First Impressions - 2010 Jackson Fun Kayak

[Cowper]

On September 26, I got the chance to put the first scratches on a new 2010 Jackson Fun. I counted myself lucky because I later learned that the first boats were not scheduled to arrive at dealerships until Sept 28.

Due to a combination of circumstances, I found myself making a solo run down a slightly high Ocoee (something under 2000 cfs). Somewhere along the way, that changed to a very high Ocoee – probably in the range of 4000 to 5000 and rising. These water levels somewhat complicated the issue of judging the boat, since my mental reference points are mostly “benchmarked” against my old S6F and Ocoee runs at more normal summertime levels.

I’m not going to attempt a full review based on one run under these conditions, but I would like to share a few first impressions. Also, I’ll warn you in advance – I’m not going to fill this review with the superlatives that “team boaters” are prone to use, so if you want to read that kind of review to pump yourself up for spending over 1k, then just quit now while you’re ahead. The boat helped me do a few things better, but it didn’t start cartwheeling or looping just because I climbed into the saddle.

Overall looks – this boat looks like a cross-breed between the earlier series boats, but seems to have inherited more from the Star Series than the Fun Series.

Hull speed seemed very good for a boat of this length, which should make for both good river running and good surfing.

River running characteristics were great – even on the big water, I felt “under control” and was able to stick to surface moves when that is what I wanted. No “unintendos” were experienced, even with the high water. When I needed to change directions, the boat response was immediate.

Initial stability was good for such a small boat, but may hold a surprise or two for newer paddlers. I found myself bracing a bit more than I would have expected in an earlier generation Fun. But then again, it never caught an edge to the point that I had to do a full roll, either.

Surfing – this is what impressed me the most. I felt like I could carve the boat at will by just tilting my head and shoulders in the desired direction. When I wanted to reverse directions, I’d just look where I wanted to go, tilt the boat edge up a bit, and it was as if the boat was under the control of some high-tech heads-up display that made it go where I was looking.

While I would also like to demo a new 4 Fun when they become available (even though I’d be at the bottom of the 4 Fun weight range), right now the 2010 Fun has a better chance of luring me away from my current ride than anything I’ve tried in several years. I think Jackson has achieved their desired goal of creating a boat that can play and run rivers with some of the best designs out there, competing well against other designs that have been “optimized” for just one of these two options.

[GutIt]

Strange, but when I first saw this post, Debo had written it!

Nice review, though. One of my Bros has an earlier Fun series boat and I would have to agree with at least one point. That is the best surfing boat I have paddled in a while. Or at least judging by what limited time I got to be in it.

Debo/Cowper, or whoever you are? Since the boat didn't start tossing ends merely by virtue of you climbing into the saddle, were you able to get a chance to see if it would anyway. And if so, how would that compare? I know a lot of the usual Ocoee spots wash at higher levels.

I guess what I'm asking about is the "play" side of this boat besides the surfing aspect.

[Cowper]

...Since the boat didn't start tossing ends merely by virtue of you climbing into the saddle, were you able to get a chance to see if it would anyway. And if so, how would that compare? ....I guess what I'm asking about is the "play" side of this boat besides the surfing aspect.

DeBo and I often share the same computer at home, and I didn't realize it was still logged in under her name until after I punched "submit".

On the vertical play, I only have limited impressions. Call me a wimp, but once the water turned chocolate, I was kept my noseclips on and was generally trying not do anything that made a roll necessary, because I've seen some data about how fecal coliforms shoot up during any major flood event. But I think you're going to find it very similar to the pre-2010 Star series. Stern squirts are going to be relatively easy, because it has a bit more stern than a Star, but a lot less than the previous generation Fun series. As to moves that initiate with the bow; I knowthe Jackson website says the boat will be better for cartwheels and loops than previous funs, but also mentions "more pop". I'm somewhat vertically challenged, so I take that to mean I'm not going to be able to do flatwater bow stalls the way I do in my S6F; but again, just looking at the boat I don't think it will be any problem getting the bow down with this boat if you could do the same in the earlier generation Fun.

Put it another way: If the Fun was too much of a river runner for you, but you thought the Star was too specialized for park-and-play, then you're probably going to love this new Fun series. On the down side, I've seen a lot of folks running a Fun on easier water even before they had a Combat roll, because the boat is so beginner-friendly. I think the new Fun series is going to be higher-performance, and beginners will really want to get that roll before venturing out on too many rivers. I don't see this as a criticism, because my own take is that if you are going to be in a play boat, you need to be rolling, or you're not going to be able to use the boat for what it was designed to do.

[GutIt]

Thanks Cowper.

Actually, my Bro’s boat is a size over my range, which translates into a 4Fun. And not unlike you, I am at the bottom of the weight range for that boat. And still it performed beautifully on a surf for me. I didn’t get the chance to put it in flat water, or really run it, or do anything but put it on a surf. But it performed unexpectedly well.

I have never had much success with plowing any boat in the Flats, play or otherwise, to a bow stall. I have to double pump it. Nice thing about doing it in the Flats, however, is that you get the chance to judge smoothness, transition, speed, balance, and ease of each in a more “quiet” and “controlled” environment. For me, that gives me a good idea about how the boat will respond when I am being bounced all over the wave/hole! Well, hopefully, anyway! And that helps when anticipation/reaction time to initiate may be limited and the action is accelerated. You kind of have an idea then about what you can get away with! Then move from a stall to a wheel, and that tells me what I need to know. If I can’t stall it well balanced in the Flats, transition edges and ends smoothly, then looping is iffy at best since I will most likely shear off to one side or the other when I am getting maytagged in a hole. I know I will have problems keeping myself centered over the boat! Obviously, I need all the hep I can get!

I’m not really much for the manufacturers descriptions and hype because they are trying to sell boats. The real deal is how it works for you and that varies dramatically. And the best way to make that decision is to get in one. I think I can get my hands back on an older Fun and thrash around in it some. Then take your observations, Cowper, on the updated version, and my curiosity is peaked!

Thanks again for the review, Deper/Cowbo! Good to hear about these machines from our In-House Boat Design Guru(s).

But a superlative or two would be entertaining!!!

[Renee H]

Thanks Cowper for the review. Scott mentioned this boat and my first thought was heck no cause I didn't fit well into the previous two designs of the Fun. I am in the heavier weight range on my playboat and need something a little more stable for river running and the new Fun is only 3" longer and has 7 more gallons of volume. Hopefully, OOO will have one soon to try out

[Renee H]

I've been told I will have mine this week Hopefully, I can get to the pool on Wednesdays and let folks try it out.

[Mike_P]

I've paddled my 2010 4Fun twice now on river runs (once on the Mulberry & the other on the Frog). I would completely agree with Cowper's assessment. I think the JK write up (i.e. marketing) is pretty spot on as well. This boat replaced my 2007 4Fun so that's what I'm comparing it to. So far while I can't say it's so much better you should necessarily replace your older model Fun series, I DO think it has better secondary stability (softer edges) & has a little better hull speed. In the short time I've paddled the boat I think it has improving my surfing (which I suck at)! The knee position is also a little closer together & the boat feels relatively smaller.

Not trying to get anyone to buy a boat, but rather trying to contribute back to the reviews on this board from which I've benefited from tremendously over the years.

My 2 cents,
Mike P.
Rogers