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Mamba 8.0

 
4.8 (3)
31698   0   2   0   0  
 
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Mamba 8.0 - boats_252-1
Mamba 8.0 - boats_252-2

Short Facts

Brand
Model Year
Intended Paddling Environment
Type
Available Colors
lime green, orange, red, yellow

Stats

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Pure.

Pure is the word that was the inspiration for our new river running series, The Mambas. Pure enjoyment of whitewater kayaking. Pure confidence found in a hull that is easy to roll, performs crisp eddy turns, provides REAL hull speed and has outstanding initial stability. Pure fun in having a kayak design to open the doors for new paddlers. Pure exhilaration for a boat that tackles technical big water. Finally, we deliver a Pure - Simple - and very light outfitting system that allows the Mamba paddler to create a perfect fit that provides consistent performance and control. The word is Pure and the Mamba delivers.

User reviews

3 reviews

Overall rating 
 
4.8
Design 
 
4.7  (3)
Perfomance 
 
5.0  (3)
Quality 
 
4.7  (3)
Value / Money 
 
4.7  (3)
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Overall rating 
 
5.0
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
5.0
Value / Money 
 
5.0

love it. so so so so good

Review

Affiliated
Yes
About Me
Young paddler, paddled grade 4+ in alps
Pros / The Good
fantastic boat, easy to throw into eddies and move about
Cons / The Bad
maybe doesn't track perfectly, back end can get caught
Recommend
Yes
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(Updated: August 28, 2009)
Overall rating 
 
5.0
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
5.0
Value / Money 
 
5.0

Great Boat

About the reviewer

A new kayaker with a few waves under my belt.

Test environment

holes, class 3 rapids

Review

The Boat is a great boat with good comfort. It is very easy to learn on in that the edges are rounded making rolling a piece of cake. Great for all around boat. Can put down good speed.

Conclusion

All around great boat

Review

Affiliated
Yes
About Me
Location: Potomac River, USA
Age: 16
Weight: 70.3 kgs
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: February 18, 2006)
Overall rating 
 
4.3
Design 
 
4.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
4.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

All around boat

I'm not a hard core creeker but I do enjoy class IV+ rivers and creeks.

I've had the Mamba on the E-P run on the Yuba @ 1200 cfs, Lower Tuolumne @ 1200 cfs. The Meced @1250 cfs.Miracle to Democrat on the Kern, Arroyo Seco @380 cfs as well as a few class III runs (including the S.F. of the American @7,000cfs)

Before buying the Mamba 8.0 I tried the Diesel 6.5, Prijon Cross, LL Lil Joe, H-3 and Jackson Hero. All of these boats have some strong points but for me the Mamba was best overall.

The Mamba is very stable. It is very easy to roll (So easy that my roll got sloppy and I've spent some pool time with my play boat). It doesn't spin as fast as a highly rockered creeker but it does have enough chine that it responds well with some edge control. The chines are softer than the H-3 so it doesn't carve quite as well but they also are less suseptable to catching on rocks. Stern does not seem to be suseptable to grabby hydrolics. When it has been grabbed it goes down a little then it feels like I stepped on the gas and it accelerates away from trouble. On an overnight trip on the Tuolomne it handled well with a heavy load. it has good speed and it surfs pretty good too.

The Mamba is a great boat for those harder rivers and creeks.

Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Location: N. California
Age: 45
Weight: 74.8 kgs
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