Atom review?

[Sir Adam]

Atom review?
by Quico Reed Quico Reed

I started out in open canoes, moved to kayaks, and mostly ocean surf, although I love to play in rivers, too.

I've been drawn to the Dagger Atom for some time, thinking it would be an interesting boat to paddle. But I can't find reviews of it.

What I'd really like to know is this:
1) the pictures I've seen show a sharp chine, and the bottom appears to be flat, like a planing hull. Please describe it, or if you have pix, show me what the hull looks like.

2) I used to surf a Pirouette S in teh ocean, and loved the speed of the boat, but the displacement hull and 10'6" length meant long, slow turns. So I traded it in for a shorter planing hulled kayak. But I wonder if the Atom, with a sharper chine and similar length, wouldn't be an interesting surfing boat. Even with the low volume ends, starting at an angle, carving into the wave might correct for that. Any ideas?

3) on rivers, the Atom seems like it would be fast and stable. what is it like? does it turn quickly and easily? does it track?

Thanks!

Posted on Aug 23, 2002, 2:03 PM


Re: Atom review?
by Kelly-Rand Kelly-Rand

I've had an Atom since April and the chine is sharp enough for quick moves and turns. Its one draw back is the volume of the tail is just enough to be nocked around by side currents or crossing waves. I think for ocean surfing the Atom would be great. The bottom is rockered, not flat like a rodeo boat. It tracks pretty well.

Posted on Aug 23, 2002, 4:16 PM

Comments on the Atom
by Eric

The Atom is a great C1 starter boat. It tracks very well and is fairly easy to roll. I paddled the boat regularly for two years, enjoying the boat's ability to spin in hydraulics. It was for me a great boat with which to learn river and play fundamentals.

The chines on the boat didn't seem that sharp to me though the tail could catch unexspectadly(sp?), sending me over lickety split. The boat moves pretty fast, but it is VERY heavy by today's standards! My guess is this boat would make a decent surf boat. A good compromise between ability to track and spin.

One other comment - this boat is a bummer in bigger hydraulics. The tail catches quite easily when trying to punch bigger holes. More characteristic of race boats I have paddled. Good luck with your exploration!

Posted on Aug 24, 2002, 6:17 AM

my opinion(s)
by KNeal

I've had an Atom since they first came out in '97 and I still use it on the Gauley, Upper and Lower Yough, the New Gorge, the Cheat, etc. and ad nauseum. It should be pretty obvious that I still really like my boat (and it is my only plastic boat), but the Atom has not proved itself to be great for everyone.

It is a river runner that can be stern squirted and bow endered, though its playing abilities pretty much end there (though you will see me splat, sometimes on purpose). The stern can be squirrely and difficult to get used to, though I personally have no problems with it--now. The hull is displacement and is at its best when front surfing glass and foam waves.

I have done one modification to my boat and that was to flatten the stern deck down for better stern squirts. While it is no easier to initiate with a flatter deck (Scott B. will attest to that), it will hang vertically longer. If you acquire an Atom, I recommend that you get rid of the added hip grabber and add foam hip pads of your own. This will shed some unnecessary weight (IMO). Compared to other plastic c-1's, the Atom is faster, turns well, and is very stable. If you are near Richmond, you are welcome to try my boat out and see what you think.

KNeal

P.S. I WILL BE paddling the New and/or Gauley the first or second weekend of October. Anybody want to join?

Posted on Aug 26, 2002, 10:30 AM