About the reviewer Yeah, that's right, 6 feet 11 inches tall (212cm). I'm a big lad but I've taken to kayaking, unfortunately it hasn't taken to me - I have incredible difficulty finding a boat to fit me and the conditions I like to play in. Test environment I've owned the blackwater for 2 years and have been on rivers the Irish Sea Portmarnock & Malahide, estuaries, sea lochs around western Scotland and on the rivers Boyne, Liffey and Blackwater Review A go anywhere boat, except on whitewater much above level 2. Called the 10.5 because it's 10 and a half feet long, so not very practical for playboating but when you're my size, I figured you don't have much choice! It's great for a nervous beginner, like I was, very stable, great tracking aided by the drop down skeg. It didn't have a drain bung but then the manufacturers probably didn't expect me to take it out on big water, so I put one in myself, seems to have held together pretty well. Am learning to roll at the moment and it responds...