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I did say that I would provide updates, so here goes... Well into another season of Michigan kayaking, I love this boat all the more. My first ride in it last year seemed a bit uncomfortable, and now it feels like I'm one with the boat. I'm doing 3 to 4 hour open water cruises and it tracks great with the skeg down. Not as fast as a sea yak, no hurry here, and a little nosing in chop, but the nimble performance in bigger waves makes up for those drawbacks. Did some Class 2 recently, which was fun, but not much of a challenge because this boat handled it effortlessly. I've bounced it on rocks, no damage, pretty tough hull. Same rocks dented my friend's LL Remix. He now wants a Katana. Love the bulkhead-like foot rest, better than tiny pegs, although it isn't as easy to adjust. I set the position one time and haven't touched it since. Very comfortable since I can put my feet in various positions and still have good control. Rear bulkhead hasn't leaked, rear hatch remains dry. Yeah, I'm now 65, still a novice, and once I figure out how to roll without thinking too hard, I'll be ready to run this boat in the white water it was designed for. Keep you posted... Again, sorry for the duplicate reviews.

I bought a slightly used 2016 Katana in spring of 2018. It was in almost new condition. So far, I've had it on Michigan's Pine and Sturgeon Rivers, Burt Lake, and Lake Huron. No serious white water yet, as I'm a novice kayaker. I have a lot of canoe experience on big open waters and various rivers since childhood. I have also wind surfed large inland lakes and Lakes Superior and Michigan since 1984, on a very fast Mistral board. I am used to being 'on the water' so to speak. Kayaking is a natural fit for me, and I hope to upgrade this review as my experience grows. As when I bought my wind surfing equipment, I wanted a kayak that was well designed and built, and beyond my skill level so I could grow into it. After my first ride in the Katana, I knew this was a great boat for waters mild to wild. Can't wait to get some white water experience under my belt. I can tell already this boat is a rocket. Spins on a dime with the skeg up, and skeg down, tracks surprisingly well in open water. I wasn't expecting sea yak performance, so I've noticed slight wind cocking at the bow when paddling through whitecap conditions. No biggie there. It glides well on calmer waters. The skeg position makes a huge difference in the handling characteristics. It's like getting two boats for the price of one. So far, it's been a lot of fun in surf and big rollers on Huron. I wanted a crossover design because I plan to use it on many types of waters. Yeah, I know it's not the best at any one thing, but it's been a fun, nimble, and very comfortable boat so far. Some nuts and bolts... The thigh/knee braces were a pain to adjust. But that's a one time adjustment. The front bulkhead/footrest is good so far, way better than tiny foot pads. The adjustment system is a bit rudimentary, maybe for simplicity and weight shaving. Jackson has an interesting foot rest/bulkhead/stiffener apparatus. Looks more complicated than Dagger's design as it has shock absorbsion and adjust-on-the-fly systems built into it. It probably works great since its a Jackson design, but I'll stick with simple. The Katana's rear storage area has stayed dry so far, but I haven't put it through anything severe yet. The seat is very comfortable and easy to adjust on the fly if needed. Dagger supplied a pad kit for the hip pad pockets. I like the pocket idea. The foam pads aren't exposed wear and tear. I plan to order a spare skeg, since this is the part that's most exposed to damage. The zippered compartment in front of the seat is a nice feature, although its not meant for dry storage. There's a bungee'd water bottle holder on the seat track. Very useful for me. I use a Level Six Ace skirt and an NRS cover. The Katana coaming holds these well. Again, I hope to add to this review as I become more experienced with this boat.