Dissapointed in Dagger

[kayakmamma]

This weekend we got to paddle in NC/TN (Ocoee, Nantahala, Upper Ocoee, Ocoee). We stopped at NOC so I could buy a Dagger Axiom 8.5, yay!!!. It was very exciting (I had demoed this boat a couple of days at an NOC clinic in Aug, and loved it's performance!) I was so disappointed when the bottom of my boat "creased" while paddling on the Nanny that day. I did not hit any rocks particularly hard and am light in that boat. The plastic of the boat felt very thin, and I could feel the cold of the Nanny river easily through the seat. NOC took the boat back, and gave me a full refund, and called it a "fluke". However, upon examination, the Axiom I had previously demoed in the clinic had fairly severe oil canning. NOC reported that that Axiom was new this season, and was paddled (generally on the Nanny) about once per week. Additionally, a used demo Axiom for sale at Rock Creek's clearance sale was also from this season, and also had fairly severe oil canning.
The old Riot I paddle, (and have paddled for years) has a gajillion scratches, --some very deep, but not even a hint of hull deformation.
I'm very sad not to have gotten a new boat, and extremely disappointed in what I saw with this Dagger boat. I want the boat, but I want a quality product!

Lorraine McPhee

[okieboater]

I think Dagger recent quality is what happens when specialty manufacturing goes big time! AKA when the boaters loose control to the bean counters!

I have a old school Dagger Response Crosslink that is going strong and will prolly last as long as I kayak, also a RPM Max that has mucho miles of river runs on it and is still my river runner of choice. Both boats have an honored space in my boat shed. Have heard good things about the Axiom as an updated RPM but if the plastic is going down hill will wait till the Max bottom wears thru - so far it is still good!

[Jeremy M]

I would say that as a general rule that is true Okie...but kayakmamma, don't be dissapointed in Dagger as a whole. I would say in recent years, we see fewer warranties on boats, with fewer and fewer every year.

The Rotational moulding process is not an oversimplified process. Each particular resin, and to that degree, each color of resin has a specific curing time. If pulled before or after that time, sometimes, a flaw is created in the plastic. Thus the term, manufacturer's defect. They are few and far between, but they do happen. I would say if that's the boat you're looking for, then buy new and have the warranty. If you're still turned off from Dagger and are looking for that style of boat, I would recommend taking a look at the Liquid Logic Remix 59...I'm sure you'll love that boat. Also, J.K. has a new boat coming out called the Fun Runner, which deserves a peek as well.

I wish you the best of luck finding the boat for you!

[FarPastGone]

I paddled an Axiom last summer and really liked it. I got to paddle a prototype of the Jackson Fun Runner this summer and it was very similar.

So if you are looking for something that will do a bit more downriver play then the Remix (something to catch green waves and do a little surfing), but don't want to go with Dagger then I would wait for the JK Fun Runner.

Another boat you may want to look into is the Pyranha Z.One.

- Matt

[Fish]

At least their gas tanks don't explode on impact like those New Wave Cruise Controls used to. Now that was some bad plastic.

- Fish

[mgood]

At least their gas tanks don't explode on impact like those New Wave Cruise Controls used to. Now that was some bad plastic.

- Fish

Comment of the decade!

[kayakmamma]

Ha ha, Fish-you are hilarious! Thanks for everyone's comments. Very interesting!