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I'd like to put something down on the table to start this whole thing off: I do not have this boat figured out. It is still above my ability level and is still teaching me a great deal about kayaking. So, feel free to take what you want from this review and brush the rest off as hogwash.
Liquidlogic is a fairly new company to the kayak scene. It is made up of about 10 people and was originally started in Sadula, North Carolina on the Green River. Since then, they have expanded and are now in Dane, NC. They seem like a dedicated group of paddlers who are passionate about kayaking and are out to build quality boats that push the sport.
Will Hartman in his LiquidLogic Skip
Let me give you the history of my boat. The Skip and I date back to late fall of 2002. That fall is when I really began to pick up paddling and dedicate myself to it. I had never owned a boat before the Skip. After paddling the majority of that fall in a Dagger Showdown, I got out a couple of times in my friend's Skip at Hole Brothers on the Black River in Northern New York. On those few occasions, I felt like my play boating was beginning to take root. My friend said I should seriously consider getting a good play boat. I considered it but was broke and that was a problem when trying to buy a $1,000 toy. While perusing some classifieds online, I stumbled across a guy selling a Skip outside of Portland. I offered him 500 bucks expecting to pay much more. To my surprise, the guy said sure.
For such a small boat, the Skip is faster then some of the other play boats I've been in. This by no matter means it is fast. I do have a hard time getting on many waves. Once on, though, the Skip carves very nicely. You can really feel the seven inches of rocker on fast waves like Zero to Sixty Wave on the Kennebec. When you get on a really dynamic wave, the boat is bouncing entirely out of the water. In holes, the Skip is more fun than flaming lawn darts. It takes no effort to spin the boat. The boat wants to throw blunts. The only reason I usually am upside down when attempting a blunt is pilot error. The ends are extremely slicey. To get this boat on end is as simple as pie and for someone just getting into play boating they should be able to pick this up quickly.
I do not have a lot of complaints about the Skip. As I mentioned above, I have a hard time getting on some waves because it is a small, slow play boat. The positives and negatives of the fitting are worth mentioning. With the cinch tight system I can really ratchet myself in. However, I have heard some people complain that the ratchets are not durable enough for them. I will add that the right ratchet in my boat is fairly stubborn. The positives of the cinch tight system, though, I think outweigh the negatives. It still gets me into my boat snugger than any other boat I've been in.
I am about 5'10" and I don't think anyone bigger could get into the Skip. It is a small and uncomfortable boat and can be rough on the 16-mile Dead River trip. It being so small, going down the real hard, steep sections of some rivers can be a little hairy. The Skip is easily stern bitched. This is always a worry in the back of my mind when I am punching False Exterminator, staring down the diagonal leading right into the maw of Exterminator and wishing very hard I had a bigger boat. But I am not dead, yet. In the right hands, the Skip will suffice nicely in class V if there is the reward of nasty play spots.
I am smitten with the Skip. For starters, I was very pleased with the deal I got on it. I like that the boat is still teaching me a lot about kayaking. Often, it is teaching the hard way. I can't really think of a boat I would rather be paddling on the river.
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
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