Boat Insider
SLICE THROUGH THIN BLUE LINES PHOTO: NICK GRAGTMANS
DAGGER KATANA
THE KATANA was the Samurai’s weapon of choice for close con- tact fighting. Its curved design allowed him to draw the slender sword quickly and effectively. If you are looking for an equally impressive weapon for when you draw, say, a multi-day pad- dling trip permit, then the Dag- ger Katana is for you. Borrowing features from both
touring and whitewater design, the Katana enters Dagger’s line- up as a crossover boat—it can be used in any conditions from flatwater to class III+ whitewater. “We like to refer to the Katana
as the lifestyle boat,” says Chris Gragtmans, Team Dagger’s manager. “It can be enjoyed by advanced to expert paddlers who want to do the Grand Can- yon, the Middle Salmon or any local run you want to turn into an overnighter.” He adds that beginner-intermediate paddlers like the boat for its confidence inspiring stability in both flatwa- ter and whitewater. On the water, the first thing
I notice is how nimble the 10.4 Katana is. The bow and stern are well out of the water thanks to smooth, balanced rocker that makes the boat feel much shorter than it is. It lets you snap into small eddies and change di- rection mid-rapid with a single stroke. Like any loaded trip- ping boat, when it’s filled with gear for a multi-day trip, it sits deeper in the water and requires more effort to change course. Even fully loaded, the soft
edges and rounded stern deck, modeled off of Dagger’s Mam- ba series, ensure water sheds quickly and prevents the dreaded edge-catch-to-flip maneuver. Maneuverability in whitewa-
ter is a good thing but it isn’t something you normally want on the flats. Fortunately Dagger has added a drop skeg to keep your boat going straight in be-
tween rapids. Deck bungees on the stern and bow, and a large roomy cockpit also score points with the touring crowd. The Katana makes easy work
of small, flat holes, speedily ploughing through them with- out much effort. Waves are no threat either—the bow tends to pierce through them instead of riding over the top. Adjusting your boat angle to the oncom- ing waves will help prevent un- wanted soakings. The Katana is tricked out with
Dagger’s Contour Ergo Outfitting system that includes a ratchet- ing leg lifter and backband, hip pads and roto-molded storage wall. It’s the storage capac- ity and options that truly make the Katana a multi-day dream boat. The removable bulkhead allows you to store gear in the bow to balance out any kit you put in the large stern hatch. This allows you to easily keep your boat trimmed properly and bring pretty much anything you want on trip. No more decid- ing between packing food or a sleeping pad—you can fit both. If you are looking for a boat to
help you slice through the world’s thin blue lines, get your hands on a Katana. DAN CALDWELL
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here
to watch the Dagger Katana in action.
Dagger Katana 9.7/10.4 LENGTH: 9’7”/10’4” WIDTH: 25.75”/27.25” COCKPIT LENGTH: 35.5”/37” COCKPIT WIDTH: 20”/20.5” DECK HEIGHT: 13.5”/15” VOLUME: 79/104 GAL WEIGHT: 46/56 LBS PADDLER WEIGHT: 100–210/155–285 LBS MAX CAPACITY: 225/300 LBS MSRP: $1,089
www.dagger.com
www.rapidmag.com | 49
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