About myself
I've been creeking in a Blunt for about 6 years in the Southeast - Big Creek, Cheoah, Wilson's, Talulah - mostly class IV and some easy class V. I recently cracked my second one and am now looking at the Hefe, Rocker and Magnum 72. I'm 5'9", 210 Lbs with short legs and tight hamstrings.
Review
Overall, I think it's a great first creeker as it performs very well, and you can get into one used for under $400. Below is what I, and several Blunt-owning buddies have found after several years.
[OUTFITTING]
Very simple, and many say cheap. but minicell can do wonders. A major complaint is that the backband sits way too low and you will spend much of your time on the back deck if you don't have strong abs. Bungee string to the back of the cockpit helps a bit but not enough. The shape of the boat and my tight hamstrings made me lean back and I tended to break a backband strap at least several times a season. Keep an extra camstrap in the boat for emergency fixes on the river. If you use an IR backband, call them and they will send you their new adapter piece. It is for the attachment between the seatpost boltholes and the plastic piece that goes into the ratchet. It is much more durable than using their short piece of webbing.
Several times I also found that the seat had slipped back after I had pushed hard during a desperate roll at a nasty place, but I think the seatbolts had just loosened a bit over time.
The plain bulkhead is functional but you will need to shape minicell to get it comfortable. I tended to hit the aluminum stays on the sides when my feet were positioned, but this was not a major problem. Also have foam under heels/ankles and outside of knees to avoid bruising after hard hits. NOTE! IF you have not had a Blunt before, save yourself some trauma and move the seat as far forward as it will go. Never move it back. If it slips back, move it forward again right away. The boat is super stable unless you have the seat back at all. The folks at Necky told me this is true, and I think that anyone who has had a blunt will agree.
The drainplug is exposed and will get whacked if the boat is floating downstream over ledges in shallow water and upsidedown by itself...not that that would ever happen. No big deal, its normal design for boats of its day. Drainplugs are cheap. Make sure to silcone all the boltholes if you are doing any winter paddling, Necky loves to put bolts througth the plastic at the waterline.
[WEIGHT]
The boat is heavy as crap. I have heard it is the heaviest creeker still out there right now. Necky lies like a dog when they state the weight of any of their creekboats. Make a backpack, or pull it with a strap on the ground if you have to go more than a mile uphill. I have heard that weight makes a big difference for performance, and I have noticed it takes some extra work when the water is slow, but when the current is big and pushy, the Blunt is as light and maneuverable as a Jackson playboat.
[DURABILITY]
The plastic is thick and durable and will last if you DON'T pad under the seat. If you do put more than 1/4" inch foam under the seat, it will crack the hull when you take a hard hit. I and other reviewers have recommended putting 1/2" foam to pad your butt from a hard hit or landing flat. This now appears to be incorrect. The hull needs to be able to deform inward when you take a hard hit, and foam will stop this flexing. It will usually make a short (2-3") crack. To fix it, remove seat, drill small holds at the end of each crack to stop if from spreading, patch inside with 15 layers of duck tape, put seat back, and continue to enjoy. (My lawyers would like me to state that I'm not responsible for you sinking when you take that second big hit to the hull).
[PERFORMANCE]
It has good primary and secondary stability. This boat likes to keep you sunny-side up.
Easy as pie to roll from any position, as long as your outfitting holds up (I have trouble rolling well when my backband has snapped).
Accelerates quickly, but maxes out at top speed after several strokes - its a normal creeker, so its faster than a playboat and slower than an oldschool long boat.
It will hold its line through most anything.
It punches holes like they weren't there and climbs up the foam pile like a bulldozer.
It is not the easiest to boof big drops with. You can do it well if you time your stroke well and have strong abs. It may be the weight of the boat or my poor technique but I penciled in more than I liked a few times, luckily without any consequences. Small boofs are no problem and it will land as flat as you want. Other folks have said the same thing.
When you do go deep off a big drop or into a hole, it resurfaces quickly and predictably. It is almost always upright and heading in the direction you intended. In fact, due to the shaped bow, you can make directional adjustments with body lean to control where you will end up when you resurface.
You have to lean very aggressively to make it carve into an eddy, but when you do, it will catch them with ease. Work on your hip and trunk strength and flexibility. I found that when my legs went to sleep, I couln't or wouldn't lean aggressively enough to maneuver. My nickname is "Thatguywho'salwaysgetting outofhisboattostretchbeforethebigstuff"
Slides sideways over rocks fine, no sharp edges to get hooked on stuff.
One other thing about peformance is that you MUST lean aggressively forward when paddling this boat if you want it to perform. If you do, it will remain predictable, stable and dependable. If not, you will flop around like a fish wondering what the hell is grabbing your stern.
Due to the length and other performance characteristics, I think this boat is best for pushy high volume creeks and rivers. There are other shorter boats that are more agile and turn with less effort on low CFS creeks (e.g. Sniper, Huka, Crux, Mafia, CFS). It will peform in this situation, but it just takes a little work (Pilates anyone?).
[SUMMARY]
It was an all around great creeker in its day and still performs with the best of them. The main thing you will get with a new boat is a bit better outfitting, better comfort, and probably a bit lighter. If you are a cheapskate, 170-220 Lbs, don't have overly tight hamstrings, are strong enough to lift it, and want a great performing creeker, you'll love it.
Thats all, happy paddlin'
I've been creeking in a Blunt for about 6 years in the Southeast - Big Creek, Cheoah, Wilson's, Talulah - mostly class IV and some easy class V. I recently cracked my second one and am now looking at the Hefe, Rocker and Magnum 72. I'm 5'9", 210 Lbs with short legs and tight hamstrings.
Review
Overall, I think it's a great first creeker as it performs very well, and you can get into one used for under $400. Below is what I, and several Blunt-owning buddies have found after several years.
[OUTFITTING]
Very simple, and many say cheap. but minicell can do wonders. A major complaint is that the backband sits way too low and you will spend much of your time on the back deck if you don't have strong abs. Bungee string to the back of the cockpit helps a bit but not enough. The shape of the boat and my tight hamstrings made me lean back and I tended to break a backband strap at least several times a season. Keep an extra camstrap in the boat for emergency fixes on the river. If you use an IR backband, call them and they will send you their new adapter piece. It is for the attachment between the seatpost boltholes and the plastic piece that goes into the ratchet. It is much more durable than using their short piece of webbing.
Several times I also found that the seat had slipped back after I had pushed hard during a desperate roll at a nasty place, but I think the seatbolts had just loosened a bit over time.
The plain bulkhead is functional but you will need to shape minicell to get it comfortable. I tended to hit the aluminum stays on the sides when my feet were positioned, but this was not a major problem. Also have foam under heels/ankles and outside of knees to avoid bruising after hard hits. NOTE! IF you have not had a Blunt before, save yourself some trauma and move the seat as far forward as it will go. Never move it back. If it slips back, move it forward again right away. The boat is super stable unless you have the seat back at all. The folks at Necky told me this is true, and I think that anyone who has had a blunt will agree.
The drainplug is exposed and will get whacked if the boat is floating downstream over ledges in shallow water and upsidedown by itself...not that that would ever happen. No big deal, its normal design for boats of its day. Drainplugs are cheap. Make sure to silcone all the boltholes if you are doing any winter paddling, Necky loves to put bolts througth the plastic at the waterline.
[WEIGHT]
The boat is heavy as crap. I have heard it is the heaviest creeker still out there right now. Necky lies like a dog when they state the weight of any of their creekboats. Make a backpack, or pull it with a strap on the ground if you have to go more than a mile uphill. I have heard that weight makes a big difference for performance, and I have noticed it takes some extra work when the water is slow, but when the current is big and pushy, the Blunt is as light and maneuverable as a Jackson playboat.
[DURABILITY]
The plastic is thick and durable and will last if you DON'T pad under the seat. If you do put more than 1/4" inch foam under the seat, it will crack the hull when you take a hard hit. I and other reviewers have recommended putting 1/2" foam to pad your butt from a hard hit or landing flat. This now appears to be incorrect. The hull needs to be able to deform inward when you take a hard hit, and foam will stop this flexing. It will usually make a short (2-3") crack. To fix it, remove seat, drill small holds at the end of each crack to stop if from spreading, patch inside with 15 layers of duck tape, put seat back, and continue to enjoy. (My lawyers would like me to state that I'm not responsible for you sinking when you take that second big hit to the hull).
[PERFORMANCE]
It has good primary and secondary stability. This boat likes to keep you sunny-side up.
Easy as pie to roll from any position, as long as your outfitting holds up (I have trouble rolling well when my backband has snapped).
Accelerates quickly, but maxes out at top speed after several strokes - its a normal creeker, so its faster than a playboat and slower than an oldschool long boat.
It will hold its line through most anything.
It punches holes like they weren't there and climbs up the foam pile like a bulldozer.
It is not the easiest to boof big drops with. You can do it well if you time your stroke well and have strong abs. It may be the weight of the boat or my poor technique but I penciled in more than I liked a few times, luckily without any consequences. Small boofs are no problem and it will land as flat as you want. Other folks have said the same thing.
When you do go deep off a big drop or into a hole, it resurfaces quickly and predictably. It is almost always upright and heading in the direction you intended. In fact, due to the shaped bow, you can make directional adjustments with body lean to control where you will end up when you resurface.
You have to lean very aggressively to make it carve into an eddy, but when you do, it will catch them with ease. Work on your hip and trunk strength and flexibility. I found that when my legs went to sleep, I couln't or wouldn't lean aggressively enough to maneuver. My nickname is "Thatguywho'salwaysgetting outofhisboattostretchbeforethebigstuff"
Slides sideways over rocks fine, no sharp edges to get hooked on stuff.
One other thing about peformance is that you MUST lean aggressively forward when paddling this boat if you want it to perform. If you do, it will remain predictable, stable and dependable. If not, you will flop around like a fish wondering what the hell is grabbing your stern.
Due to the length and other performance characteristics, I think this boat is best for pushy high volume creeks and rivers. There are other shorter boats that are more agile and turn with less effort on low CFS creeks (e.g. Sniper, Huka, Crux, Mafia, CFS). It will peform in this situation, but it just takes a little work (Pilates anyone?).
[SUMMARY]
It was an all around great creeker in its day and still performs with the best of them. The main thing you will get with a new boat is a bit better outfitting, better comfort, and probably a bit lighter. If you are a cheapskate, 170-220 Lbs, don't have overly tight hamstrings, are strong enough to lift it, and want a great performing creeker, you'll love it.
Thats all, happy paddlin'
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Reviews >> Kayaks >> Creek Boat >> Blunt
