WS Score vs. Dagger Redline

[yarnellboat]

Apparently these both make good conversions. Has anybody paddled them both and can help with a direct comparison?

I'm a 220lb class II-III paddler intersted in river running and playing, and my big legs would prefer a tall cockpit & saddle.

I've paddled a Score. Had to raise the rim of the Score to fit my thighs under. It's OK, but I sink the ends/edges pretty easily for confident river running as a C-1 newbie.

Seems like the Redline has more volume up front, but might be a little narrower? It does have a little more volume, so I'm hoping it wouldn't be as slicey/catchy?

Thanks, PY.

[sbroam]

Sorry, never paddled a Redline - wanted to, but... I do have a Score and like it. At 220# you can do flatwater tricks and it works pretty well as a river runner - even with a tall saddle. When I started bumping past 220 or wearing heavier gear (i.e. Lotus pack with hydration bag and throw rope) it definitely felt top heavy. I took that as my clue to drop some weight...

[yarnellboat]

Thanks Scott,

Knowing you paddle a Score, I was hoping you'd paddled a Redline.

Thanks for calling me fat! Of course you're right, dropping some pounds would help.

I started another thread on how to do the flatwater tricks - I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing in a C-1.

If I can get this Redline for a decent price ($300?), I might try it out and hope that it'll give me more confidence for river running and surfing - I can't seem to keep the Scores' edges/ends out of trouble on the river.

Pat.

[Berkshire Jack]

For what it is worth, the Redline has been my main go-to boat for the last 9 years. I think it makes an excellent C1 conversion for general river running with moderate play characteristics. I weigh 190 lbs., so you will have to take that into your calculations, plus I never paddled the Score, so I can't compare the two.
In terms of river running, it has fairly decent speed for its length, although one would not call it fast. The relatively higher volume and bulbous front end means that it surfaces fairly well out of holes. I also find that it rolls exceptionally easy and quick. This gives a measure of confidence when undertaking otherwise dicey moves. In big water rivers, the relatively slicey and lower volume rear end sometimes causes unexpected rear enders, but there is a plus side to this in the play department. The slicey rear end makes stern squirts easy to perform, which gives me plenty to do on otherwise easy rivers. In big water, I sometimes wish I had more speed, but I almost always have enough. The chines are well positioned and don't seem to unexpectedly catch anything.
In terms of play, it has a planing hull which makes front surfing and carving lots of fun, and the bulbous front end sheds water well, so pearling is less a problem than in some other boats. Front surfing, blasts, and stern squirts are the foundation of play with the boat. The higher volume front end sort of prevents one from completing moves which require you to sink the front end. I hope this helps.

[sbroam]

Don't know if this will help, but I *wanted* a Redline for a long time but ended up with a Whiplash. I thought they were similar except the Redline was wider - I 'd describe the Whiplash almost exactly like Jack did the Redline, except with the Whiplash I'd have to add with almost every sentence "except it was kinda tippy". That improved my balance, for sure. Got where I could run the Ocoee in it with confidence, even Chattooga section III.5.

[cheajack]

FWIW. NOC had a Redline C-1 with a Dagger pedestal out front of the store the last weekend of ALF. Didn't check the price.