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I'm delighted with both my Generation 1 Evo and with the support I've had from the owner of Think Kayaks.

First, the construction quality is absolutely superb, on par with fancy yachts. I say this with conviction, having spent a fair bit of my life in boatyards working on various projects. The build quality really is exemplary and it is clear that the builder spent a great time of time making the hull structurally and cosmetically perfect. My Evo is really tough, too; the previous owner clearly did not take care of it at all but the 13 year old hull is still very sound.

Next, it is an absolute joy to paddle. Other reviewers are more articulate than I am (and much more experienced) so I'll leave the details to them to describe- but the Evo is unbelievably comfortable, lightning fast and utterly exhilarating to paddle. Primary stability is, er, sketchy at first but putting in "bucket time" makes the boat feel entirely predictable, safe and solid. Secondary stability was excellent right from the start.

Lastly, as might be expected with a second-hand 13-year-old, mistreated boat, I needed to do some minor repairs when I bought my Evo. The owner of Think Kayaks, was a delight to work with. He sold me the needed supplies (rudder lines, hatch covers, things like that) at extremely reasonable prices and was incredibly helpful and generous with his time. In my experience, someone buying a second-hand boat, particularly an old one, generally can expect limited or no support from the manufacturer. That definitely wasn't the case here; even after 13 years, Think Kayaks was willing, even happy, to provide whatever support I needed to get my boat back on the water.

Knowing that the manufacturer has your back is a really good feeling. So go ahead, buy that Think surfski you've been eyeing. You won't regret it.