what can you tell me about a prelude?

esprit · Post by **esprit** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:38 am

Hey Big Spenser,

I am 6'3 200lbs and both a Solito and Prelude feel fine for my size and weight. For durability and creeky paddling Prelude will last much longer.

jim

bigspencer07 · Post by **bigspencer07** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 4:03 am

thanks esprit,
think more rebuilding of paddling skills more than losing weight will solve any of my rusty issues

TNbound · Post by **TNbound** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:26 am

Adding yet another question to this thread, how does the stability of a Prelude stack up against a Spark?

kabuki_blaze · Post by **kabuki_blaze** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:23 pm

Just my two cents, since I have paddled the detonator and the prelude. I am a big guy, 6'3 220 pounds. At my weight and height (I am a class 3+-4 paddler) I found the prelude to be very unstable and VERY TIPPY. I paddle the Detonator now and love it, i found I got the responsiveness of the prelude and gained the stability I was looking for...People swear by the prelude and I love the plastic, maybe it just takes a better paddler as you get taller and heavier. I wanted to love the prelude, but it just didn't happen.

Post by **sbroam** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:16 pm

I'm about 220 and have spent a grand total of 20 minutes in a Prelude - I wanted to like it and maybe could have w/time (and diet!) Stability wasn't the deal breaker, it was speed. 220 is just too much in that boat.

I've spent a couple of hours in a Spark - awesome boat, but quite different. Fast. Stable enough. "Nimble". I wouldn't turn one down but would probably consider composite first.

ckingoc1 · Post by **ckingoc1** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:31 pm

sbroam wrote:I'm about 220 and have spent a grand total of 20 minutes in a Prelude - I wanted to like it and maybe could have w/time (and diet!) Stability wasn't the deal breaker, it was speed. 220 is just too much in that boat.

I've spent a couple of hours in a Spark - awesome boat, but quite different. Fast. Stable enough. "Nimble". I wouldn't turn one down but would probably consider composite first.

Its faster than a fly. And drier than a Skeeter although I find the Prelude a little less stable than a Skeeter.I'm about 205

milkman · Post by **milkman** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:56 pm

I think boats like the Prelude and Solito are made for lighter paddlers--200 pounds and under. The heavier you are, the more the boat sinks in the water and you lose speed, spin and stability. If I was a bigger dude, I'd probably paddle an Ocoee.

oc ender · Post by **oc ender** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:12 am

i tried to just sit in the bugger and could barely do that.the outfitting sucked,and i was still a rookie.I'm 6'0 and 190lbs.I'd like to try one with good outfitting but i look at it and i'm sure the results would be the same.No real edges,kinda' round with wicked rocker!Love to love it,but...

bigspencer07 · Post by **bigspencer07** » Tue May 11, 2010 1:58 pm

...think the prelude is on the to-paddle list.

french erick · Post by **french erick** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:20 pm

Re prelude,
I think I'm rather a small lad compare to youse lads...I don't do imperial

so I'm 1m82 for 74kg.

Also changed the outfitting that seemed to have been the original prelude one. Got my knees more spread out and cut about an inch or so ? (2/3 cm).

I didn't know any better before since that's the only boat I've ever paddled...but hades it's now super stable

2opnboat1 · Post by **2opnboat1** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:30 pm

just buy a Maxim we have a few around got a purple and yellow matter of fact have a couple of each. Yes they are royalex but they are very very very solid

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:32 pm

or wait for a L'edge

agrestal · Post by **agrestal** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:07 pm

I paddled ncdavid's pyranha prelude a couple times at the WWC and it was fun but super heavy and slow. You do have to keep an active blade in the water - it's a little more stable with some water in it, but that's even more weight. I thought it felt significantly more stable in rapids than on the flat water. (It was funny to have 3 kayakers get in it at the top pool and immediately flip on or before the 1st paddle stroke!)

I got in mac's maxim and loved it for all the same benefits the prelude has, but it doesn't seem nearly as heavy and maybe that's part of why it doesn't seem as slow to me. The initial stability seems greater without giving up any secondary. If you're near NC and want to try my maxim (had to have one!) you're welcome to.

Todhunter · Post by **Todhunter** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:53 pm

Shannon - you think the Prelude has even LESS initial stability than the Maxim?

I do love my Maxim! It is very light, even with a bulkhead and pump. Mine is Royalex (not Royalite) and is very solid. With S-glass skid plates, it takes abuse very well, and I'm a novice paddler, so I do hit rocks frequently.

agrestal · Post by **agrestal** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:55 pm

Yup, I do

C-Forum

what can you tell me about a prelude?

Either one

prelude