2009 RiveR PlayboaT buyeR’s GuiDe
WHEN WE LINED UP THIS YEAR’S HOTTEST FREESTYLE DESIGNS, we didn’t have to look very far—most of them were featured in our 2007 Freestyle Buyer’s
Guide (V9,I2). That year we got wet with new and innovative designs from every manufacturer. Two years and one global recession later, only three fresh free-
style designs have emerged. The first, the Pyranha Rev, we reviewed in Rapid last summer (V10,I2). The second, the brand new Liquidlogic Biscuit, you’ll find
reviewed on page 36. Jackson Kayak has also revamped the All Star for 2010. With freeboating all the rage, we decided our efforts were better spent serving up
a healthy platter of river play designs on offer for 2009. These multi-talented models shine on a wave or in a hole and rock the river top to bottom. —VM
DraGOrOssi
Dragorossi.com
stinger
length 6’4”
Width 25.5”
Volume large (approximately 56 uS GAl)
ideal Playboating 140–220 lBS
ideal river running 100–180 lBS
Price $950 uS
In 2000, the Riot Disco helped revolutionize playboating
and became popular for its equal aptitude at winning
rodeos and running steeps. With his original moulds for
the Disco no longer in existence, designer Corran Addi-
son went back to the drawing board to update the boat
for the new millennium. The Stinger retains the sidewall
shape and basic rocker profile of the Disco with im-
provements like rounded rails and increased volume in
the foot and knee area.
JaCKsON
Jacksonkayak.com
2fun / fun / 4fun / superfun
length 6’2”/ 6’6”/ 6’9”/ 7’1”
Width 24”/ 25.3”/ 26.4”/ 27.5”
Volume 47 / 54 / 61.8 / 70 uS GAl
ideal Playboating 120–165 / 145–190 / 190–230 / 210–310 lBS
ideal river running 100–145 / 125–175 / 165–210 / 190–260 lBS
ideal Overall 120–150 / 140–180 / 180–220 / 210–265 lBS
Price $1,099 uS
Jackson Kayak redesigned their classic Fun series in
2007 with a looser hull, slicier ends and amped up vol-
ume where it counts—in the leg and foot areas. These
changes make the already playful Funs spin, cartwheel
and stern-squirt with even greater ease than their pre-
decessors.
DaGGer
Dagger.com
Dagger rX 6.7 / 6.9
length 6’7” / 6’9”
Width 25.5” / 26.5”
Volume 52 / 58 uS GAl
Weight 32 / 34 lBS
Paddler 120–195 / 150–225 lBS
Price $850 uS/CDN
The RX is another design with a few years under its hull,
but its still an effective prescription for playboaters with
a river running itch. With lower volume and slicy edges,
the RX happily goes vertical when you’re not racing its
longer waterline down the river.
WaVe sPOrt
Wavesport.com
fuse 48 / 56 / 64
length 6’4”/ 6’6”/ 7’
Width 24.5”/ 25”/ 26”
Volume 48 / 56 / 64 uS GAl
Weight 31 / 33 / 35 lBS
Paddler 100–160 / 140–210 / 190–270 lBS
Price $995 uS/CDN
New last season, three sizes of Fuse followed up on
the success of the Fuse 35, a crossover boat for kids.
The adult Fuses were conceived in sizes that could be
paddled on the low end of the weight range for a stable,
forgiving river runner, and transform into a high perfor-
mance playboat as you move to the upper end of the
weight range. Wave Sport succeeded, which is to say
there’s a size to suit almost every paddling style.
 Rapid summer/fall 2009
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