L'edge or Prelude?

redbeardcanoeworks · Post by **redbeardcanoeworks** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:42 pm

Ok, so this friend of mine wants to know if he should buy a L'edge, Prelude or another boat. Here's his stats, about 2 years messing around in class 2 stuff in a recreational tandam then bought a used Encore this last summer and has done some class 3 stuff but nothing on the edge yet. He can handle the Encore ok, hasn't learned to roll yet but is determined to try. Really wants a smaller more maneuverable boat. Will end up using it mostly on class 2 and 3 stuff, there's not a lot of higer stuff near us and he has 4 kids to think about. Want to surf, boof stuff up to about 8' and run rivers including most runs that have a high percentage of moving water between rapids sets.
He can get last years Prelude for around $ 1500 and a decked ledge (that we'd cut and add gunnels to) for around $ 1800. He sold his snowmobile so I know he's serious.
At his skill level and for what he wants to do over the long term which boat makes the most sense? I suggested waiting a bit to try to find a used boat but he's hot right now! Anybody have a short used boat that would fit the bill?
Thanks
DAVE

2opnboat1 · Post by **2opnboat1** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:48 pm

MAXIM

markzak · Post by **markzak** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:55 pm

sounds like the Prelude would not be the right choice. Its features are more appropriate for somebody who already has the pretty advanced skills to paddle it versus someone trying to advance towards those skills.

ian123 · Post by **ian123** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:01 pm

Spanish fly.... it does it all and it's super playful...

Post by **PAC** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:26 pm

Based on the info he should look at the Maxium and not the Prelude. Don't get me wrong the Prelude is a great boat... but it is a tad twitcher and takes a bit more to master.
I liked the Maxium when I paddled it but I was only in it for a very short time and didn't to really know the boat....but I've seen RiverScout work the river pretty hard in one. Note to self get more time in a Maxium.
I did get a chance to drive the L'Edge and found it to be very friendly on pretty much everything. My son and friend (mostly paddlers of Ks) also had a chance to paddle one and loved it too.

I think either would be a good choice. So its price, functionality, durability and re-sale-ablity! Hope that helps more than adds to confussion.

PS: The SFly would work too... but it sounds like he wants to go traditional looking.

ian123 · Post by **ian123** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:36 pm

... but it sounds like he wants to go traditional looking.

He didn't say that.

Until the Maxim comes is something other than royalex, I wouldn't even think about it... unless it was free

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:37 pm

Call me biased... but clearly the L'edge... and I actually live in Wisconsin and know the type of rivers there are to paddle around here... and I'm pretty familiar with the type of rocks that we have that wear boats out.

There's a couple local runs in the videos... albeit at high water levels.
http://vimeo.com/user1841061/videos

Feel free to pm me if you want to come over to Wausau and look at a decked or open model... I have one of each.

milkman · Post by **milkman** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:39 pm

Based on what I've read on cboats, I would say the L'edge because it's supposed to be a great confidence builder and won't be as twitchy as moving from a very stable Encore to the much less stable Prelude or Maxim. I also would think that the L'edge would have a tiny advantage on hull speed over the shorter Maxim, especially if you remove the top decks. I could be wrong on this since the Maxim is a lighter boat--but I think the stableness of the L'edge makes it the better choice.

ncdavid · Post by **ncdavid** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:39 pm

If he wants plastic, I'd go with the L'edge. Or he could wait a short while and check out the Option and Ion from Jeremy. He already owns a great Royalex boat but wants something smaller. Detonator is a nice boat. I don't know how many Rodeo hulls Mohawk has left, but their website lists them at $1200 outfitted. That's pretty sweet.

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:02 pm

btw...

GO PACKERS

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:05 pm

L'Edge, and he can get one SHIPPED for $1500 from The Appomattox River Company

http://www.paddleva.com/

Just say no to RX.

ncdavid · Post by **ncdavid** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:11 pm

Craig Smerda wrote:btw...

GO PACKERS

Hmmm. The red is nice, but the green would look great for the 2011 L'edges. You aren't planning to have an announcement soon, are you? Like around the Super Bowl?

redbeardcanoeworks · Post by **redbeardcanoeworks** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:12 pm

I guess I should have said he does want the more traditional looking boat. No offense, I personally paddle a C-1 but he does want a canoe that "looks like a canoe". We looked pretty hard at a used Maxium but it sold before he sold his snowmobile.
Sounds like the L'edge is the best from the replies so far.

OC1er · Post by **OC1er** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:14 pm

8' boofs are class II-III?

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:45 pm

ncdavid wrote:Hmmm. The red is nice, but the green would look great...

sure it would...

a bit brighter perhaps?

Y'all can thank Bushpaddler for doing the "what if..." photoshop work.

More at... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8 ... 47c1894823

ALSO... if you want to see the bottom of a L'edge/Skeeter (almost the exact same as a Prelude)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8 ... 9e7779d92d