About the reviewer

Novice paddler, reliable roll

Test environment

Class II to III Potomac River in Mather Gorge, and Dickerson engineered whitewater slalom course.

Review

A good race boat for the short kayak category (if an 8'8" boat is counted as short). Good for attainments and riding long, fast waves. The boat is too long for most playboat tricks. Very comfortable. Rolls easily. A very rare boat these days. Not recommended for creeks with pinning potential.

As is typical for an old plastic boat, the side decks cracked where the seat attaches. I fixed it with 1/8" thick aluminum plates and rubber gaskets made from a bicycle inner tube. Visible in the top-view picture.

Conclusion

An old-school museum-piece boat. Note: The posted pictures are of my boat, which is 8'8" long, not 8'3" long. The volume has to be at least 60 gallons.