Crossover Kayaks...? Opinions?

[jphif]

I am in the market for a new/used crossover kayak. I have looked at the LL Remix XP 10, but from what i've read, I'd like to try out a Pyranha Fusion.

Has anyone had any experience with the Fusion (Connect 30 version)? I have been trying to find a place to at least sit in one, but I can't find anywhere in Arkansas that stocks them. OOO said they could order one, but they don't stock the Fusion due to the popularity of the XP.

I have also read some about the Jackson Rogue. Any opinions on these boats would be fantastic.

Thanks,
Josh

[Karla]

We sold a fusion 10 foot recently. Where do you live. Might check with Diane Chessier (last name changed), she is NWA I believe. She bought it. I liked paddling it (was my husbands) It is fast boat with skeg. You can edge it well, not as stable feeling as the XP10. Does have storage hatch. It is very manueverable. Cockpit on the smaller size but fits a large length skirt. It is easy to paddle, more lightwight than the xp. Debated keeping it or selling it. Sold to make more room in the garage for what we have already.

Might call Ozark outdoor just to see if they have one in Little Rock.

Hope this helps.

Karla

[jphif]

Thank you! I live in LR. I would be very interested in checking one out before buying one. I've heard many people complain about the XP being too big and also the back hatch leaking...?

[Waterman]

Josh:

I have a remix XP9 and a fusion M - connect 30 version. My wife and daughter primarily use these boats. When I choose between the two boats, I choose the fusion when looking to paddle Class II+-III creeks, and choose the remix for Class I-II waters.

I think the fusion is a better whitewater boat, but both are very capable; the fusion rides higher on the water than the remix; seating is not as comfortable as remix; both boats have good, secure stern hatch and easy to deploy skeg, but the remix hatch can be difficult to remove because it seals so well; the fusion's full-plate bow bulkhead makes that boat safer but more difficult to pack gear in the bow.

If you are looking for more of a creeker, go with the fusion. If you want more comfortable seating, or plan to camp out of the boat, go with the remix.

I am in Little Rock if you want to arrange to see the fusion. I am not going to the pool session tomorrow night, but I may go next week. Send me a PM next week if you want to meet at the pool.

John

[Jim Krueger]

Josh,

Do take a look at John's Fusion, in addition you're welcome to join us on the Caddo or upper Ouachita on our next outing. I have another crossover you could try as well, the Dagger Approach. Also we'll have the 10' Remix along to try, and maybe a 9' one too.

Best Regards
Jim

[jphif]

John,
Thanks for the tips! That sounds great. If you go to the pool sessions next week, I would love to check them out; however, I'm a bit big for the M and the XP9. But I would still love to see a comparison between the two.

Jim,
That sounds wonderful. I'll keep an eye on the message board and try to catch up with y'all when you go.

Josh

[Jojosand]

I have two Remix XP-9 and two Approach 10. My wife and i love the LL for comfort, storage, and helping to keep you afloat when you don't do the rapid correctly. I've done the Kossatot with mine and it was fine. The Approach is good but does not handle as well as the XP and I prefer both the mechanism and the skeg better on the XP. Also, the storage compartment stays dryer in the xp when you tip over. The XP has more structural support in case you get caught between rocks in the rapids. However, the Approach is considerably less expensive and is quite functional. It has done the upper big Piney fine with one of my friends who is not as skilled as I. He is 6'3" 220 lbs and wants to be able to exit the kayak quickly if he goes over. I love my XP but no longer need the skeg to go straight so I probably would not buy a crossover if I had to do it again.
John

[RomanLA]

I just paddled an XP-10 for 18 days in the Grand Canyon. It's a great boat!

[justanovice]

We bought LL XP 9s for all three of us (Myself, Daughter 14 yrs old, and son 9 yrs old.) We absolutely love them. I agree with the earlier post that it has saved me a few times when I hit a rapid totally wrong. They are very forgiving. Just my two cents' worth. Happy hunting!
Sandy

[jphif]

I know the XP10 is a great boat, but i've read that the Pyranha Fusion has some advantages over the XP. Correct me if i'm wrong, but these seem to be advantages of the Fusion:
--Bulkhead instead of foot pegs
--Hatch is actually waterproof where XP 10 leaks?
--Narrower than the XP, easier to maneuver
--Made for harder WW
--Lighter
--Cheaper

The disadvantages list seems to be a little shorter:
--less room to pack equipment (due to bulkhead)
--no center pillar
--not as stable as the XP

Any opinions of this list are more than welcome. I'm just trying to decipher between which boat to get. Also, has anyone heard of a Fluid Big Bang? Looking into that boat as well, but there is not a lot of information out there on it.
Josh

[AR-Nimrod]

Some of the deciding factors for me choosing an XP 10 over the Fusion were cockpit size on the XP is bigger. I'm a big guy 6'3" and 245#. Much easier in and out for me on the XP. Weight capacity was greater in the XP. The little bit of time I sat in a Fusion I believe the XP seat is better.

I have heard of and done some research on the Fluid Big Bang. Again smaller cockpit and less weight capacity. It's basically a BIG creek boat with bulkhead and dry hatch. NO SKEG. Have not personally tried one, although I would like to. Closest Fluid dealer is in AL.

[jerryc]

I've been paddling an XP-10 for about a year. I've read posts that list complaints about the hatch leaking. This hasn't been an issue for me at all, even after a two hour pool session in which I seemed to spend more time upside down than right side up, I only had about a cup of water in the hatch.
The boat handles great in rough water, but on flat water seems to push water in front a bit. I have to work to keep up with my wife in her Axis which seems to cut through the water better.
I have not paddled a boat with a bulkhead footrest, but I think I would prefer the pegs. I have a size 14 foot and start getting cramped on the foot pegs, it is nice to be able to stretch my legs and feet out full length every now and then.
The seating is very comfy, I added the highback seat option which I like also.
Hope this helps some,
Jerry

[Dr. Steve Yaney]

a cup of water would make it a "wet" hatch

[RomanLA]

I know the XP10 is a great boat, but i've read that the Pyranha Fusion has some advantages over the XP. Correct me if i'm wrong, but these seem to be advantages of the Fusion:
--Bulkhead instead of foot pegs
--Hatch is actually waterproof where XP 10 leaks?
--Narrower than the XP, easier to maneuver
--Made for harder WW
--Lighter
--Cheaper

The disadvantages list seems to be a little shorter:
--less room to pack equipment (due to bulkhead)
--no center pillar
--not as stable as the XP

LL is working on a bulkhead for the XP based on customer feedback and some people have installed bulkheads in them. After having paddled one for 18 days though, I have to say the footpegs didn't bother me at all. In fact, I think a bulkhead may be a bad idea. I was able to easily put rodeo float bags in the front and that would have been a real pain with a bulkhead.

The hatch on my XP was dry for the first couple days on the canyon. After that, I'd have a little water in it each day. The hatch was super tight, so I really think the big water resulted in some leakage through the bulkhead. The tunnel on my skirt was a little loose, so leakage into the cockpit was probably the cause of leakage into the storage. With that said, I wouldn't have put anything in the back that wasn't in a dry bag anyway.

I've read the Fusion is faster and has more of a whitewater feel to it. I have to say that I love the way the XP paddles though! There was one rapid where I was charging for an eddy and hit a rock and got turned around backwards. I caught the eddy backwards with ease. In any other boat, I have no doubt I would have flipped on the eddy line. I guess it just comes down to what you want in a boat. I chose the XP for comfort and stability on a multi-day big water trip.

[Jim Krueger]

I'm in full agreement with Roman about water seeping into the rear areas of recreational and crossover kayaks. I think the bulkhead to boat bond, usually silicone, lets a little water by and into the compartment due to flexing of the hull over time, much moreso than the hatch covers. These compartments still add much in the way of initial flotation to swamped boats! however I have always used dry bags for everything that goes in there. I might add, I have never been satisfied with the number of drain plugs on many Rec. boats, and some crossover boats, or their complete absence.
2cents-worth

Best Regards
Jim Moose