[img]images/boats/liquidlogic/jefe-grande-th.jpg[/img]Boats Database: Liquid Logic Jefe Grande

As far as we're concerned, kayaking is all about running rivers. Our lifeblood is paddling rivers, with challenging rapids, in cool places. We brought together dozens of paddling icons and underdogs with thousands of miles of Class V experience to conceptualize, design and test this Jefe; now the most popular creek boat ever produced.

I'm considering moving into the Jefe Grande from a Habitat 74. I'm about 170lbs and like the Habitat but I've cracked two in less than a year and am looking for something different. I didn't like the Jefe as I felt I was sitting too high in the boat if that makes any sense. I've heard the Jefe Grande has sorted that out. Anyone paddle it and can you give me your impressions?

Personaly, I thought it paddled like an oil tanker...

I like my burn based on how it handles more like a playboat but floats like a full on creeker. The hull however is starting to oilcan. Last weekend we ran wilsons creek and my boat is the same but my friends habitat is trashed, it's going to crack, soon.

Also, I really liked how the solo paddled and had I been able to buy one at pro deal, I would have! No question. The fluid plastic is top shelf and if long term durability is something you are considering, they will not be beat. Although I have not paddled one, the mystic appears as solid. Seems foreign boats are built more solid.

I want to like LL, I wish I could, Woody is one of the nicest ppl I have met and they r local but $ to $ I'm buying fluid and B-S from here on out. They just can't be beat.

Appreciate the info, thanks for taking the time

Laddie wrote:

Also, I really liked how the solo paddled and had I been able to buy one at pro deal, I would have! No question. The fluid plastic is top shelf and if long term durability is something you are considering, they will not be beat.

After getting my Solo, I noticed a few blemishes that are minor, but I think show that they don't thoroughly inspect the boats before sending them out of the factory. A few examples are the bow grab handle has one of the ends recessed and the other at deck level/flush with the deck. There were lots of plastic shavings when I was adjusting the outfitting. The seat pan has a very small gap between the bottom of the seat and the hull, which would trap dirt and other objects, such as a washer, which I nearly lost when I was putting the bulkhead in (I had to take out the thigh braces to get the small bulkhead in). These are just observations before paddling, and hopefully I can get onto a lake this weekend to compare it to other boats i've paddled, such as the LL Remix 59, LL Li'l Joe, Dagger RPM, and the Pyranha Sub 7 2-ball (predecessor to the S:7, and essentially the same model except for the graphics). However, compared to my other options, the slight cons from this boat are not even close to the other boats i've looked at (Jackson/Pyranha/Prijon expense, LL outfitting that I think could tear if something catches it, WS/Dagger plastic, Jackson thigh brace position/bar to make hull stronger moving off line, and availability of the boats i.e. dragorossi, eskimo). The solo is also relatively short, so that should be interesting to see what kind of speed it carries.

The Solo carries speed very well considering its short size... at 235 lbs in the large solo i was running 4-4+ big water in it and felt right at home... I kinda wish I had not sold it but whats a guy to do? It was cracked when I bought it, I fixed it up, paddled it for a while but when it came down to creeking I needed something that was intact... I had the chance to buy a creeker at prodeal (LL or Pyranha) I demo'd both the Jefe Grande and the large Burn on a C3 Creekish run and could not control the Jefe, the burn however went just where I wanted it and did what i wanted when I wanted...

To be honest I've demo'ed the Solo and owned a Burn at one time. I liked them both but am fairly unimpressed with the outfitting of each boat. The Burn thigh hook literally ripped off of the boat when I was rolling the boat, which prompted me to get rid of it. It may have been an isolated incident but when I inspected the thigh braces closely they seemed flimsy to me. The fluid boat is awesome and tough for sure but has the worst outfitting (in my opinion). So I've paddled the Habitat 74 for about a year and a bit now and really like the boat, particularly the outfitting... BUT I've cracked two (WS replaced both under warranty so I can't complain about that). I think they have a problem with their plastic. So that brought me to the LL Jefe grande...seems like even though it's a big boat, the rocker should allow it to retain some manouverability. The outfitting seemed comparable to the Habitat as well. Boats are so personal what feels good to one not so much for the next, I appreciate very much you taking the time to share your perspectives, don't mean to be negative on anything you've said. Obviously I need to demo the boat to see for myself

I'm 5'10" and 174. I had a burn and the thigh pads ripped off also, then it started to can out after just a few months use. Sold it. The outfitting in my Solo also failed, the seat anchors breaking 3 times in 6 months and the seat cracked. They warranted it for me after the hull cracked. I did like the hull design of both boats. I plan to demo the Nomad and possibly Magnum 80 (found the Magnum 72 smaller than I like). I sat in the Jefe and it felt too narrow for my knees, I hadn't considered the Grande. Have you found the Grande's 90 gallons workable at our weight? Have you considered the Magnum 80? Anyone else in this weight range running these larger boats with satisfaction?

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I found the Jefe narrow as well and felt like I was sitting to high in the boat. I plan to a Grande very soon, hopefully this week if we get the rain and I'll post my impressions. I'd like to try a Magnum but getting one in BC is difficult as no dealer exists out here and there aren't any around as a result...