Alchemy 14.0 SM

by  Dagger
14'
Length
23"
Width (in)
51
Weight (lb)
discontinued

This Product Has Been Discontinued

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Alchemy 14.0 SM Description

Stable, responsive, and a joy to paddle…with enough performance to keep up on any type of water. The Alchemy is a kayak at home in rock gardens, intercostal waterways, or on your local river. Ample storage and performance outfitting to stand up to any adventure, and the TruTrak skeg system for added control and speed.

Alchemy 14.0 SM Specs and Features

  • Structure: Rigid / Hard Shell
  • Cockpit Type: Sit Inside
  • Seating Configuration: Solo
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Smaller Adult/Child, Average Adult
  • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Smaller Adult/Child, Average Adult
  • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Additional Attributes

  • ConTour CFS Seating System
  • Adjustable Padded Thigh Braces
  • SlideLock Foot Brace System
  • Bow, Center, and Stern Hatches
  • Bungee Deck Rigging
  • Soft Touch Handles
  • Bow, Midship, and Stern Bulkheads
  • TruTrak Premium Skeg System
  • Hull Beam

Dagger
Alchemy 14.0 SM Reviews

Read reviews for the Alchemy 14.0 SM by Dagger as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!

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5

This boat is exceptional and…

Submitted by: RyanC on 10/21/2019

This boat is exceptional and easily my goto ocean play boat. I am a very medium-size person at 5’9” 170 pounds and with size 9 feet. The fit is nice and snug, quite adjustable, the boat feels sporty and connected to me. It has decent tracking for 14ft, excellent maneuverability, and works just as well for a new kayaker as it does for an intermediate and expert. This has easily become my go to boat for surfing, tide races, and rock gardening. It covers miles much more easily than a short boat and is very maneuverable when you put it on edge. I’ve heard people say that this is not a good boat for surfing but I’m not sure what they’re talking about. If what you’re looking for is a long boat for strait line rides to the beach your in busines. If you’re looking for a short boat that you can do bottom turns in you should be looking at a surf kayak or river boat.

My girlfriend is a new paddler who is significantly lighter than me. She is able to use it for overnight camping and at 23” she feels confident in it in chop.

One particular thing that I like about this boat by comparison to the new Stratos is that there’s a day hatch. This adds additional flotation safety and the bulkhead behind the seat does not go deep into the day or stern hatch making it much easier to drain on top of your friends boat after doing a reentry. The skeg system is solid but like most it’ll need a little bit of cleaning sometimes out in the water, especially with rocky beaches. I always give the skeg a test after launching, if it’s not working I have my buddy run my knife along the inside of it and it’s usually functioning fine within moments.

I’ve added a few things to this boat to make it safer in rock gardens and surf zones. I’ve added two hatch straps on the front, back, and one on the day hatch. The only thing I haven’t done yet is change out my foot pegs for a foot plate. I suspect I’ll be doing that this winter.

I also added a p70 compass because in the Bay Area you always have to be prepared for fog. The compass was a breeze to mount and works well with the boat.

It was easy to create screw caps for the compass and hatch straps. The hardware store always had something that I could cover them with, add glue and whala no sharp points.

Here’s where this boat struggles a bit. The bulkheads needed regluing after a season. It’s been great since I cleaned it and applied lexel (translucent). Also the hatches are like most roto boats only soo good at keeping water out. Expect a cup to a quart after a dynamic day out. The hatch straps and bulkhead repair have made that more like a cup.

4

This is my second ~14'…

Submitted by: JNF8203 on 7/16/2019

This is my second ~14' touring kayak. My other boat is a Wilderness Tsunami 135. I like both boats a lot, and I'm still getting used to them, but am already noticing key differences, and a few things that make me really like the Dagger.

1. I really like the Dagger's maneuverability. It has a nice rocker to it, making more quickly pivoting than the Tsunami. Downside is tracking, but with the skeg is really nice.

2. The low profile of the small boat is great. It seems to be just a tad tighter and lower profile than the Tsunami, if I recall. For me, a smaller person, I like this a lot.

3. Cockpit. Its just a different cockpit than the Tsunami, but I like it. it has a backband vs. the WS full seat setup. I was worried that it wouldn't be very comfortable, but I actually like it a lot. I also like that is just more minimalist than the Tsunami seatback. Also, seems like it will be a little more flexible for rolling. Adjustability is ok - straps can be difficult to find/access at times, but not bad.

Everything else seems great on it, too. Foot pegs, storage, etc.

For me, a relatively new kayaker just getting into the sport and trying to tackle the Great Lakes, this fit the bill.

5

I purchased this boat as a…

Submitted by: paddler527111 on 7/10/2019

I purchased this boat as a back up for my beloved sea kayak and was surprised to find I choose the Alchemy almost every time we go out. It became my go-to boat for everything from small rivers to big lakes. It fits me like a glove and is especially easy to control without ever using my skeg. It edges and turns very efficiently and it accelerates easily. I tend to fall behind my group to oogle plants and wildflowers or take photos and am able to quickly catch back up to them. I am 5'6" and about 135# and love the fit with thigh and hip pads. It has a water bottle holder between my legs which is handy. The hatches open and close easily but leak if I roll. I highly recommend this boat if it fits you!

4

I bought this boat second…

Submitted by: paddler236222 on 8/6/2015
I bought this boat second hand in great condition. I have had it out about 3 times and I have a spray skirt on order as this boat really needs one for rough water. This boat does not have as much rocker as most sea kayaks and I have found it to be a very wet ride as it punches through waves rather than going over them. The boat is fast and light at 23 inches wide and around 50 pounds. I have found it to be easy enough to load alone on my roof racks.

This boat tracks very well on the water and it is also easy to turn at 14'-0" long. I have used the drop down skeg only when there is a lot of wind and current working against me. Once you drop the skeg down the kayak takes on a whole different feel. While there is some drag with the skeg, the tracking is bulletproof straight. I am 6'-0" and 175 pounds and I believe that I am close to upper end for the capacity of this boat. The seat is comfortable and easy to adjust and the thigh pads have multiple settings.

As I said above it is a wet ride in ocean swells, and a spray skirt is really required for any rough water. The rear hatch does not seal extremely well as there is always a little water in the bottom after each trip. I read in another review that the skeg box is prone to leaking, so I think that is what is going on here. The drop down skeg is prone to jamming as beach pebbles fit perfectly between the skeg and the skeg box wall. I learned about this problem the third time that I went out in this kayak as I could not deploy the skeg while on the water. The skeg was easily fixed on my return by digging out the offending pebble with my knife.

All in all I am very happy with this boat and I think that I made a good purchase. This boat is also short enough to paddle rivers.

4

This boat is just a lot of…

Submitted by: kaulua on 7/4/2015
This boat is just a lot of fun, period. I have a higher-end fiberglass greenland/British style boat (Impex Montauk) that is my primary go-to boat, but because of this yak's durability, agility, and features, it serves as a great back-up for many situations.

First off, I now insist on a skeg (as opposed to a rudder), so in looking for a second boat this was an absolute criteria. I also wanted a rotomold (plastic) layup to compliment the conditions that I didn't want to use my glass boat for. It's hard to find a good plastic boat with a skeg...there are presently very few models to choose from. I also wanted something 14-15 feet... a good size for paddling rivers and tight mangrove tunnels found here in south Florida, but also long enough to keep up with the touring yaks.

Finally, I wanted the kayak to fit me, and being a small-framed person, that is hard to find these days. The Alchemy SMALL seemed to fit all these criteria.

So on her first paddle, we did about 8 miles and she kept the pace well. Since, I have done 20-mile paddles in this boat with no problem. Yes, she is a bit more sluggish than the 17-footers, to be expected, but I can usually make up for it in endurance. This boat turns very well because it has a long bow and relatively short stern, so your pivot point is set back. It also edges easily but be careful! Primary stability is good but secondary stability is harder to define...I have unintentionally rolled this boat on several occasions, caught off guard while aggressively edging. I think this has to do with the pivot point being so far back and the hard chine. On the upside, the boat feels really responsive when maneuvering in surf.

I rarely find that I need the skeg, but if I do, it's nice to have. Unfortunately, like other Wilderness System boats (Zephyr/Tempest), I find that the skeg flops back in forth when deployed, making a clicking sound against the skeg box. It's very annoying but doesn't seem to affect the performance... just part of the design I guess. My glass boat doesn't have this problem, though. Also, the skeg slide is indented well-enough so that you don't hit your hand on it when taking a close-in stroke...this is an improvement over my glass boat.

The deck is low, which pleases me very much since I paddle with a greenland paddle and also like to roll. I can go into a static brace very easily with this boat, even more so than my glass boat. And rolling this boat is a breeze. The outfitting makes it very comfortable for me to roll as well, with hip pads and thigh braces holding you tight. Because of the low volume, most people will probably find the tight fit confining. Just remember, you are supposed to wear a kayak, not sit inside one. If the small size is too tight (and it will be for many), there is also a larger volume.

The hatches stay dry for the most part...oval shaped hatch covers (common to the Confluence company) all leak to a certain degree, especially if you roll the boat.

I was getting a lot of water in the back hatch though, and found that the skeg box was leaking only after a few months having the boat. I tried to tighten the nut and found that it just free-spun in the box...it was supposed to fit just so inside the box but the plastic gives too much to hold it in place. This is a bad design flaw because you can't tighten the hardwear enough to get a good seal. I ended up just coating it with silicon and that fixed things for now. Beware of replacing the skeg cable, as it is incredible difficult to do.

Again, I compare this to my Impex, which has a much simpler design. I have replaced the cables on both and the process left me grinning in one case and close to tearing my hair out in frustration in the other case. Look up the how-to video online before you try... it will help you figure out the system BEFORE you do damage. Again, I like having a skeg on this boat but the bad design is a drawback to this boat, and I imagine it is common to the company's other skeg boats as well. Hopefully they will engineer a better design in the future.

All in all, I'm very happy with this boat.

4

I bought this boat on a whim…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 3/4/2015
I bought this boat on a whim as it was on sale and the store I bought it from was out of the boat I was looking for and i would never look back.

I LOVE this boat, it has the length and the tracking to take on any bay, lake, river, etc i decide to hit. I am not a small person (6'4 190 lbs) and the boat fits like a glove and comfortably, although I wouldn't recommend the smaller model for anyone larger than myself.

It is very low to the water which is perfect when your out and the weather gets a little stormy. I've taken the boat out on a larger local lake with winds 30+ MPH and gusting and 10-16" waves and managed to easily paddle back in from across the lake tracked perfectly on the boat launch the entire time without too much work. I have yet to take it on a multi-day trip but have no concerns that it will perform astoundingly. I was greatly impressed by its speed turning capability and tracking, awesome boat for anyone who can get their hands on on.

The only issue I have ever had with it was while putting it on edge, it is so close to the water you need to be wary of swamping if you plan on pulling a hard turn in choppy water, which to me was easily fixed with a good Seals neoprene skirt. Other than that perfect boat one that I will hopefully have for years to come.

4

I love the concept behind the…

Submitted by: acadia on 1/7/2015
I love the concept behind the Alchemy: a short, plastic, rockered day-touring and ocean play boat that is easy on the budget. I have used an S version in ocean surf, tidal races, rock gardening, and for teaching (it is the boat I put my students in since it handles so easily both on land and on water).

What I like about its outfitting:
The seat and thigh braces are excellent and provide lots of good contact. The footpegs are super easy to adjust from the cockpit (just lift and slide) and have not popped on me in rough water. The foam pillar and keel stiffener keep the cockpit structurally sound.

What I like about its performance:
The rocker makes it easy to spin. Stability is predictable and reassuring in confused water. The short length is very handy in rocks, caves, slots, etc. Despite its maneuverability, I find it quite neutral in the wind and a pretty solid tracker, even with the skeg up. Compared with a Delphin or Elias, for example, it's much less squirrelly. It also doesn’t feel slow, though obviously it's maximum hull speed is limited by its length. That said, I don't feel a struggle to keep up with others on a day paddle. And on land it's an easy carry (short, not too heavy).

What I don't like:
The rear hatch leaks on most Alchemy's I've seen. After a rolling session, expect 2 litres or so in the hatch. The front hatch leaks slightly and the day hatch is dry. The skeg is compromised by a wire slider and several Alchemy's I've seen have kinked skegs. I hope the newer boats have a metal rod slider. Finally, I've compared two Alchemy's side by side and noticed considerable difference in the rocker profile, so they're not coming out of the factory uniform in shape.

In short, the concept is awesome, but the application needs some improvement. Still, for the price this little boat is attractive and can suit the needs of a beginning kayaker or a more experienced rough water paddler. Again, I paddle the S version. I am just over 6', 170 lbs, with a shoe size of 10.

4

My husband I recently…

Submitted by: rmblaber on 9/5/2014
My husband I recently purchased ourselves a pair of Dagger Alchemy 14ft kayaks (poly with retractable skeg). After a summer of trying them out on lakes and rivers we find we are quite pleased with them. Overall the length & shape with a dropped down skeg helps with straight tracking and speed, however the 14 feet with a retracted skeg still allows us the maneuverability one would have with a shorter kayak. We have experienced waves with confidence and ease and have traveled winding creeks and rivers with agility. The only drawbacks we would note was that the retractable skeg moves around in the water causing a thumping noise while out paddling and the boat is slightly on the heavy side (over 50lbs).
4

A perfect boat for many uses. I got it for rough water sea…

Submitted by: paddler235822 on 8/7/2014
A perfect boat for many uses.
I got it for rough water sea kayaking in surf and tide races. I like its stability and handling. Because it is only 14' long you have to paddle a little harder to get where you are going vs. other longer sea kayaks. I have loaned it to beginners for flat water and rivers with gentle rapids and they liked it.

My particular example had several manufacturing flaws. The rear bulkhead was not properly sealed and the rear hatch leaks badly when upside down. Other owners I have talked to did NOT have these issues.
I highly recommend it!

4

For starters I am 5'11"…

Submitted by: trvlrerik on 3/21/2013
For starters I am 5'11" 190lbs, I like a lower volume snug fit boat, the Alchemy S is that. I moved the seat back 1 1/2" and removed the adjustable foot pegs and replaced them with a foam/aluminum bulk head much like a WW boat. The seat and back band are very comfortable and adjustable. Once modified I find the boat to be super comfortable.

I have had the boat out in flat water streams and limited light surf and rock gardening (entry level stuff only) The primary stability is very high making it a good beginner kayak. Secondary stability is not bad, but to me, I could not reliably feel the "point of no return" and found myself rolling when aggressive edging. I think moving the seat back hurt the boats rolling behavior as I can not lay back flat on the deck, but it seems to be easy to snap the boat back under you.

In my opinion, this is a good general use kayak for a beginner that wants a boat they can grow with, learning new skills. It also seems to have the ability to turn and handle very well making it a good surf boat (I am still learning this skill).

The Alchemy is well built, has dry hatches, and is fairly light for a poly boat.

5

I settled on the small…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/3/2009
I settled on the small version after trying both, the cockpit is pretty snug, I've taken the thigh grips and footrests out to increase the room, I've ended up with a bulkhead type footrest and the cockpit has a nice coating of self adhesive foam on the underside, fit is now great. I have to use wet suit socks rather than boots as the footroom is limited for my 11.5 feet, it's well worth it as the kayak is a lot sleeker than the rather fat assed large version. For my weight of 75kg the handling is better, it sits lower in the water, is less affected by wind and the stability is still good but a bit "sportier", it handles like a small sea kayak rather than a stable large volume tourer.

I'm not sure but the hull V and chines seem more pronounced on the small model, the secondary stability is superb and the kayak is very agile on edge, ride is slightly wetter on the small but you'd expect that, more than made up for by the sharper handling.

I found the large needed skeg in the wind where as the small still needs a bit for crosswinds but nothing like as much, maybe a quarter. Hull speed isn't bad but this kayak really comes into its own in tight spots like sea caves and narrow passageways etc, a great rockhopper! I've gone from proper sea kayaks to a Dagger Charleston flat water tourer, which was ok but this kayak fits my needs better than either, still small and agile like the Charleston but with proper sea kayak features and handling, highly recommended!

4

I also bought this boat…

Submitted by: paddler233173 on 6/15/2009
I also bought this boat untested because it fit the general criteria I was looking for (snug fit around 14' with skeg), it was on sale, and I could return it if I didn’t like it. This review is based on a few weekends of paddling on quiet water - slow moving rivers, lake with ~15 mph winds, and ponds. Probably about 20 hours on the water, with the boat empty. I'm 5'8" with more torso than leg with size 8 1/2 feet. I like a snug fit, and I do feel if I were any larger in any of the foregoing dimensions I'd be too big for this boat. I love the fit, but if you are any bigger, you may find the 14.0L a better choice.

I will preface by saying that I really like this boat. The fit is great for me, and its wonderfully responsive. It has a fair amount of rocker and a harder chine for a poly boat, so the combination makes for very tight radius turning. Initial stability is solid, although I haven't tested the secondary. The seating system is pretty much identical to Wildy's backband Phase 3 - so its very adjustable and comfortable. Again, the 14.0S is very snug, but that's what I was looking for.

Overall, a very comfortable boat to be in, and very customizable. One ergonomic issue for me was that the seat seems somewhat far up the cockpit. Not enough to impact overall comfort, but it did make the day hatch placement enough of a stretch that I would not be going back there on the water. But then there's enough room behind the seat for dry bag storage, so its a wash so long as its secured (this pretty much echoes what previous reviewer's comments). I also agree that water does get in the coaming quite easily.

I did find that the boat weathercocks easily; perhaps due to the degree of rocker and a higher stern deck than some comparable boats. The skeg helps, but does slow down the boat noticeably. Storage is on the small side, but this is a 14' low volume boat, so I expected that. Since I also backpack, most of my equipment is light or ultralight anyway so I can easily fill the boat with enough equipment and water for an overnight or a light weekend. I would not expect to take the 14.0S on a trip longer than a weekend, unless you aren't taking any water.

In conclusion, I would recommend this boat to a smaller - medium paddler who likes a snug fit in a boat, and whose intention for it is day trips perhaps with some overnight excursions. Ideally the boat would be used in more calm weather conditions, and/or situations where maneuverability is more of a priority over tracking.

4

A couple of months back I…

Submitted by: rdmcclary on 6/8/2009
A couple of months back I posted a review of the now-discontinued Blackwater 115, listing its limitations. I did the one thing NOBODY should ever do. After reading as many reviews as I could for 14' kayaks, I had my Dagger dealer order me an Alchemy as soon as Dagger's "release date" passed.

I have had the boat less than 30 hours, but I did get a chance to get it out on a pond a couple of hours back. Again, I wanted something that would do well in open water and handle choppy conditions well.
It turns out my first opportunity to paddle it was a perfect test - SSW winds at 20 mph gusting to 30 mph. The boat passed with flying colors - all I wanted! The skeg control is in a recessed slot just below the hip. Being recessed, there is no way to hit it accidentally. I was able to find a "sweet spot" where it would neither weather cock nor lee cock in those 20-30 mph winds.
Chop? What chop? There were 6-12" waves which would have shaken my kidneys loose in the Blackwater 115. I hardly noticed them while headed straight into them. (When they were side waves, I was glad for my skirt and PFD!)

Although just about everything on the seat adjusts, well, once you get that skirt fastened and are out on the pond, nothing adjusts. The cockpit is tight. Wonder which I would have bought had I sat in both the 14s and the somewhat wider 14l? Whatever, you don't sit in this boat, you wear it. However, this does give great control! Although there is a middle bulkhead with a day hatch, there is also a surprising amount of room behind the seat for stashing a dry bag.

Here are the few picky things I found. First, there are no drain channels for the coaming and the areas around the hatches, so water accumulates there. (There is also a 3-4" bowl, presumably for a compass mount. They should have simply left a flat area, but it doesn't hold that much water.) The cover on the day hatch is probably impossible to re-seat from within the cockpit. It's pretty difficult even when out of the boat and standing over it!

In summary, this is a very nice boat!

Alchemy 14.0 SM