C-Forum

My son is looking to buy a used Dagger RPM. He currently paddles a Pyrana H3 and complains it's too tight. He's 5'9" and weighs 190lbs. He says the Dagger feels comfortable, but I'm not totally convinced he just wants to spend money. Anyone know anything about the RPM's performance? Thanks!
-Vin

as a C1... right?

Yes.

how could the h3 could be too tight? ....unless he didn't trim the cockpit rim where the K thigh braces attached.
other than that, there's tons of room. i'm 6'+ and 185 and have gobs of padding in mine.
his outfitting must be all goofy

I'd think the RPM would be a bad idea - lots better choices out there for not much more. I paddled with a guy who loved his (as a C-1), but nobody else did.

There was an article several years ago in either Paddler or Canoe & Kyack that reviewed several converted c1's. As I recall, the RPM was one of them and it got the lowest review of all of them. The two significant issues were: not adequate knee/thigh room in the cockpit; roundish hull made it a tippy platform. Kinda reminds me about the time early in my cboating career (read: bottom of the curve ), I was paddling a Prijon Hurricane. Boy! I really got good at nailing the roll after all the practice it gave me. However, I've seen other cboaters take their Hurricanes down the Upper Yough, so it really does come down to how the boat fits the boater. If the price is right/cheap, why not give it a go?

KNeal

Life is too short to paddle bad boats.

Find him a used Dagger Atom... he'll be much happier and if he grow's out of it he can just sell it again and probably break even on it price wise.

How's his c-boat'n "skillz"? Help us help you.

vin wrote:My son is looking to buy a used Dagger RPM. He says the Dagger feels comfortable . . .

If he's really sold on the layout of that boat, look at geeting a Dagger Redline. It's basically the same, but with a planing rather than a displacement hull, which I believe is more suitable for c-1. A number came factory-outfitted as c-boats with Dagger's pedestal, and I know of more than one that's still on the river.

Hey guys, check the details. The boater in question weighs 190lbs. The Redline is a good suggestion but I think he will be too heavy. A RPM would probably be a bad idea. Round bottom = tippy and at his weight I think he probably is too heavy for an RPM as a C-1.There should be plenty of room in that H3 if the outfitting is set up right. Might need to trim the cockpit rim a bit.??

an Inferred as a C-1. which is a smaller version of the Redline and it was a great C-1.

A Redline should be able to handle someone 200+, not a lot of plus maybe, but certainly somebody 190. I was looking for one when I had my Whiplash which was a similar size and I'm 220 - the Whiplash handled me just fine. I know where a Whiplash C-1 can be had for about $145 - www.getyourgearon.com

Didn't see where there were other boat choices. Vin, if your son can find another boat, these other suggestions are great. Redline does make a good c-1 and it has a LOT more leg/knee room than the RPM. Don't know about the Whiplash, but considering the source (Scott B.), it should work fine.

KNeal

To reply regarding his paddling skills - He's a solid class II paddler, knows how to roll but is not really comfortable doing it. Most of the stuff we paddle are small creeks and rivers in NJ, although he would like to start doing bigger stuff. His main complaint about not paddling more regularly is being uncomfortable in the boat. I, as he, would know nothing about reconfiguring his outfitting. I get the impression that not too many on this forum are high on the RPM.