About the reviewer

I use the balackwater for safety patrol on the upper delaware.

Test environment

easy class 2 lots of eddy hoppin and front surfing

Review

Tips up on edge for quicker turns and glides back upstream for fast attainment, I use it for tripping and as safety support. Had to improvise Liquid logic thoughpads for better control, wish they made agressive out fitting.
Check skeg hardware for potential leaks and fill with silicon.
HAndless crosswinds and you could use skeg for flat sections.

Conclusion

great cross over for easy class 2 and flat but slows down on broader flat sections.

i am a 14 year old boy and i may not be the most experienced paddler but ive done enough touring river running and sat in awide enough range of boats to think my opinion is worth listening to. This kayak was the first boat I bought and I think it appealed to me because dagger said that it was capable of arange of water typs. I have paddled on my local river ( the almond); the union and crinan cannal; loch ard and some coastal waters on the west coast in varying conditions and yet it has failed to dissapoint. The dropable skeg and length helped significantly when touring or landig in breaking surf but it is short and wide enough for decent sized rapids. Being only14 I cant be picky about when or where I can go paddling. If my family is going on holiday i can be confident that I will be able to paddle on whatever water is available.The large hatch means that overnight or even weekend camping is doable. So for anyone who is uncertain of there paddling style or is new to the world of kayaking this should be a nice introduction and a good allrounder for those wanting a ood preforming boat on a wide range of water types.

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 very good.

Conclusion

As I say good for the bigger beginners, but in reality it's a touring kayak & perfect for that, I'll be keeping it for the Liffey descent & lazy Sunday afternoons.
However in the meantime, more & more modern designs are providing for the larger paddler & I hope to find something a bit more playful in the near future