Hi guys

As you can see this is my first post on the forums so greetings:) . I signed up because I want to get into playboating and need to learn a lot! My first problem is I don’t have a playboat and I don’t know what to look for.

About me: I am from the Uk and have been paddling for around a year and a half, I have just got my 3 star kayaking award. I have paddled a few differnt rivers the main ones being the Tryweryn, dee, usk and washburn. My current boat is a liquid logic little joe which I like to use for river running and am very happy with.

What I want in my playboat:

-Something I can throw around easily and will be challenging but fun to paddle. (I am told I need to get the right weight range for the boat and Idealy be a little too heavy?)
-Must be an out and out playboat! I already have a boat to run rivers in I want one I can play in!
-Price can be anything from £0.00 - £900 I just want to get the best boat for myself money can buy

My measurements

5ft 8"
10 stones

So suggest away, If there is anything else you need to know just ask. I live in the middlands so if you know anygood shops also post them here.

Thanks
Jonny

Jackson Kayak Star or All Star, i suggest www.squarerock.co.uk, i got myself a Star from there without knowing much at all about playboats and have never regretted a single thing :-)

Thanks, anymore suggestions?

By the way I think 10stones is about 140lb

How bout a wavesport project 52 or a wavesport zg 48 both great boats, i paddle a zg

you are the correct height and weight for everyone's medium sized boats

I am a DragoRossi fan and their fromer U.S. importer. From then you might enjoy

Fish

Stinger

Pintail

here is their U.K. site
www.dragorossi.co.uk/

ScottBarnes wrote:

you are the correct height and weight for everyone's medium sized boats

www.dragorossi.co.uk/

I dunno if I would agree with that. Some companies, yes, others, not so much.

I am almost the exact same size (5'8" and 135lbs size 9 feet), and although I fall in the weight range of most medium boats, I tended to be on the low end, which is not ideal for playboating.

I just recently got my first playboat, a small fluid flirt. I am about 15 lbs from maxing out the boats weight range which makes it MUCH easier to throw around.

Darth_GoosE wrote:

ScottBarnes wrote:

you are the correct height and weight for everyone's medium sized boats

www.dragorossi.co.uk/

I dunno if I would agree with that. Some companies, yes, others, not so much.

I am almost the exact same size (5'8" and 135lbs size 9 feet), and although I fall in the weight range of most medium boats, I tended to be on the low end, which is not ideal for playboating.

I just recently got my first playboat, a small fluid flirt. I am about 15 lbs from maxing out the boats weight range which makes it MUCH easier to throw around.

Look at the WS ZG series, since there is no medium model. Also, weight ranges are normally a recommendation, not a strict guideline. You may want to go to some clinics where you can demo a few models after learning a few moves (cartwheel, bowstall, loop, etc.) so you can get a feel for what kind of boat you want (slicy like the old playboats such as the WS EZG, spud boats like the WS Project).

Darth_GoosE wrote:

ScottBarnes wrote:

you are the correct height and weight for everyone's medium sized boats

www.dragorossi.co.uk/

I dunno if I would agree with that. Some companies, yes, others, not so much.

I am almost the exact same size (5'8" and 135lbs size 9 feet), and although I fall in the weight range of most medium boats, I tended to be on the low end, which is not ideal for playboating.

I just recently got my first playboat, a small fluid flirt. I am about 15 lbs from maxing out the boats weight range which makes it MUCH easier to throw around.

the medium size is a place to start, and this guy IS in the middle of the size and weight range
after that, it's a matter of trying boats and discovering what you like
for example. I prefer bigger boats because once in a hole, they actually play better, have more pop, and are more retentive (my opinion). Not as easy in flatwater. But, I'd rather have the performance in the river feature and not the eddy.

Try boats out. Demo demo demo. the medium size is a good place to start. Then you'll see if you fit, and like smaller or bigger boats. All a matter of your personal style. But, you are not so big that you MUST be stuck with a large size or so small that you MUST be stuck with just the big size for choice. You have alot of options.

ScottBarnes wrote:

I prefer bigger boats because once in a hole, they actually play better, have more pop, and are more retentive (my opinion). Not as easy in flatwater. But, I'd rather have the performance in the river feature and not the eddy.