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The Axis 12 is a great boat for my purposes. It allows me to enjoy trips on our local class 1 rivers, some class 2 rivers farther from home, and even enjoy the local whitewater play parks. It is also a pleasure to cruise the larger lakes down in KY, as I can put the miles on quickly without a lot of effort.

On the down side, the rear bulkhead doesn't keep water out, and the front deck rigging stretched out and became useless in a few seasons. This year, the skeg in the back started making a thumping sound with each paddle stroke.

I'm really impressed with the Katana 10.4. It is quick to turn and very nimble for a boat so large and heavy. With the skeg dropped down, I'm amazed at how well it tracks a straight line. It's easy to surf small waves, ferry, eddy turn, etc. It's speed is quiet fast, allowing me to easily keep up with others in 10' recreational boats, even though I get to have a lot more fun in the rapid areas. The outfitting is comfortable and versatile, though I wish there was a little better back support.

For the price ($175 on sale at Menards including a surprisingly light paddle), it's hard to beat this for a kid’s boat. Our teens prefer them to our more expensive "real" kayaks. They are surprisingly fast and have lots of primary stability. Two of the seats began ripping during the first season, but the company was quick to send me replacements for free. There are no bulkheads or built in flotation, so we usually put a dry bag or two in the stern in case of swamping. Compared to Sun Dolphins and other big box store boats, these are the best I’ve seen for the money.