Old paddler, new boat

[BEubanks]

After many years of paddling a Perception 3D and trying to decide on a new boat, I took the plunge and bought a Jackson Hero. (Thanks Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters! BTW, I sent a local Arkadelphia guy your way--he was admiring my boat yesterday when I stopped for some barbecue on the return from the 'tot. He's a hot prospect for a rec kayak for fishing.)

Anyway, I don't want to start any pro/con Jackson debates. I haven't paddled enough competing models to be qualified to offer comparisons, but thought I'd post my reactions after finally getting some water to put it on yesteday.

Vital stats: I'm 51, 6 ft tall, 155 lbs, size 11 feet. Bought my first canoe summer of 1977. First kayak sometime in mid to late 1990s. So, I've bought relatively few kayaks: mid 70s fiberglass Easy Rider, Perception Pirouette, and the 3D. I wanted something more comfortable, better for teaching the kayak class I regularly do at OBU, and something safer and better suited for creeking.

Initial reactions: the Hero is very comfortable! Compared to the 3D it's like sitting in my recliner. Mucho foot room. Ankles in comfortable position and possible to move around to different positions. I really like that!

Bulkhead and back band are very easy to adjust, even while floating down the river. So far, I’m satisfied with the cord mechanism for adjustments. Does seem to relax a bit over time, but I found it so easy to get tight, uh . . snug, and comfortable compared to the 3D that I didn’t mind having to adjust on occasion.

The inflatable seat is interesting. Still playing with different adjustments, but think I’ll like it, too.
Found the boat to have high initial stability and be very forgiving bouncing around in the drops and waves. No worries about being stern squirted. Able to surf, though the ends can be hard to move around. I think it’s going to take a different approach to edging than I’m used to.

Wasn’t quite as snappy on eddy turns as the 3D, but that may be just me not being used to how the boat handles.
I found that the additional volume was just what I was looking for. Found myself willing to try some moves in the falls that I’m reluctant to do in the 3D.

Bottom line. I like it. It will be a better teaching boat than the 3D for sure, and will be easy to let a variety of size students try it out. Now if I can just figure out how to get the $ to replace our old fleet of Eskimos with Jacksons!
May even have to start saving $ again and see if an old dog can learn a few tricks in an All Star.

[BEubanks]

A few days later and a foot more water, more or less. Great day on the 'tot yesterday. Upper 4 ft level, raining. So, anything new to add to my previous reactions. Ditto on the comfort. I may have trouble getting back into my 3D. So nice to have foot comfort. Also moved the hip pads a little up and back. So, even more comfortable than before.

Very forgiving in a side surf or in the holes. E.g., tried an elevator move at double drop trying to paddle upstream and curve around beyond the spin hole there. Never quite made it, but didn't worry about dropping into that hole, which I did a couple of times.

Satisfaction with boat increasing with each outing . . .

[Michele Jackson]

I just got back from a week in CO. I paddled my Hero on Brown's, the Numbers and the Royal Gorge. I was VERY happy with the way it handled. Seems to handle big waves and holes nicely - tends to bob back to the surface quickly. I love the way it catches eddies - I just have to be aggressive about putting it on edge.

[okieboater]

Been paddling a Mega Rocker for a couple years and for me it is very comfortable and is the first boat I have ever had that I thought did a better job of taking care of me than I had to do taking care of it. No matter how much I screwed up the Mega Rocker just seemed to plow on thru what ever the problem taking care of me. Very happy. In fact I boated the Mega Rocker more than my beloved RPM Max over that time frame.

Only issue I have with the Mega Rocker is it is pretty hard for me to do much surfing.

So, I purchased a Super Hero to complement the Mega Rocker. Because it has that surfing hull design.

Been doing a lot of rowing this season so far and have not had an opportunity to get it out.

Finally got it out to the Tot this weekend.

I have to say for me this is gonna be the ideal all around "play" boat for me.

Just as comfortable as the mega, surfs like a dream, carves into and out of eddies on rails and I am really happy with it. Have not had the chance to test it on more difficult water but hope to get back east and do some dam release runs this last part of summer.

As Randy Jackson said this week end "I bet that Super Hero becomes the boat you use most of the time".

I think he is right. For me, the Mega Rocker is the best creeker ever even better than my long departed Skreem. But for all around comfortable boating and about all I do these days is normal surfing --- the Super Hero may well be the most comfortable all around boat I have found. Heck maybe I'll do a bit of light creeking in the Super Hero but that big old comfortable mega forgiving Mega Rocker is always there on the ready to take care of me when I get a little nervious.

EJ may not have designed these two boats down 100 percent perfect but he sure is closing in on being close at least for beat up old creek boaters like me.

Enjoy your Hero!!!!

PS: Not giving up my long time friend RPM Max, just giving it some well deserved rest!!!

[Eric Esche]

Remember, I'm first in line if you go to sell that Mega Rocker, just like I will give you rights of first refusal on your old Skreem, if I ever go to something else. Susan did paddle the Skreem this summer and says she sees why we like it.

Eric

[okieboater]

Yup, the Skreem was ahead of it's time design wise and does about anything and does it well.

Having said that, for an old school displacement hull boater like me, the Mega Rocker is about as good as it gets when it comes to creeking.

[Crane]

I bought a Rocker back in September and rowed until June. I finally have several trips in it... Spring, Ouachita and last weekend the Upper Tot at about 6' (missed seeing you at the Falls, bro Dave!) The Rocker may not paddle like a Mega, but mine is pretty comfortable, holds a line pretty well, a little light yet in the bow... particularly on bigger water, and is faster than my old Micro 240 ever hoped to be. (And, if someone has a Micro in good shape, I'd consider getting it!!) But, assuming the Micro is not coming back, I like the Rocker, like the outfitting, and am pretty happy. It might match your weight better than a Mega!

[okieboater]

Crane,

Most of the Mega Rocker paddlers trim just a tad bow light.

I have always trimmed bow heavy believing that enabled the boat to carve of the bow into and out of eddies better.

Rockers tho have that big bow that wants to ride up and over nasty stuff.

So, I am trimmed out a bit light in the bow and man does this boat boof well. Also on rocky shallow creek stuff that bow will get you over some real nasty stuff on auto pilot.

Last year I was on a nasty section back east attempting to rescue another boaters boat (the person had bailed and the empty kayak was headed for a sieve series of rocks ending in a 3 foot drop onto more rocks. I got too much into the rescue and hit the rocks backwards. My bud said oh shi* from a safe eddy loud enough for me to hear and I looked up. The Rocker broached on the rocks but all I did was lean into the rocks and that smooth bottom just pivoted around and I went up and over stern first thru the drop where the boat did a excellent boof. Like I said, this boat makes even old guys look good.

[BEubanks]

So a question for other Hero paddlers. I need a new skirt. Using one of my school skirts for now, but starting up a new class in a few weeks so need to spring for a new one. I'll use a medium tunnel, and I figure an XL cockpit is needed. What goes on easy and stays dry for you?

[okieboater]

Be sure to chek the fit before you buy

I use a XXL cockpit on my Snapdragon skirt and it works pretty good.

[Owl]

The cockpit dimensions on Jackson boats are different from most other boats. Mountain Surf and Skirtworks make skirts specifically designed for them. I have a MS skirt for my Super Hero (that also fits my 4Fun) and it works great.

[BEubanks]

Thanks for the skirt advice. Looks like a trip to OOO for a new skirt this week. That's the kind of "back-to-school" shopping I prefer.

[Lifejacket]

My opinion for what it is worth, I bought a skirtwork's a couple of months ago and am not the biggest fan. I thought I would really like the design and the fact that the grab loop could not get tucked inside. What I have found is it makes it very difficult to pop off especially when upside down. My girlfriend who has been trying to learn won't use it because she doesn't like how you have to push it forward then pull it, she can't always get it. On more than one occasion while horsing around I have had to take multiple attempts to get it off.

[BEubanks]

Thanks, Adam. I guess on my priority list for skirts, I'd put staying dry above ease of popping the skirt. Knock on wood, I don't plan on having to pull it very often.

[Michele Jackson]

I have a skirtworks skirt for my Hero and I really like it. I have the XL cockpit size. I think their fit guide calls for a size L. The XL still fits very tight so I definitely woudn't go smaller. I ordered mine with the traditional grab loop rather than the attached one. Skirtworks customer service is wonderful. You can custom order your skirt any way you want it for no extra charge. If you're not happy with it, they'll fix it, no questions.