I agree with Brad's posting on 06-29-2001. I have owned an Avocet RM (polyethylene) for about 13 months and I really like it! I've paddled it in various conditions on Pool 13 of the Mississippi River, small lakes in Illinois, Lake Powell in Utah, and Lake Superior's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. I too replaced the back band. I'm using Snap Dragon's "Back Band 2" product, which was easy to install.
