Jolt 101

Super comfortable, people are often jealous of the chair setup and I've had no problems with any aspect moving out of adjustment. As for stability, I routinely paddle into areas where boaters are making big wake so I can enjoy a WW simulation out on the lake. I NEVER lose balance and take on very little water in 3' waves. So much fun, best $300 I've spent. If you can find one of these guys GO FOR IT!

I am learning to love how your knees lock in under the cockpit for that extra stability of using your hips. I think I will appreciate this even more when I hit some moving water at the local high streams and rivers.

All in all a great boat with two hatches, padded seat, bungee tie downs, paddle holder, foot braces. I hope to do an overnighter with this boat.

While the boat is a bit on the heavy side, I'm often glad it's built like a tank, because I thrash it around quite a bit. I'm sure the drop-skeg setup adds a lot to the weight, but I really like that arrangement, and surprisingly it works. I, too, was scraping my left thumb on the forward mount of the skeg line, so I re-mounted it 3" inboard, on the other side of the little hump. No more scraping, and there's still enough room for a skirt. Just this spring, I bought a NRS rubber rand kilt neoprene sprayskirt for it. It fits perfectly, and while it's a bit tight, it really does the job in whitewater. The high seatback interferes somewhat, but it's livable. I now find myself much more confident in the whitewater, and just today I was having a blast surfing it in some class II hydraulics.

I have yet to attempt rolling it, and I'm not sure I'd want to without adding some bracing. I'm not quite sure what others are talking about, regarding cramped legroom. I'm 6' tall, and find it to be pretty roomy, almost too much, especially if I want to roll. It seems a bit odd to me that this boat is so tall, which is what will make attempting rolls a bit of a challenge. But otherwise, I love the design, and I think it functions quite well as a bit of a "do everything" boat. I can't imagine anything else in my location that can adapt to all the conditions I encounter. I've paddled it among the icebergs on Lake Erie, in the salt marshes of the Outer Banks, and on a good number of the rivers and creeks (up to class II) here in PA. If someone in the same situation as me only has enough money for one boat, this is the one.

They advertise that it's rollable, so I think it should be easy to fit with a skirt in the right position. The skeg popped out at an inopportune time, turned out the control cord unknotted. An easy fix, but the jam cleat does is not in a convenient place and does not function that well. Also, the forward fitting is placed to take some knuckle skin from time to time. I think the skeg is a waste on this boat, so it especially bothers me. The aft hold continues to take on water.

On the plus side, I like the way the boat handles, but it would be great with a little rocker. The bow flare seems to keep it from diving and helps it surf. It moves out pretty good for a boat its size. I still think it's a fun boat, and some of the flaws can be remedied with some backyard engineering and aftermarket gear, but for the premium price, I'd expect more competent design and execution.

First, I still love my Jolt. In fact I like it more everytime I hit the water with it. I keep finding little things that I like about this craft. Starting with the construction.This boat looks great.I get numerous comments on how cool this boat looks. The way it is designed and layed out is an attention getter. People will walk past other kayaks and come check mine out. The kayak feels like it is much studier than other kayaks on the market (I'm sure this is just an illusion, but people comment on it). The 3 layers that make up this kayak give it a different feel. Unlike the other kayaks that just feel like hard plastic. This kayak almost makes you think it is made out of fiberglass.

On flatwater I am now a beliver in a skeg. I did't think they made that big a difference till I had a chance to try one. And I really didn't think it would effect a boat of this size. I was wrong on both accounts. With the skeg down I am amazed at how well I track across a lake. Throw in the wind, and your really happy you have this little device. As mentioned in another review. I too, hit my hand on the black knob that holds the line to raise and lower the skeg. I was planning on moving it. But I have quit hitting it. So I am leaving it alone. With the skeg up, the Jolt does want to do a little waddle while paddling flat water, which you should expect from a kayak this short. With the skeg down. Don't expect to whip your craft around on a dime anymore. It makes turning a much longer process. Pull the skeg up and the Jolt almost spins in one spot. It cuts the water nicely and I find myself cruising along at a nice pace without much effort.

On the rivers the Jolt continues to impress me. It wants to go downstream. I find myself looking for bigger and bigger rapids to get into. This boat likes to play in the rapids and handles them well. I have surfed this boat with no effort. It seemed like it wanted to play in the rapids. It is quick to repond to a hip or foot action and when you add a paddle stroke it really moves around where you want it too. I still haven't tried rolling it. My buddies that roll their boats say it may be hard. But if you could get the knack of it, this kayak would rock in white water too.

The dry well, well isn't a dry well. I would call it a trunk. It keeps stuff dry as long as you stay upright. Tip and water gets in. It does provide a great place to keep stuff you don't want to lose if you decide to go for a swim. The bungees behind the seat have a nice hookup that makes straping stuff down to them a breeze. I just wish they were a bit bigger. But I guess that is what the trunk (not a drywell) is for.

The seat is adjustable in two ways. It will slide both forward and backwards on a bar that locks nicely into place at several locations as you move it. The seat is comfortable and I have spent many hours on the water and have very few complaints from my posterior. The seat back is adjustable and allows me to lean it back and just cruise or lean it forward to dig in and paddle. I do have to apply some oil to the skeg occasionally to give the spring loaded action a bit of help. But that isn't a big thing in my book and just falls under general maintinance.

My buddy who has the Jolt 11.5 said that if this boat had been out when he got his, he probably would have gone with it. I know I am very happy with the kayak.

The biggest complaint I have is how OT Sport handle the advertising for this kayak. The website does this kayak no justice. The picture they have listed sucks and the write up sounds like the guy who wrote it probably never had the kayak on the water. I have wrote and told them that. Before you buy another kayak. Try to find a place to demo htis boat. I personally belive you will be very happy with this boat. I can't imagine that you wouldn't be.

Feel free to e-mail me and ask any questions that you may have.

This kayak is SUPER. It handles great. Is very responsive, tracks well and is nice and stable. All my friends that have tried my kayak agree. They just love this boat.

It is a small rec boat that handles like a white water boat on moving water. OT says it is rollable. But I haven't tried yet. It comes with a drop down skeg for running flat water. And it works great when you lower it. I was amazed at how much of a difference it could make on a kayak this short. I kept this kayak going in a nice straight line on the lakes while the skeg was down. On moving water it handles like a white water boat. It turns quickly and handles the rapids I have run in it with no effort.

This is the best all around boat that I have ever used. I would and have recomended this boat to everyone. It does it all and does it nicely. Here is what I have compared it to. Otter, Zydeco, Blackwater 11.5, Element, Loon 102, Dagger Delta, Kiwi. This boat rules. Buy one, you won't be sorry.