opinions of Bliss Stick and you will see where I was coming from. However, it seems like most people like Bliss-Stick, but there have also been a decent number of people who didn't.

good ww mag's, Kayak Sessions!!!, American Whitewater, Cumes, Paddler.

As for finding dirt on any kayak manufacturer, or anything else for that matter. if you scratch long enough you will always find someone that doesn't like something about something. everyone has an opinion even if they have never been in a boat. Kayaks and paddles are a very personal thing. What works for one person is hated by another. They become part of your family and you defend them to the death. (Had to get a bigger bed for mine.) Always best to just find and demo the boats you are interested in. Not on the store floor while the sales person tells you how great it is, or on a lake but really demo it. Take it to where you paddle. This is the only way to really get a feel for the boat. The longer you are in a boat, especially a creek boat.

good luck

t