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Riot: Booster 55
specs:
| length
| width
| vol.
| weight
| cockpit
| capacity
| material
| 1st yr
| last yr:
|
| 7 ft 2
| 25.00 in
| 55.00 gal
| 35.00 lbs
| n/a
| 130 to 220 lbs
| Xytec ES
| n/a
| n/a
|
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Main use: playboat, river runner
Riot's take:
For almost half a decade Riot single handedly led the field in innovative playboat design, which created an explosion in the popularity of playboating. Now Riot is taking a new course with the Booster. Our goal - to do for basic kayaking what we did for playboating. Easy to roll, stable, predictable, comfortable and fun, the Booster addresses more than the standard concerns of beginners. Attention has been paid to the kinds of moves and sensations that capture the imagination and make further learning a feverish addiction.
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Previously posted reviews:
PJ Kayak
(enjoys mostly playboating and rates this boat 9 /10) |
| pros: | Best kayak owned untill today (I really dont regret my Big EZ). Incredible playboat for surfing, spinning and freestyle moves. And allow you to feel confident in river running with lots of speed and predictability. Fitting allow you to share the boat with almost everybody. |
| cons: | The nose is a bit catchy in one of my steep playspots
(compare to G-force), and these toys are expensive... |
| other: | I think its the best Playboat/riverrunning compromise...
And for ratings, 10 is reserved for the NASA kayak prototype comming in 2010. |
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anonymous
(enjoys mostly river running and rates this boat 9 /10) |
| pros: | Easy to roll, easy to squirt. Coming from a Dagger MAX, the things that struck me about this boat (my first planing hull boat) were the responsiveness to subtle weight shifts on a wave and how easy it is to slide the stern under for stern squirts. Light weight. I'm just beginning to learn some playboating moves, but it seems that this boat will be easy to learn in. |
| cons: | Occasionally perls in bigger water, be careful ferrying etc. Until the 2003 boats, the hardware of the ratcheting system was not stainless. I frequently lose a bolt out of the easy exit thigh brace. |
| other: | I highly recommend buying from a dealer. Riot Customer service is great once they decide to acknowledge your request, but it took me over a month and a half to get a response when I first started having problems with the hardware. Let a dealer deal with them instead. |
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bill wilkey
(enjoys mostly playboating and rates this boat 7 /10) |
| pros: | Very good learning boat for me. I took it out several times to class 4+, and it did fine in west virginia. It is also very form fitting in the cockpit, i also liked the thigh braces. |
| cons: | The only few problems with this boat is that subtantial footroom is an issue and the braces need to be fastened with more than just a wood screw. |
| other: | It's awesome for stern and bow stands if your willing to commit |
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anonymous
(enjoys mostly river running and rates this boat 10 /10) |
| pros: | Super all-around boat. Great for riverrunning, and definitely fun for learning playboating. Learned to cartwheel, bowstall, stern squirt, and surf in this boat. VERY comfortable. |
| cons: | Stiff backband gets bent down, making it annoying for getting into the boat. Also, bolts holding the thighstraps together are frequently lost.
If you don't adjust your seat right or are really over the weight range for the boat, perling in high volume squirrely water can be a problem. Most of the perling can be aleviated by adjusting the seat some. I now only have problems with this in big water, and I have learned how to handle it. |
| other: | The Booster is very forgiving and a super boat to learn in. It is easy to roll, as far as planing boats go.
Many discount the Booster as a playboat. The reason is that this boat doesn't do the moves for you, like an Air or a smaller full-on playboat. But without much effort, everything is possible in the Booster, and this is where I learned all my limited playboating knowledge.
I have taken this boat down small class III+/IV- creeks, with no problems other than the occasional backender.
I consider the Booster the ultimate boat, at least for my needs in the SE US. The only reason I would consider another boat is to purchase a true creek boat in addition for more serious creeks.
There are other good boats out there that fit the same purpose, and I've tried many off them (several WS boats, perception boats, the pyrannha inazone, and dagger boats), but the Booster remains my favorite. |
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anonymous
(enjoys mostly river running and rates this boat 9 /10) |
| pros: | i don't have anything to compare it to since the only (2) boats i have ever owned/paddled are the booster 55. 160lbs & 5'8" here & i find it very ez to outfit for a perfect fit (super comfy). i find it ez to roll, runs the rivers i paddle III-III+ without any worries & even though i'm not much of a playboater i find it ez to get onto waves & stay there for some surfing. |
| cons: | first booster i bought was from the original released batch. replaced many rusted out parts several times & a backband support that was beeotch to replace. but when it came time to buy another boat, it was a no brainer to get another 55 but with the D4 outfitting that i am hoping holds up a little better. |
| other: | no comment |
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