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I received my Swift Cruiser 14.8 today from my dealer. I ordered the expedition kevlar without any gel coat two tone. Upon arriving at the put in I began the process of unloading the boat from the truck. The first thing I noticed was the weight, or should I say lack thereof. It was a breeze to handle on my own. I waded out a bit for the launch. As I got in I noticed that initial stability was playful, but certainly not as much so as my previous dedicated solo. After the initial strokes, a brief test showed the secondary stability was substantial. The dealer described it as you could sit there and eat a sandwich. I wish I had one because it sure felt like I could. In fact I could reach around and grab gear without fearing a swim. Ok, so what do you really want to know? The boat is fast. Not that i'm a speedy kind of guy, but day tripping is my thing, and this equates to less energy to paddle all day. It trimmed out well. The small amount of water I got in the boat seemed to spread out fairly evenly rather than pooling in the rear which was what my other boat did. I believe that you could trim the boat any way you like by adjusting pack location. I then noticed that the boat tracks well. It was easy to keep on course, it did turn decent when flat, but really came into it's own when heeled over. It was very confidence inspiring when I crashed through boat wakes, actually was fun. If flat water day paddles are your thing this is a boat you will want to try. I had to do a lot of research due to the covid thing cancelling the demo day. I trusted my gut, and it paid off big. Very happy with this boat, and anticipate it getting better as we forge a bond.

I wanted a minimally intrusive PFD that still had confidence inspiring flotation. The Ninja delivered. You hardly know that you have it on regardless of how hard you are paddling. Try one.

I've been using NRS straps for years. They seem to take whatever you throw at them, and the last pair I bought have a rubber guard around the buckle to prevent scratching. A definite upgrade from the old system. Once you try a pair you'll realize that you want more.

I wanted a traditional paddle to learn, improve my skills, and serve as a back up in my canoe. I selected the Badger tripper because it was made from a single piece of wood (cherry) rather than a laminate. I prefer an oiled paddle, but Badger gives you your choice of that or varnished. The workmanship was great, and the fact that they give you a sock with it as well.

I recently returned to paddlesports having had a sea kayak, and canoe in the past. With the help of my local retailer I selected the Fox 14 because I wanted a solo canoe for ease of entry for day trips on local inland lakes. I launched the Fox from the dock at my local ramp, and was immediately aware of the lack of primary stability. I generally paddle with a flat craft so I never have really heeled this over like I did my kayak. I have experimented with it a bit since, and discover it does have significant secondary stability, but not overly confidence inspiring. The craft builds stability the minute you begin to get underway, and I must admit that I stayed dry through the first 3, or 4 days I had it out. It is fairly fast, tracks strait, and yet turns well. I generally use a kayak paddle, but recently have decided to try a canoe paddle as well. The seat is canted towards the front, and while this is more comfortable while seated, it prevents me from being able to get my feet under the seat for kneeling which I'm sure would improve stability. It weighs 49 pounds in fiberglass, which is a bit more than I wanted, but is manageable as I do not portage it anyway. Overall, I'd say it is a good value. I would have gone 5 stars if it were more stable, and consideration to the seat.

I was looking for a kayak paddle to use with my solo canoe. It has been some years since I've owned a kayak, and was really unsure about the amount of feather I wanted. I researched a bit, and was interested in the Camano by Werner. My local paddle shop recommended this one when I visited there. I like the adjustability, and they have come a long way since I last owned one. Adjusting the feather is easy, and solid as a single piece when assembled. It is easy to take down to put in the vehicle. The paddle is light, and lively transferring lots of power during the stroke. It may be a bit at the top of your price range, but it is worth it. You won't be sorry.

I bought the Astral V eight as I anticipated my return to paddle sports. At first I was looking for a kayak, and felt the V-eight was perfect due to the vented back keeping me cool during hot summer days on the water. I ended up purchasing a solo canoe, and the V eight works well for that too. The vest is light, comfortable, and unobtrusive. Everything seems well made and should hold up well.