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Diesel 65

 
4.6 (4)
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Diesel 65 - boats_189-1
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Diesel 65 - boats_189-3

Short Facts

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Intended Paddling Environment
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Officially dubbed a River Runner, this boat is a jack of all trades, take me anywhere, be comfortable and have fun boat.

We've had a great time testing this one everywhere from the big rapids and waves of the Ottawa and New River Gorge to the tight and technical creeks of West Virginia like Mill and the Lower Meadow. Everyone who's been in the boat says the same thing, "it just feels right". I'll be using it for big water, expeditions, surface playboating, and the majority of creeks I regularly run (Jimmy Blakeney).

User reviews

4 reviews

Overall rating 
 
4.6
Design 
 
4.5  (4)
Perfomance 
 
4.8  (4)
Quality 
 
4.8  (4)
Value / Money 
 
4.5  (4)
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Overall rating 
 
4.3
Design 
 
4.0
Perfomance 
 
4.0
Quality 
 
5.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

If i dont know the water its the one that all ways ends up in the boot even on root to devision 4 slalom comps, she even did duty on the lake as my life guard boat last week It turly is jack of all K1 trades master of meny.

Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
disabled paddler happy on easy grade 3
Pros / The Good
easy in easy out for those how dont roll rolling is easy doesnt window shade
Cons / The Bad
heavy and a little slow on the flat stuf in between the fun
Recommend
Yes
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: June 10, 2009)
Overall rating 
 
5.0
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
5.0
Value / Money 
 
5.0

The off road kayak

About the reviewer

I am an avid adventurer, who frequently paddles challenging rapids.

Test environment

Class 4 rapids.

Review

It is a great boat, that enables the kayaker to do some more extreme rapids without needing a creek boat. The Diesel 65 is good for creeking,but is also good for river-running, and surfing. It surprisingly turns very quickly, and is very fast for its bulky nature.

Conclusion

A great boat, for creeking or any other river runs.

Review

Affiliated
Yes
About Me
Location: Puntledge River, ourtney, B.C., Canada
Age: 15
Weight: 93 kgs
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: March 17, 2005)
Overall rating 
 
5.0
Design 
 
5.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
5.0
Value / Money 
 
5.0

All things to all men

Over the years I've tried just about every fashion kayak and still kept coming back to either my trusty RPM for easy water or my Micro for bigger.
Nothing I found gave me:-
comfort
easy roll
manouvreability
confidence

as much as these 2. Until now...

I purchased a Diesel 65 at UK Canoes in Lancaster and haven't looked back since. It is brilliant.
Easy to roll; no hard edges; excellent fittings and seat; and its performance on the Cumbrian rivers thus far (Rothay, Leven) and the Lune have made me fall in love.

Oh - and it is seriously light to carry - major factor when you get to my age!! If you don't believe me try carrying an M3 upstream for 1/2 mile.

Another review commented on the plastic. Mines ok currently and it has taken some pretty big hits.

Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Location: Lancashire / Cumbria
Age: 42
Weight: 81 kgs
Was this review helpful to you? 
(Updated: January 03, 2005)
Overall rating 
 
4.3
Design 
 
4.0
Perfomance 
 
5.0
Quality 
 
4.0
Value / Money 
 
4.0

great fun river boat!!

About myself



34 yr old river boater from UK. paddle upto gd4 at the moment. my previous boat was a riot booster.


About the test environment



gd 3 and 4 rivers and creeks in Cumbria in the UK


Review




moving over from a riot booster to the wavesport was initially a shock. the 'semi'rounded shape of the diesel means that i have had to change my paddeling style.. the diesel will carve excellent eddy turns however you have to edge more aggresively than in my previous boats. Now that i have got used to this i find the diesel an excellent river boat. the flat hull means that it is manouverable, while the rounded sides gives the boat a more forgiving flavour that you need for big water.
the boat has chined sides which gives it good secondary stability and it holds edges really well (once i had it fitted out properly!). the boat rolls really easily in most water conditions... which is usefull!!
the outfitting is superb, the seat unit is excellent and easily adjusted.. however the amount of adjustment available is limited (especially if you are a short person like myself!). The thigh grips are easily adjusted and give the boat alot of stability and control when on edge.
My one gripe is that the plastic doesn't seem to be as hard as it could be, especially if the boat is suposed to be for rocky creeks. mine is only a few months old and seems to have a lot more scratches than the booster had.


Conclusion



The boat is just about perfect for the medium volume rocky and technical rivers here in the uk... except the plastic could be stronger.
the diesel is a good river boat and i am really pleased with it.


Review

Affiliated
No
About Me
Location: North West UK
Age: 34
Weight: 80 kgs
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