New Boat

[Louie]

Well you can to drive in a VW or a Porsch, but you are goin to want to end up with a Porsch, ya the learnin curve is a little harder but if it was easy we would have women and kids doin it............wait a minute we have women and Kids doin it ....I guess it must be easy. So forget the Ovulation.

[philcanoe]

Still being in college buying a used boat is my only option. Im coming from a mohawk xl-13 and having the oppurtunity to purchase a dagger ovation or a mohawk probe 12. Im 6' 2" and 150 lbs, I know I'm a bean pole. The xl-13 is a good boat it is just to big for me. So what do yall think would be a good fit for me?

I wonder ....

how many of these people suggesting their favorite, have actually paddled both boats?


... as for me, I'd never even heard of a probe12.

[ZethZ]

Started boating about 10 years ago with a XL13,it was a good "starter"boat.Upgraded to the Probe 12 a couple years later and it was a major change for the better.Still have the Probe and love it,done everything from creek to big water and its a easy boat to roll.The only thing that out shines my Mohawk now a days is my newly acquired Dagger Cascade C-1.

[yarnellboat]

For what it's worth, I have paddled both boats (if I hadn't I wouldn't respond or I'd say so), and for me personally I don't like either of them; so, my comments are based on the facts offered by the question-asker, including that the use is low-volume & narrow rivers/creeks (and in this case was a choice between 2 affordable boats, not an ideal boat).

In fact, for me, because of my weight, I'd probably take the Probe instead of the Ovation, but I voted for the Ovation for the poster.

I agree a lot of advice is given based on personal favourites, and also by experienced c-boaters who paddle 100 days a year and are regularly on class IV rivers boofing waterfalls - which doesn't have a lot to do with most question-askers.

My baseball coach always told me: never take batting lessons from a great hitter (that and "make the easy ones look hard, and the hard ones look easy").

Pat.

[CJT]

Leanin towards the Ovation. But I have some time to think on it before I get my tax return. Who knows something else might be pop up before I pull the trigger on a boat.
Thanks for all the comments guys

[philcanoe]

just saw a Probe12 today... as it turned out an acquaintance had been paddling one for years... (yeah I know - all those ABS look'th same) It has a really sweet look to it, without actually paddling. I'd take a long look at it, considering the other choice. Incidentally - We paddled a run ending with a 1.5 mile lake paddle today, and it looked way quicker than a Ovation.

[ckingoc1]

My first boat was a probe 12. I still have it for my biannual flat water trip.
It's big and forgiving and fairly fast but not as fast as a viper 12. I'd say if it's cheap enough go for it over the Ovation.

BTW Phil how was the 1.5 lake paddle in the fly.Did you consider tying it behind the probe and tandem out?

Edit
After reading the post again and seeing you where already in a boat unless they where almost free I wouldn't buy ether boat. I say save your money and kept looking. Maybe a Ocoee or viper11, or better yet a fly or another P.E. boat. (best for holding up on low water rocky steams)

[milkman]

I've paddled both boats and I am about the size of the poster. The Probe 12 felt like a Buick to me. The Ovation felt like what America used to call a sports car. Old 60s Mustang or Camaro. With a 6 not a V8.

I agree with Louie that if it was possible, it would be better to start out with something more performance oriented. We had a boat swap paddle day and a lot of the class 2 paddlers in our club actually liked the Ocoee, which surprised me. Myself, I'd definitely choose an Ocoee over an Ovation. But, given just the choice of an Ovation and a Probe 12, I'd go for the Ovation no question. Unless I was over 200 pounds.

[coach cal]

are you wanting to get rid of your mohawk xl-13? would be perfect for a noob like me to learn in. There is a local guy selling a xl-12 for 400 would that work for a 6'2 235?

[Randy Dodson]

Used to paddle a Probe 12 II and have had an Ovation for many years although I seldom paddle it anymore.

My take is

Probe's carve better and change direction on the surf wave easier.

Ovation's spin easier and while they are a little on the slow side, I've never thought they were as slow as everyone says they are. Ovation's are better than their reputation ( at least a little bit )

try em both out and get the one you like the best.

If the seller won't let you try em on the water you can paddle my Ovation and my old Probe which now belongs to a buddy who lives close by....depending on where you live in Arkansas.

I'm in Searcy.