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Mamba is a great all-around boat. It's a good general purpose river runner that can do some creeking. It's fast enough to move downriver and make moves, it surfs fine, and it's forgiving. Think of a softened-up GT.
The Ammo is. It's a niche boat in my opinion. It's great for playing around on green waves and in holes but it's also big enough to take down familiar creek runs. I paddle mine on the Green and love it there in the low-volume environment. In big water, I can see the corkiness, high volume, short stern, and hard edges making it a little tricky at first, but for a light duty creek boat to be used on low to medium-volume creeks, this one is worth a hard look. It's surprisingly fast (my Ammo is almost as fast as my Burn on flatwater!) and thanks to the high volume, it has a roomy, comfortable cockpit.
Let's compare the two..
If you're more of a traditional type paddler who runs the river from point A to point B, you might want a little bigger boat to allow gear hauling and hop eddies more easily. In this case, I'd pick a slightly longer boat, like the Burn or Mamba.
However, if you'd like to try something different and throw in some play on the creek while still paddling confidently, the Ammo fits the bill. In the summer when I'm burned out from blazing down the Green training for races, the Ammo gives me a nice change of pace. You can run the river comfortably but play as you go. The boat is short enough that you can toss it around for freewheels off anything you like. Rockspins are easy thanks to the short length, which also lends to the boat's playability if you happen across a hole that looks fun to surf. At 5'9", 160lbs, I have no problems linking up ends in small holes in my Ammo S. Between the two, this boat is the surfer, especially for steep, green or breaking waves where you'd have to carve back and forth in a longer boat. It's also short enough that you'll be able to spin more easily where the Mamba would have a harder time.
Then there's the river running part of the boat. The Ammo handles a little like a playboat but it still has speed to make moves. It's short enough that you don't have to worry about pitoning, because boofing is incredibly easy. Plenty of volume to run juicy lines.. as long as you're aggressive. If you float into things, you might melt into holes in this boat. Of course, in this boat, rapids like Powerslide and Hammer Factor can be super fun, because you can get completely under the hole and pop out the other side if you try.
The Ammo also makes a great elf creeker. Check out these shots my girlfriend snapped of me one afternoon enjoying the ultra-smooth bedrock at the Toxaway this summer..
  
If you have any more questions about the Ammo, drop by the Pyranha tent this weekend at GAF and find me or ask the boys at the GRA event this weekend at the Green. This boat and others will be with me at GAF.
Later,
Chan
Team Pyranha
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