2007 Rocker

[RTF]

Anyone paddle a Jackson Rocker? Considering buying one for a creeker. Thanks, Todd

[okieboater]

I just got a mega rocker

have not had it on any real creek runs yet
but
based on a few mellow runs made so far
this design may well be one of the best creekers available for the over 200 pound paddlers.

[Monsoon]

How is the Mega Rocker Okie??? I want one too I think.

[RTF]

Thanks for the reply. I bought a Nomad 8.5 instead

[okieboater]

My opinion if you are at least 200 pounds, the Mega Rocker is one heck of a solid creek boat. Not the easiest down river but that is not what it is designed to be.

Room out the gazoo, outfitting is finally right with the solid foot bulkhead.

It is just a big ole banana with no edges to catch and flip. I got the feeling that it does not matter if you are bow forward, sideways or stern first this boat just gets the job done in funny water.

Having said that, I believe the Super Hero is gonna be the best combo river runner and good creeker for the average boater here in the AR area, just not the forgiving creek boat the mega rocker is. Or you might look at a large Burn.

I had a Large Burn and sold it when I got the Mega Rocker. If I had the storage space and money to spare I would have kept the Large Burn for river running and light creeking - Nothing wrong with the Burn for that.

I wanted a large multi day self support capable Creek boat and the Mega Rocker seems to fit that requirement about as good as anything I have found.

I have not been impressed with the Jackson outfitting and am one of the few people I guess that do not agree with EJ that the bean bag foot bag is the best foot brace system going. The Mega Rocker tho has a heavy duty aluminium foam padded bulkhead that gets the job done right at least for me.

I have not been impressed with the sweet cheeks butt pads either. This version tho, once I adjusted it properlly, worked out great and for the first time I have had a warm place to set on in the winter.

The adjustable rope system for the back band is improved. I really do like the ease of adjustment. I believe there is still some slippage in the system but not nearly as much as it used to be. It is not a problem to unsnap your spray skirt and adjust back band and foot bulkhead on the river. Plenty of foot space and on the flats I could easily get both knees free in the center of the spacious cockpit.

I have never ever purchased a kayak where I did not change the outfitting , usually a bunch. The Mega Rocker has fit me like a glove so far right out of the box. Only thing I do not like is the stern cargo loops are on the rim of the cockpit but I can put some down on the back of the seat. And, the water bottle setup just does not work on the front bulkhead but due to the way the foot bulkhead works, I can carry my water bottle behind the seat. Kind of petty complaints but so far that is the only thing I can find on this boat for creeking that can be improved. Pretty amazing as normally I do a lot of custom outfitting.

I really do like the way the seat pads out the bottom of the boat and that should put a end to oil canning. Seat adjustment is easy. I really do like the plastic supports on the bow and stern foam support bulkheads. The big cockpit is very friendly. This may be one of the better and safer setups on the market. Having survived one bow pin that put the right side of my RPM Max (Thank you Ted Smethers for the rope throw!) down to the vertical bulkhead, I feel that the Mega Rocker setup would have made the same pin much easier but with that big blunt bow, I think the vertical pin situation happening is much less in the Rocker. Fortunately for me the RPM had the full bulkhead (not the foot petal normal setup) and as it all bent towards the center it was slow enough that I got my foot out of the way with time to spare.

As you can tell, for a creeker I think JK got the Rocker pretty much right this time.

[Monsoon]

im closer to 280 and according to the mega rocker....300 is the limit. Thats why I chose that one. Pyrana makes a big boy boat. I just want to it in it.

[okieboater]

Sounds like the Mega is the kayak for you, that is if you truely want to come over to the dark side!

[Monsoon]

Well I wil always be an open boater at heart.....but whats the harm in a little extra cirricular activities....infiltration as it were.

[Owl]

MC:

Once you 'yak, you might never go back.

On the other hand, there was this guy I was paddling with on Saturday who was an open boater that tried kayaking for a while then went back to a canoe. He referrred to his kayak as "the death pod". :shock:

It's all good.

[Monsoon]

HAHA! If I do that, I will have to sell my open boat and buy and expensive dry suit and paddle.

I might not even be able to keep from swimming in one, but its worth a try.

[RomanLA]

My opinion if you are at least 200 pounds, the Mega Rocker is one heck of a solid creek boat. Not the easiest down river but that is not what it is designed to be.

I'm at 240 before gear and have really enjoyed my Mystic. My chines are still well out of the water and it handles great as a river runner. I haven't done any creeking in it yet, but that's what it was mainly designed to do. lol