i do find it interesting that although everyone has their own favs, those who paddle Jackson (not me, yet!) seem to have an almost cult-like love for their boats and the whole jackson program.
He certianly has some good, innovative products.

Can anyone offer more comments on Jackson Super Fun vs. other big boy boats? i still haven't had a chance to paddle one, but my Super EZ is killing my legs/hips...

I hear the Fluid Flirt L is phenominal. I have yet to paddle one, plus I am not really big enough to need it, but from the reviews I've read, it sounds like a great 'big boy boat'

I switched from a super EZ to a Super Fun (I'm 6'4" with 38" inseam and size 13 feet) . I found the thigh braces in the WS not very comfortable and they drove my knees into the hard plastic outer hull.

The Jackson has intergrated thigh and knee braces that go all the way and give you a secure connected feel from mid thigh to the tip of my kness. The foot bag took some figuring out, but a call to the factory and one team member fully explained how to use it with big feet (not explained well on line). Once i'm in my Jackson the boat seems to respond with the slightest input (more control)

I have defiinitly joined the Jackson Cult, now pass the koolaid

I've noticed this too, though I did sit in a jackson fun at Gauley fest (05) and man, the outfitting is godly.
I woulda bought one, but I was (am?) broke and a used inazone made more sense.
Becuase then I could buy other stuff like a paddle....pfd.....sprayskirt....

However, I did get a copy of advanced playboating free, thats one kickass video. If only I had the boat and skill...

I reckon its because EJ is a top class boater who thought "yeah i can make this better" and set out to try and make his, and other peoples paddling. so i reckon its this desire to improve that appeals to people.

I think the other factor in it is that the whole jackson image is very laid back. Ej is a familyman who likes to have fun, and the whole of his team share this.

Being as on the whole paddlers are one of the most laid back breeds (except maybe surfers) and the image just appeals.

another interesting thing is that even though jackson kayaks push the boundries and al lthat people have reacted totaly different to them as they do to dragorrosi i have nothing bad to say (anymore) about drago they seem realy good and i was gunna buy one i just noticed and thought it a bit funny. still i have LL and i even think lacksons are the best lol well on par with bliss stick and LL.

another interesting thing is that even though jackson kayaks push the boundries and al lthat people have reacted totaly different to them as they do to dragorrosi i have nothing bad to say (anymore) about drago they seem realy good and i was gunna buy one i just noticed and thought it a bit funny. still i have LL and i even think lacksons are the best lol well on par with bliss stick and LL.

let's be honest here. exactly WHERE has Jackson pushed the limits on kayak DESIGN? He hasn't! Sure, inflatable air bag outfitting. But the real innovation has been the overall short assembly time (which is the ONLY way to save money in the manufacture of a boat). Jackson has done two things different that have much more impact than all of the hype.

1. the hype machine they use is low key and does not seem like a hype machine at all.

2. a little bit thinner plastic and simplified assembly has kept the price low

other than that I (personally) have yet to see the real innovation.
(let the flames begin. Sorry for having an opinion from the inside..)

is the whole Jackson thing like marmite.
Some people love it and wouldnt swap it for the world and some people just dont buy into it at all, and are verging on dispising it.

I actually don't think that there is much hate for the brand. Maybe some ambiguious ambivalence with a touch of apathy.

Opinions are like assholes - everybody has one! Here's mine: Bought a used Fun (w/o demo'ing) after much discussion with someone I highly respect on and off the water. Owned Daggers, Perceptions, LL, etc in the past (still own a Diesel65) with likes and dislikes. But my Fun just seems to fit me and my style of paddling like a glove. My confidence level rose considerably. My group of paddling buddies saw this and wanted to try mine out. So here I am back to paddling many other boats due to swapping out on the river so they could try my Fun. Got tired of this real quick and finally started saying no to everyone that wanted to paddle it again. There are now five of us that own Fun's in the group. I'm not saying it is the best boat out there but it is the best boat I have found for me to date.

Jackson Boats are no different than anyother manufacturer. Their outfitting is poor at best. I don't care what any of you say. Footbag...practice your double pump for 10 minutes, the outfitting gets screwed up. Loop your boat, It really gets messed up after a few loops. Overtime the bean's get compressed and the bag sucks more. The somehow your $50 dollar POS gets clogged and you have to buy a new bag. So what if it has no holes. It is in no way drier than a LL or WS boat. Each of these manufacturer's have only 2 holes. The screwes are very tight and have seals on them. And when the bag does get messed up, God forbid you swim, it takes like 2 hours to fix. So frustrating. The jackson playboats are one of the best but they are way overrated.

There is too much hype, for sure. But, it is simply hype. Only a bunch of hot air.

p.s. has anyone ever had trouble spinning their star in really big meat, sticky holes. My star would get stuck in place and I could not spin it. I surfed one of the holes with my Project and could spin very easily.

For the hype thing: He is trying to sell a kayak. If he doesnt hype a boat then you wont buy it. Everyone hypes boats. You just are constantly heariing abou Jackson Kayaks and are prolly just wanting wanting some new news other than another story about how great Jackson Kayak team doing so well in comps.


Your spinning problem: I dont own a star but paddle with somebody who does. He gave me some insite when I buy my SuperStar. Move up the seat as far as you can. EJ and Steven and Most of his members are really short. So They test the boats with them Really scrunched up. So then perfecting them for short people. So try that out.



Just thought of this: I wonder how the ROcker and Super Hero are at creeking. You never hear of people taking Jackson kayaks on long expeditions.

Hero was probaly the worst boat I ever tried. No joke. The design is so simple. It paddles like a watermellon seed, If you can imagine that. But about my Star, I got the boat custom outfitted by one of the members of Team JK. The boat fit me perfectly. I think that the boat isn't loose enough. It's not that I can't spin. It's that the boat does not move from a side surf. It is absolutly stuck.

i cant say ive heard favorable things about either oif there creeking/riverrunning designs. Well, maybe ej will get things figuredout a little bit better in the years to come. I've never tried one, maybe there great, but i am probably going to have to agree with nathan on thsi one.

[quote:95f4c121a9]Just thought of this: I wonder how the Rocker and Super Hero are at creeking.[/quote:95f4c121a9]

I own a Rocker and run Class V in it. It handles anything I throw at it. It resurfaces great, stays online, and boofs decent. I wish it had more Rocker, but other then that, I'm very happy. One thing to remember with the Rocker, is that it excels on the steep stuff. It's kind of lethargic on water with less gradient. The Super Hero might be better for this arena.

My $.02

Just thought of this: how ironic, the one problem with the rocker is that it doesnt have enough rocker.

also, It seems to me that the Rocker was designed for one thing: winning the green race. and they seem to pointy to me. It seems like they would get pinned easily. whatever though, I probably couldn't design a kayak any better.