PADDLER 7
PADDLER 7
REVIEWS
of a boat , take it in the surf . The Leo ’ s manoeuvrability proved impeccable when surfing .
During the past year , I have participated in several surf sessions , from smaller waves up to two metres high to irregular waves . The Leo performs like it was built for this . Due to the amount of rocker up front , the bow rarely purls when riding a wave . A neat detail for the specialists among us is that the Leo also surfs controllably in reverse thanks to the rocker and similar shape at the stern .
There is , of course , a notable difference between the single-layer MZ3 and the CoreLite X lay-up . I prefer the CoreLite X as it feels considerably stiffer and , thus , faster and more responsive . We used the MZ3 during the Sea Kayak Training Camp in Croatia , where it stood its ground . It is a perfect solution for rentals that want to provide customers with a top-notch boat but with more room for errors and the extra scratch at a lower price . And don ’ t get me wrong , the CoreLite X can also take a beating as it isn ’ t made of sugar .
Rolling on the flat calm works smoothly , as in conditions or the surf zone . The thigh braces and cockpit outfitting provide enough control , and everything is adjustable . The back deck and cockpit rim are low , so they are not in the way when doing a back deck roll .
I want to add a brief extra on speed , which is important to many paddlers . Speed is difficult to measure in our sport , as conditions and weather are rarely the same . I could paddle the Leo sustainable for 50 kms without feeling like it is a slow boat . The top speed on flat water will be lower due to the hull shape , so it is certainly not a sprinting boat .
On downwinders , I needed to give that extra push to get on some of the lower waves . Where in the surf , I could wait until the last possible moment to
http :// www . youtube . com / watch ? v = cvyp0z-0NX
http
:// www . youtube . com / watch ? v = -Ztw5LaxN3Q