LilJoe, vs. Mamba, vs. Diesel, or maybe an RPM?

[kayakmamma]

Howdy, I posted some of this on my "going to Costa Rica" message on the main board (sorry to be redundant). For this upcoming trip, I have to reserve a boat in advance to paddle six days on some III/IV water in Costa Rica. I have never paddled a Lil Joe or Diesel, I have paddled a Mamba, and it was pretty good--kinda big. Another choice is an RPM, but I have never paddled a displacement hull boat. What do you think?

I added the RPM choice because I recently fell in love with the Dagger Axiom which is extremely similiar to an RPM --however, the Axiom is a planning hull boat.

Thanks!!
Lorraine McPhee

[Cowper]

I consider this to be a philsophy and psychology question rather than a boating question, so feel free to take this with a giant grain of salt. :myday"

Probably the Mamba, maybe the RPM.

How do I get there?

The Little Joe did not last as a "popular" boat; some found it hard to roll, there may have been other complaints. Why really isn't important - it may be a great boat, but you've never paddled one, so it is too much to gamble on as your "first choice".

The Diesels have been more popular, but again, you don't have that first-hand experience - you might like it, you might not. The RPM - same thing. VERY popular boat, and a lot of fun, even somewhat similar to a boat you like. But still, for you, an unknown. And don't forget that when this boat came out, it was the "hot new rodeo boat" of its day. Is that what you want on unfamiliar water?

This trip is about the trip - not about experimenting with new boats. You are far from home on a multi-day trip; paddling "injury free" should become one of your most important considerations. You want to have some fun, but you don't need to be testing yourself to new limits on this trip, or have less fun because you are 3 days into the trip and getting into head games with yourself because you think you chose the wrong boat.

If you really love playing and surfing, are at the middle or lower weight range for an RPM, and occassionally paddle Class IV+ or higher, then I might switch my first choice to the RPM because your fun could be diminshed by a "too big" boat and reduced play on the Class III portions of your trip using a full-on creeker like the Mamba.

[kayakmamma]

Excellent reply Cowper, thanks! Gives me a lot to think about.