The rudder is the first thing to make contact if you back into rocks or lay the kayak on the ground rear first,though it has been maintenance free (except wd40) for over three years.- mobile auto mechanic

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Just got my 2003 from shredonline.com I've only boarded once-about 4 years ago and want to give it a try this year. I've had some wicked-sweet sessions in my living room with this mother. Here's what I do: I take out this blanket and lay it on the family room ground. Then I proceed to dominate the area. Lancaster On site truck repair

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The rudder is the first thing to make contact if you back into rocks or lay the kayak on the ground rear first,though it has been maintenance free (except wd40) for over three years. towing service

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The Dagger Charlston is a very good kayak but in the long run the seats will break and are hard to replace or repair.
Seats should be changeble.
If you get out of the kayak don't put pressure on top of the back support

When I wanted a sea kayak I looked at all the reviews and decided the Atlantis was for me. The dealers told me it was for the North American market only, not available in Europe, so in disgust I bought boat from Perception. However a couple of years later ASWatersports, whom I have bought a lot of gear from let me know they had secured delivery of two of these boats, was I interested. Result I sat in one and bought it at once. The Perception was sold the following year to be replaced by a Charleston 15 for my river and light sea trips. My Atlantis is now 8 years old and still in regular use. So far this year it has completed 46 days at sea, the first being January 30th out from Swanage (Dorset). We have more trips tp complete before New Year. The boat has spent 3 weeks over 2 years paddling out from The Scilly Isles into the Atlantic and gone round The Bishop Rock lighthouse 40 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean. It has given safe passage around the Welsh Coast and Western Scotland. Has been used for many trips over to the Isle of Wight done most of the Devon and Cornwall coasts, Suffolk, Norfolk and so many lochs, lakes (Cumbria) and all the Norfolk/Suffolk Broads rivers and estuaries. Has kept me safe in unexpected F9's and 16'plus Atlantic swell (Scillies). Have canoe camped for up to a week with everything inboard. Only wish? ..... another in kevler .. but then it would leave me unrelaxed in rocky waters and shingle landings. During the last day of the Scillies and furthest from base a rudder cable (inboard) broke. I got another paddler to centralise the rudder and locked it into parked position for the return leg. Was able to re-use the slightly shortened cable. So NO EXPENSE in 8 years. The rubber hatches are in need of replacing now but are of course a standeard size and my Charlestone ones are the same size. The boat has recieved a lot of scrapes and knocks as inevitable for the rocky places we paddle. There are however no serious cuts or scrapes on the hullshowing how robust these hulls are. The only dent is right on the tip off the bow, right hand side when white water and swell surge , which I slighly misjudges, threw me headlong into a serious jagged rock face in the outer Scillies. No doubt kevler or glass would have shattered and left me in very serious trouble .. long live the Atlantis. The ONLY negative it the weight, but once on the water it's a real performer. A serious recommend even though long out of production. Price was only £850 although RRP was £1250.

Customer Service

ASWatersports, the dealer in Exeter give excellent backup and service. I have recommended several paddling friends to try them and they are, like me, now loyal buyers of that independant store.

Similar Products Used:

Dagger Charleston 15. Bought about 5 years ago for an Easter canoe camp trip over 4 days. It does ger used at sea a lot of the time withfriends of mine in it who do not own a sea kayak. It has also gone round The Bishop Rock but in calmer sea than when the Atlantis did it. Initially the seat gave a lot of problems. After about an hour at sea one got the 'numb bum' problem. However Dagger U.K. soon sorted that by sending me the new style seat pad. Very quick and helpfull and it worked. It also gave them extra sales of this model via my 'borrowing friends'.

Good kayak for open water. Very stable and almost impossible to flip (also heavy and almost impossible to roll back over). Tracks through hard wind and high waves like a pro, but turns very slowly and with delay. There are two dry hatches front & rear with enough room for a week of camping. The large cabin lets you possition your legs several ways - this is good if you have bad circulation or big feet (me). The integral rudder system doesn't impress me at all. The old style flip down rudder on my old Edisto worked much better. The rudder is the first thing to make contact if you back into rocks or lay the kayak on the ground rear first,though it has been maintenance free (except wd40) for over three years.
We took the kayak to Seaside to play in the gulf and it was a blast. The kayak has enough mass to stay above the big crashing waves. This model isn't for small people - you have over 17' of plastic to push. Overall a very good kayak with ample leg room, storage, and big water capabilities.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Dagger Edisto Expedition