On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 16:14:00 +0100, "Charlie"
wrote:

Started kayaking a few months ago and am now wanting my own boat (I got the
bug!). I'm a very small paddler (5ft tall and 8st) and have been scouring
the net but need some questions answered. I'd wait and ask the instructor
but won't be seeing him till Thurs, and well, you know, I just need to know!

I've been looking at these mainly:
Dagger Juice 6.9 and G Ride 6.2. Expensive, but I'm willing to save up.
Worth the money? Good all-rounders?

Have also just been recommended these:
Necky Witch, Necky Chronic and the Liquid Trigger.

I've so far been mainly picking boats I like from their shape, as I've
played around in other peoples boats and am basing them on what's similar!
I've been mainly using Dagger RPM's so far, but they just don't feel quite
right. I'd like a boat that I'm going to grow into and now be bored of in a
year. I've been told my balance is excellent, so I'm not too bothered about
having a slightly unstable boat, just as long as I can control it. I also
want it to be able to do allsorts. Rivers, rapids, surfing, flat water, I
want it all!

Now, can someone sort out some definitions for me please?

Playboating? Is it surfing? That was my impression but I'm not so sure
now!
Keyhole deck? None of them look particularly keyhole shaped to me!
Creeking and River running.

Right, think that's everything until I think of something else! Please post
any other thoughts you might have. Everything helps! Hoping to get this
boat by September in time for the clubs annual surfing trip!

Don't buy till you try properly. Lots of people say this is a good
all-rounder, but when it comes down to it they really mean its very
good for them doing the things they want to do.

Try different boats, pick the one you want. A boat that is great for
playboating may be iffy on river running and crap on flat water, and
so on.

Don't buy too small a boat.

Have fun.
Ewan Scott