About the reviewer

im 16 been kayaking for a couple years...like whitewater

Test environment

grade 3 and 4 rivers and flatwater

Review

The stretch is an excellent boat to look at...this was the first thing that pulled me into buying it... also it has or had (no longer in production) an attractive price. i was told that it was a great all rounder and perfect for begginers so i bought it.

i tried it on flatwater first.... by the time i bought a boat i was pretty consistent with my rollsa and support strokes etc...
so i tried some rolling, and it wasnt too bad...good thing about this boat is that it sits quite high in the water so it doesnt take long to get your pddle out the water when your capsized. but becuase of the edges on it i found it harder to do support strokes like high bracing and skulling for support... it was like the boat had this balance point when it was on edge and after it went past that balance point it was like it "power capsized"

most people that tried it hated the boat immediaely but i was persistent...
i eventually got good at high bracing and skulling so although people moan about it being harder to roll and brace than most boats all it took was a bit of practise


it was only when i got it on my first river that i began to really love the boat

it handles rapids like they arent there and it surfs and edges like a god... its perfect on the river

on flatwater if give it over all a 6/10
but on a river it would be a 8 or 9/10


the comfort depends on how you out fit it... i found not bad but im not really fussy because i et more taken up with the paddling to think about comfort

it performs well on a river... if your good enough you can playboat it... cartwheels and it can probably be looped aswell

Conclusion

rolling=7/10
eqase of strokes=6/10
looks= 9/10
outfitting=10/10