So, I had been looking for this boat for a long time. Had I found a pre-owned one 6 or 7 years ago, I would not have gone back into long boating. Because I couldn’t find one, I ended up first with a P&H Delphin 150, then a carbon/kevlar Sterling Progression and then a Dagger Stratos for long boat surfing that can handle reaching farther out beach or reef breaks, as well as for rock gardening.
Well, I am glad that I didn’t find a ReVision sooner. As much as I enjoy it as an ultra XL longboard type surf ride, it performs differently from play-oriented sea kayaks (which I enjoy as well for their different type of surfing abilities). The Revision is fast but not as fast as a longboat. Its planing hull and sharp rails/chines and center fin allow it to cut better across the side of the waveface. And, with the ReVision, you have know when you have caught on to the wave and then quickly get into a diagonal run fast. If not, the shallow rocker of the low-volume flat nose has a tendency to pearl and dig into trough (like a shovel). At that point, the rider has to employ combination of edging, bracing and corrective strokes to recover and hopefully regain the wave.
For sure, the ReVision does better with long loopy cutbacks. But, because of the shallow nose rocker, the rider has to be mindful of the trim - leaning forward to effect more speed and leaning back when the nose looks likely to pearl at the base of the wave.
Also, the ReVision’s length creates more surface for a wave to work on after a flip. Twice I was pulled out of the thigh straps before even I had a chance to try to roll. This has never happened to me riding the shorter Perception Five O which is also outfitted with thigh straps. I need to figure out a fix for this, or I will be swimmig a lot more than I care or want, especially with remote point or reef breaks.
Finally, from my first paddle with the ReVision, I felt it was just too “tracky” for a surf ride. I am glad I went ahead and ordered a shorter 3" fin to replace the standard 5" inch fin that comes with the ReVision. The 3" fin provided just the right amount of tracking while not compromising the manueverability of the ReVision on the wave.
I need more surf (hopefully bigger than today) to get more time and knowledge of the ReVision. I enjoy the ReVision, but am also glad that I was pushed to find and learn surfing with the play tour kayaks. So, it is fortuitous that I found this boat later than I had initially wanted.
Mahalo!
sing
