C-Forum

Hi all, I've searched the boards extensively on potential C1 creekers. However, I have many choices of used kayaks, and I want to be sure of which one to choose according to my specs and needs.

So right now, I'm looking for a creek boat, I used to paddle a Detonator, which I now find too big and wet for the creeks I have in sight (and VERY beaten up). I have the choice between :

liquidlogic jefe (250$ higher than others)
liquidlogic jefe grande
pyrhana burn medium
dagger mamba 7.5

I'm a small paddler, 140lbs and 5'9''. I don't know exactly what volume would be suitable for me. I'm looking for a relatively flat hull (though I don't mind losing a lot of the primary stability of my detonator).

Thanks for the answers, if the same topic has already been posted, mods feel free to close or delete mine.

Oh and if any of you has tips for outfitting, I'd be glad to hear it!

Go Jefe Grande, at your weight it'll be plenty stable, and the ease of boofing and unflapablity of the design in confused water are awesome...

Just my 2 cents worth:

liquidlogic jefe (250$ higher than others) Good but $
liquidlogic jefe grande Good but a bit big for your weight
pyrhana burn medium Good but twitchy for a first C1, hard rails some love"em some don't
dagger mamba 7.5 would be my pick.

A friend o mine loves his mamba. easy to paddle

The Mamba 7.5 is a little small as a "Creekboat", It depends exactly how you're defining creeking I guess.

At your weight a Mamba 8.0 would do you well, as would the Jefe (though it's twitchier than it's big brother, which played a part in my reccomending the Grande...) if you're aiming to run lots of steeps and can bear to part with the extra cash I'd chose it over that particular size of mamba.

The Mamba 7.5 is a little small as a "Creekboat", It depends exactly how you're defining creeking I guess.

At your weight a Mamba 8.0 would do you well, as would the Jefe (though it's twitchier than it's big brother, which played a part in my reccomending the Grande...) if you're aiming to run lots of steeps and can bear to part with the extra cash I'd chose it over that particular size of mamba.

I'm from Québec, so we don't have that many big volume creeks (well according to me). I thought that the Jefe grande was a little too big. On the other hand, the mamba 7.5 seems to be kinda small. I think the 8.0 would be appropriate. Anyway I think I will wait for an 8.0 or a Jefe around 600$. Thanks for the insight on the Pyrhana Burn rails!

One last thing : how good would a Jackson Villain (the 79 gal version) be? A friend of mine may sell me this one in some months.

unless you're creeks are solid 5 to 5+ I'm gonna vote burn. It's a great boat and a blast to paddle. It never bites me in the butt like my friends jefe does him.
the jefe grande is massive for your size.
I don't know anything about the mamba.