Fluid Kayaks - Team Blog

I really enjoy paddling different boats I think it can further my understanding of boat design and kayaking in general. It pushes my skills which is never a bad idea. In 2010 I managed to get in 8 different boats, some play boats, creekers and river runners. My ability was pushed further than ever before and I learnt a huge amount about my own skills from that experience.

When I got into the Detox at the start of 2011 I was excited about being in a different kayaks again and wanted to really see what this boat was capable of. Some of my friends would joke about me bringing my playboat to a creek. I fired up some personally challenging drops on the Moose and Oswegatchie rivers, I took a swim with it running the portage rapid on the Bottom Moose blind. I enjoyed surfing it and the sharp edges are mountain of fun to play with, but enough about my review. I wanted someone other than me to provide feedback. I managed to convince two friends of mine to paddle the boat and write a review. If you are looking for a truthful, unbiased review, here it is:

This is what Eric Adsit had to say about the boat while paddling Woodhull Creek, NY during the Spring 2011

If anything, this design is intriguing. With the hull, and edges of a playboat, and the rocker and length of a small creeker, this boat had everyone’s attention at the second annual Spring Moosefest in northern NY. I was fortunate enough to try it out a few days later, and at 6’ 3” tall and 200 lbs, I was surprised I could even fit in the Medium Detox. I did have to remove my shoes to fit comfortably, but once I was in, I felt very secure and comfortable.

Once in the water, I immediately noticed the edges and how quickly the boat resurfaced. Woodhull Creek is the perfect playground for testing creekboat design, and I put it to the test right away with a long low angle slide with some holes to punch. I could feel the sharp edges doing their job as I carved over the foam piles, but the shortened length and high rocker profile slowed me down and left me feeling like I was getting pushed around by the river.

As I got to know the boat among the long slides and steep pourovers I began to appreciate its carving ability and short length that allowed me to peel into and out of micro eddies. The boat was easy to roll, and busted through holes surprisingly well for its length. Due to the extra volume in the bow, recovery from subbing out of holes or plugging drops was immediate.

The Detox is a nimble, stable boat best suited for micro creeks where maneuverability is a top priority. The outfitting is great, and the plastic felt stiff, durable, and light. The edges are very noticeable and had me bracing a few times, and I had to work to get my speed up, but once I was paddling aggressively, the boat handled great!

The second review was done by Ryan Macall on the Dryway Section of the Deerfield River, MA during July 2011.

The Detox - I like the boat. From the minuite I slid in at the Dryway put-in, it inspired confidence. The initial stability is immediately felt. It also gives you some warning before you drop the edge and go to secondary stability...I felt that when I rolled it - which was about as easy as any boat I've been in to roll. I plugged it into several holes on that run to see how it would handle and it plowed them and when on edge, sliced them. I didn't get endered once (but I had the outfitting relatively far forward). I have been poking around in my old Topolino this summer when I have had a chance to get out on low flows, so I have had to use better than normal technique for peeling in and out of eddys since that thing has no edges what so-ever. Proper duffek stroke form is absolutely necessary for it to get where you want it to be when entering an eddy. In the Detox - that isn't the case - all you have to do is get the right orientation and proper angle of lean and it carves in....kind of lets your technique be sloppy or lazy but doesn't penalize you for it.

Anyways - overall, The Detox. A very easy boat to paddle. Maybe one of the easier ones I have been in. Good outfitting - easy to adjust and get a decent fit out of the box. Would definitely recommend it to a beginner boater for it's ease of use and from the way it handled I would say an advanced boater could make good use of its performance oriented features for use in big (heavy) water or on a steep, technical creek. It felt fast, but not "stupid fast". I also felt it was well balanced, proportion wise. It's width relative to it's length and volume, shape and sidewall height seemed to work well. Would I choose it as my dedicated creeker, probably not, definitely not for play either. But for an all-a-rounder to run a river in, catch some surf, make some creeky moves in a low consequnce river (I only call myself a class 4 boater), or even to teach in - it works well.

Everyone is different and has different ideas as to what’s a good boat for them. Hope this shed some light on the Detox.