C-Forum

The Vertige X is three inches shorter than the Caption (14' vs 14' 3"). The width is about the same except that the gunnels don't hook in like the Caption. This allows you to empty the Vertige X by leaning it on it's side instead of having to turn it completely upside down like the Caption. Sitting side by side the Vertige X has slightly less rocker than the Caption.

I've been paddling a Vertige X for about a month now and so far I'm pretty impressed. After wearing out a couple of Dagger Captions and over a half dozen Whitesells I got myself a Vertige X outfitted as a solo boat. It seems to be a great replacement for both boats.

The Whitesell had so much secondary stability that I could sit in a hole sideways and juggle tennis balls but I couldn't make the Whitesell surf a wave. The Caption, on the other hand, surfed great but I couldn't sit sideways in a hole without a paddle in my hands because of the harder chines. The Vertige X has the flat bottom of the Caption but with much softer chines. I've been surfing better with it than with the Caption mainly because the softer chines allows more predictable leans while surfing. I've jumped sideways into a couple of holes and the Vertige X seemed very stable. I haven't done enough side surfing with it to rate it but it's definitely much more stable than the Caption.

I've run the Upper Yough with it three times and all three runs were as dry or drier than any previous run. I also ran the Cheat at 1.5' and never had to bail the boat although I did get splashed once. The Vertige X handles eddies and ferries very well. The one downside is that it's a bit sluggish in doing a quick flat spin so it might not be the best choice for steep creeking. I haven't tried it on a steep creek mainly because I don't want to smash up my new boat just yet.

Jim Michaud

Jim,

Thanks for the comparison of the Vertige-X to the Caption and Whitesell. I have paddled Whitesells for several years and a Caption for the last six months. I find the Whitesell to be the best side surfer by far. Both my Piranhas and Descenders are the most stable boats in a hole I've yet to paddle. The Caption's edges are soft, but the sides and the tumblehome make side surfing more work than in one of Nolan's boats. In a Whitesell I can hand surf or be the anchor for some old school deck dances. With the lack of long boats on hand for deck dancing, I am rarely asked to be the anchor these days. I can bow surf equally in either the Whitesell or the Caption. The Whitesell is easier to take from a bow surf into a side surf. The Whitesell is the easiest to 360. The Caption requires a nearly perfect 360 hole to achieve that manuever. I believe the Whitesells roll easier than the Caption.

When my Caption gets so worn and cracked that ABS patches no longer keep it afloat I will be looking at the Vertige-X. There is a Vertige-X with a triple saddle in the NOC demo fleet now. I need to paddle it and see how it compares. I like the amount of rocker and the length of the boat.

I am still hopeful that Nolan will make some more hulls. If he does I'll get yet another Whitesell. If not, I want a big hull that is playful, but runs dry in the big stuff. The Vertige-X may fit the bill. Keep us posted on it's creeking abilities. It's good to hear that the Vertige-X is easier to dump. I dislike having to turn the Caption over to drain it. The Whitesells are easy to dump since the inwale is so much narrower. Just lean it up and the water flows out fast. A definite plus with an all-aluminum gunnel.