Day 65 - Dagger 'Alchemy'

Dagger is the brand that Confluence is using to market all of their "moving water" boats. White water boats are the most obvious, but this division also covers the Kaos surf kayak and now the brand new Alchemy. To try to label this boat as a white water boat would be a mistake, yet you can't quite call it a sea kayak either, it sits wonderfully on the fence between these two worlds. On rivers it is seen as a very long, fast, straight tracking boat for extended down river expeditions. On the ocean it is seen as a short, extremely maneuverable, rough water play boat. All I know after paddling it today (even just during a lesson) is that the Alchemy is fun to paddle and I can't wait to get it out in the surf and in some rock gardens.

Fourteen feet long with insane amounts of rocker it's not surprising that the Alchemy is easy to turn. In fact, relative to sea kayaks, that is an understatement. For many the boat would be a little squirrely when paddled straight the nice thing is that all you have to do is drop the skeg a bit and it paddles like it is on rails. It moves pretty quick for a 14 foot boat and the adjustable seat, thigh, and hip outfitting makes for a very comfortable and good fit.

Four hours on the water in a lesson today whetted my appetite to want to take this boat in rough water. For experienced folks coming from the sea kayaking world I believe this will be the ultimate second or third boat that will allow people to get into rock gardening and other rough water ocean paddling where they're afraid to take their glass boats. Other people paddling big rivers will love the Alchemy's speed and tracking for long flat sections and ability to still handle a fair amount of white water. I personally can't wait to get the Alchemy in the waves to see how it surfs. This much maneuverability on a boat that still has relative speed should be a treat.

I couldn't help but think that this boat is very similar to the Point 65 North "Whisky 16". I've loved the handling of that boat since day one and longed to take it rock gardening, but fear of busting up a glass boat has kept me in clean surf or flat water. The plastic Alchemy gives all the performance in a bomb proof plastic shell that says "Let er' rip!"

Alchemy Review

Manufacturer = Confluence
Brand = Dagger
Model = Alchemy 14.0 L
Material = Plastic
Type = White Water/Touring Hybrid
Length = 14'-0"
Width = 24"
Weight = 55 lbs.
Capacity = 300 lbs.

Location = Mission Bay -Sea Kayaking 1 lesson
Time = 9:00 AM
Distance = N/A
Duration = 4:00
Avg Speed = N/A
Conditions = Mostly cloudy w/ misty rain