I have a Galaxy Kayaks ‘Fuego’ sit-on-top at the moment, which is my first kayak – short, recreational, stable. But, I use it on the river here (River Trent) which can be moving at a decent pace a lot of the time. Using my current kayak is enough to make me not bother with it, and that’s not what we want! The reason I say that is because it doesn’t track well and it’s a hell of a lot of effort to move against the current.
So, having done quite a bit of research and having a look at a couple, I’m thinking a Dagger Stratos 12.5 may be a good choice. But, I could be discounting lots of others I should be looking at, so any advice appreciated!
Going from a 9’ long SOT to a 12.5’ sit inside should be a vast improvement in speed. Pretty much anything that is longer and narrower will be an improvement both in speed and tracking.
The Stratos 12.5s (there are actually 2 sizes, a small and a large) are made as play boats for surfing and rock hopping and the like. Unless this is what you’re looking to do, you might do better with one of the Stratos 14.5 models. The 14.5s are more sea kayaks that can handle some moving water, as opposed to the 12.5 which is more of a moving water kayak with some sea kayak abilities.
River Trent in England, right? It looks very long, no whitewater, and unless you are very near the upper end, it is broad enough that tight maneuvering is not an issue. If those statements are right, then I would say that if you are poking along the shore to pick up trash, or you are stopping a lot to admire the small details of life and your trips are about 1.5 miles out and then back, then the 12.5 would be good. But, if you are going distances of 2 miles and back or further, then a longer kayak would better suit.
I’m a huge fan of the Daggers with drop skegs, such as the Stratos, and I have a 11.5 for small lakes and poking along shore, and I have a 15’ for longer paddles on large lakes and on rivers. In fact, on rivers with good current, the 15’ works much better going upstream.
Thanks for the input guys – have I misunderstood the Stratos’ main use (I didn’t have it as a crossover – I thought that was more the Axis?)
@RiverWay you’re absolutely right on the location yes. I do paddle on a smaller river (River Devon) where I’d be expected to get stuck in a 15ft kayak!
And, I’d be wanting to do 10+ miles there/back trips really. Do you not think the 12.5 is really up for that?
One thing I did see the other day is a Venture Islay 14, so if there are any thoughts there compared to the Dagger it’d be great to hear!
On Google maps, the Devon looks completely different from the Trent. That’s exactly what having two kayaks is made for!
It’s been a while since I looked at the Stratos and the Axis. My 11.5 is a Dagger Blackwater, so it’s akin to the Axis, not Stratos, I had missed that distinction. My 15 is a Dagger Charleston, with a sleek waterline entry and exit, akin to the Stratos 14.5. If anything could cover both worlds for you, the Stratos 12.5 would be an excellent choice - it probably has a fairly sleek entry, and with the skeg up very good maneuverability, and with skeg down very good tracking. I do think, however, that you’ll get a good workout going 5 miles upstream in it, at least with any speed. And you are right, you’re not going to take a 15 up the Trent that shows in the satellite view.
But then again, my two boats together, bought used, only amount to $550. Doing everything with a Swiss Army knife is fun, but doing it with purpose-built tools is even more fun.
Can’t say I can offer comparison to the Daggers, but I have paddled a Venture Easky 15LV for 14 years (the model that the Islay 14 replaced in the US, though I think the Easky may still be marketed in the UK) and it’s a wonderful boat. The Ventures (made by high end kayak maker, P & H) are very well finished and outfitted, with little details like the paddle holder bungee and the steel bar moulded into the deck that allows security cabling the boat against theft. I believe they are still made in the UK as well. And their hull designs and cockpit comfort are great, kayaks made to perform quite well and slightly less heavy than similar proportioned poly models by other makers.
