Ripper Review I Pyranha Kayaks

[@jordanbach5393]

Loving the slicey boat reviews! Can’t wait to hear what you have to say about the Axiom and the Antix

[@AlexBarham]

Thanks man! Testing the Axiom now!

[@reedwhetstone3091]

Hey Alex! Why no ripper 2 review? I actually already own one and love it but I like hearing your thoughts on boats- you have some great thoughts on how to unlock boats!

[@AlexBarham]

I just let my silence do the talking on some boats

[@zachtom3132]

I definitely think this boat was built for the higher volume rivers like where I am in the pnw. I paddle a small at 5’8” 140 and I love how it handles. It felt really narrow at first but it is so nimble and fast. The hard edges are so nice when carving. It’s a different world out east I would imagine.

[@AlexBarham]

You're probably in the sweet spot where you are the right weight with extra leverage since that was designed for someone who was a few inches shorter. Yeah we have to deal with variety both in rock forms and in volume.

[@zachtom3132]

You mentioned you had an issue with the braaap’s grab handles, how do you find the ripper’s?

[@AlexBarham]

@@zachtom3132 they are totally adequate. I'd prefer 3 full size handles in the back, but the little hard points do the job.

[@andrewnau433]

I'm inland of you some 600ish miles but agree wholeheartedly! If you have water you can roll in, this boat is tits!

[@martini7454]

Bahaha. I paddled a Ripper for 3 years. Creeked on it for two and finally gave up and bought a seperate creeker with some volume in the stern. It was all fun and games until I ran a new to me class V stretch in the NW, and a friend swam above a set. So a 3rd partner and I rescued him, his boat, and paddle. Everything was fine, but it was a little too loose for my taste. 😋😂

[@AlexBarham]

Exactly. If you're going to run the big stuff bring a full volume boat.

[@simonwyndham]

Good review. I don't agree with everything, but you covered some good points. I've seen the Ripper being paddled on some pretty steep stuff, so it can deliver the goods when asked. But for average Joe Soap paddlers like me, I think the Ripper is the boat (along with the Braap etc) that people should buy and master before chasing up the grades/classes. If you can be a master of a boat like the Ripper on class 3/low 4, then I think that is much better for development than learning using a boat like the Machno for everything and then doing higher grades of water because it looks good on social media.

[@AlexBarham]

I hear this a lot. My opinion has been formed around teaching up and coming paddlers to creek at a high level. What I think winds up happening is paddlers who paddle creekers can go out on more rivers and learn right away. Then they can go back to easier runs at low water and learn to play with freeride boats, and tune up their skills on lower consequence runs. By comparison paddlers who show having learned the basics with freeride boats probably don't even own a creeker. These paddlers usually wind up trying to take their freeride boat down runs that are already above their pay grade and get destroyed, when a creeker would have carried them down.

[@simonwyndham]

@@AlexBarham That point certainly has merit. Although I do see a lot of people starting with creek boats and 'progressing' quickly onto hard runs when their lack of core skills are covered up by the boat letting them get away with lots of stuff (poor boof strokes and timings, stability, edging etc) They then push things to a point where the river really can and does bite back. You can only muscle things to a point. The trouble with modern creek boats like the Machno is that they can give people the impression that they are a lot better than they really are. I started out with creek boats and went this route. It was only when I had a wake up call from an incident that I realised I needed to step back, and instead of pushing river grades I made the realisation that I should be pushing skills instead. This is why, currently, apart from a freestyle boat, the Ripper is my main river boat. One thing I have found though is that I have never been backlooped in the Ripper. I have friends who are much better boaters who have taken theirs on some pretty big runs too, and only ever ended up looking at the sky on the absolute most powerful stoppers. I've found that for the most part the way the water acts on the hull seems to help push the boat through rather than down and vertical. But I guess things will change based on posture, seat position, and weight relative to the boat. Although I am in the last third of weight rec for the size of Ripper I paddle.

[@Lonesta1980]

Thanx a lot for your thoughts. I am riding a nomad and I am huge in all dimensions (6'4" 250lbs) and I am looking for a boat with more playing skills. I was asking if the ripper, the rewind and the axiom is the better choice for a beginner willing to be a better surfer... I think if I understood u right it would be the axiom. Normally we do not run more than class 2+/3+. And of course I will test my choices before buying them.

[@AlexBarham]

The Axiom is no longer made, but try the Antix 2.0 and Rewind L

[@lech111]

Hi Alex, nice review! Thanks! What size of spraydeck do you use for the ripper? Big or Superbig? In theory, big should fit, but I just can't get it on. Greetings Peter

[@AlexBarham]

Hey Peter! I use a large cockpit NRS Drylander skirt. It fits on almost anything.

[@lech111]

@@AlexBarham Thanks for the quick reply :-).

[@AlexBarham]

@@lech111 No problem!

[@Hakudog5]

Watching this video and being big guy (280lbs) and a currently owning a Ripper Large makes me wish there was a Ripper XL or another half slice that goes up to. I probably should have demoed it, but I bought it after reading reviews. Not many guys my size paddling boats... so its hard to get an idea. Its a fun boat...but the description you made at the end of the video between a Medium and Large makes me feel like the for me the Large paddles sort of like the medium does for you. Definitely tippy and tail happy. I seriously want to start a company that caters specifically to "big boned" dudes that creates boats from the ground up just for us. With a few exceptions, it feels like every boat created for guys over 250lbs is just the standard sized boat taken to a photocopier and press the 150% button. The only real exception to that was the DragoRossi thruster...and I majorly regret selling mine.

[@AlexBarham]

Have you tried the Axiom 9.0? Just spit-balling here, but is a wider platform at the hips with a tapered tail. Might be the solution. Seems like you need to get a hold of Corran at Soul. He is making the most half-slice boats out there, and does do niche/custom stuff. He also has the thruster listed on his website still!

[@mudpro200]

I am in the same position as you bud. I'm 265 6'2 .....Please let me know if you come across a boat that works for you as I will do the same for you. I'm not sure what to buy in 2021.

[@AlexBarham]

Antix 2.0 Large is my favorite big guy half slice

[@andrewnau433]

@@mudpro200 if you could run across a waka skeeze, or Billy goat, that might be a good option

[@mudpro200]

@@andrewnau433 Thanks for your help.

[@АндрейСугак-й7х]

Thanks for the review, very informative. I'm thinking about buying a large ripper, but sadly I can not demo one (only mediums available around here). Do you think I'll be fine weight wise at 225 lbs 6'3? It seems to be right in the middle of the recommended weight range, but I don't trust them too much.

[@AlexBarham]

Thanks! You should be fine in a large. Absolutely too big for the medium

[@АндрейСугак-й7х]

@@AlexBarham thanks!

[@AlexBarham]

Sure thing!

[@liam7342]

When you get a chance can you do a compare and contrast of this and the Rewind

[@AlexBarham]

I absolutely will. However that will probably be in May

[@offgridsystems1166]

Whats your weight/height? I'm trying to choose between medium/large

[@AlexBarham]

I would say if you are above 190 you are solidly a Large

[@afitpacklife8591]

Hi. Did you go for the large? Any thoughts? I'm 190lbs, demoed the medium and loved how unstable it was, but sure it will limit what I can use it for.

[@Ranger_k16]

what exactly is a free ride kayak? this is a new term to me and all of the different styles of boats and what water they are designed for has me very confused. I understand through watching your videos there really isn't a "do it all" kayak and am just trying to find a good boat to paddle my local class 2/3

[@AlexBarham]

Also known as a half-slice, or tadpole boat. These boats resemble a creeker on the front, but have a skinny stern on the back which is really good for stern squirts and splats. These can be great learning boats if you pick one that isn't too aggressive, and make Class 2-3 super fun!

[@Ranger_k16]

@@AlexBarham thanks for the explanation. I've been dabbling in the used market because there isn't any demo options where I live. I had a piranha prozone but couldn't really fit because I have long legs. I'm currently in a dagger cfs, which I fit in but I find a little hard to control. I was wondering since you seem to have alot of knowledge regarding old school boats if you could give me any tips or insight into the cfs

[@AlexBarham]

@@Ranger_k16 the CFS was a shorter predecessor to the first Nomad. So if you like the feel, but need more room a L Newmad will be a solid boat. The tall-boy (6'3" +) slice is usually the Mullet. A braap with the seat slammed back is good for most though.

[@wjennin1]

Good stuff!

[@AlexBarham]

Thank you! Hope these are helping people!

[@wjennin1]

@@AlexBarham They are at least helping me. Your review of the Machno and comment reply about the sizing pushed me over the edge to buying a large. Concerns about the sizing were the only thing holding me back. My local river (Coosa River in AL) is pretty deep and higher volume, but the rapids are pretty tame. So, in the future I'll want something like a ripper, Braap, Antix, or play boat to spice it up when I can't travel. Speaking of the Antix, any chance of a review on it?

[@AlexBarham]

@@wjennin1 Awesome! I've got the Axiom on my rack right now, I'll be doing the Antix in the near future as well

[@mckayandersen5858]

How do you define "freeride boat"?

[@AlexBarham]

Freeride is the term that the industry used to describe low stern volume boats before slicey became slang in the last few years.