Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Anyone have an opinion or experience in or about Dagger Freefall LT? Looking for a creek boat or river runner for my sons to move into form rec boats.

Boys range from 5'4 130 to 5' 10 185

Freefall is now a bit out of date as compared to current technology

In it's day it was the creek boat to have. Started a trend that continues today with creek boat design.

My opinion, if you can find one in decent shape, it is still a good creek boat and should make a great starter boat.

was my first ww boat!it's a great boat worth getting.

The Freefall LT is in fact a great creek boat.

Another thread discussed in more detail, but some have found that folks who get a creek boat as a first river runner are sometimes not happy. The creek boat is highly specialized for running creeks, and very forgiving in some ways. But because it is forgiving, you can use bad technique and don't learn some things as quickly; it will be less fun for play, and slower in long pools like on the Caddo, the Mulberry, the Piney.

With young people, you should also consider just getting them a play boat that is large enough to fit the biggest boy, and letting them swim a time or two at first. They won't mind, and they'll remain happy with and challenged by the boat for a little bit longer. They will learn to roll within the first few sessions (if taught by someone who knows how), and then things like boat stability will be a lot less important.

Cowper wrote:Another thread discussed in more detail, but some have found that folks who get a creek boat as a first river runner are sometimes not happy.

Cowper is spot-on! If you start in a boat that has "grabby" edges ,you can handle a creekboat with much more ease.It will make you a better playboater as well as a better creeker.

Just my .03 cents (adjusted for inflation)...


CapnTom...