Question:
This posting mentions that no other decked boat carves like an enigma, I would suggest that the author should have a go in a proper surf Kayak like the Jester range, made by Mega performance Kayaks in the UK, or the Jinks made designed by Mike Jenkins of Swansea, Wales. This style of kayak has a very low stern deck, which will ensure that you are always in control on even the steapest wave sections. They are used by all the leading Surf competition paddlers in the world.
Hmmm, these would be the same guys that outlawed back surfing because you have no control…? Actually, if you really want to hold an edge, try a wave ski. Otherwise, any kayak with a flat hull and edges. Carve…every try a ski with rounded edges…not much fun is it? The same goes in water. Think about it, and then look at the hull of an enigma… Corran Addison
Response:
Anybody out there paddle one of these things? Lifes Short Paddle Hard Erik 
I’ve owned an Enigma for one season and love it. With practice it can perform most squirt moves. As far as comfort, I’m 6′4" 200# and can stay in the boat for a couple of hours at a time. Have fun -TM
Response:
This posting mentions that no other decked boat carves like an enigma, I would suggest that the author should have a go in a proper surf Kayak like the Jester range, made by Mega performance Kayaks in the UK, or the Jinks made designed by Mike Jenkins of Swansea, Wales. This style of kayak has a very low stern deck, which will ensure that you are always in control on even the steapest wave sections. They are used by all the leading Surf competition paddlers in the world.
Response:
I’ve paddled an Enigma for several years now on all sorts of water. Its lots of fun and very forgiving for a boat that gets you this close to "real" squirting. I trashed the origional seat and made one out of minicell. Much more comfortable and it locks me in a little tighter. I’m 6′2", 200lbs, the right weight but a little tall for this boat. If you weigh much less, you tend to stay on the surface. I need to take a break every 20 minutes or so. Not a lot of fun for those who are on the river with me, but I make up for it with comic relief when I need to make a technical move in the middle of a drop. I tend to wreck a lot. This boat is not for everyone. If you want to do more than sit on the surface and you don’t want to mess with glass, it may be right for you too. Just practice braces and rolls, you will do many hundreds on each trip.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Anybody out there paddle one of these things? : : Lifes Short Paddle Hard Erik : I’ve had the chance to paddle one on a couple of occassions. The boat is a lot of fun to paddle, especially when all you have paddled is surface boats. While it isn’t a true squirt boat (not glass) it can still perform a lot of squirt manouvers. Plus, as it is now made by Euro-Kayaks (used to be made by Valley) it is extremely durable. Also, it is fairly comfortable compared to other squirt boats I’ve tried to sit in. Jeremy Knoll, Co-President Queen’s University Wild Water Club Kingston, Ontario Canada I would go along with this, allthough I’ve only paddled them on flat water, but you can still have a lot of fun in them then! I’ve seen them in surf and they seem to handle okay, but don’t allow a lot of room for errors. I’m hoping to get one on to moving water soon and see what it goes like. As for the comfort issue I beleive it is a relative… if you are the right size it’s not to bad. I usually need to come out of it after about twenty minutes. — Bertie.. Nat. Vice Chairman, BCU Lifeguards Vice Captain, Weymouth BCU Lifeguards Fixtures Sec, Salford Uni Canoe & Kayak ***The views expressed are entirely my own!***
I’ve had an Enigma for at least five years, and paddled it on sea surf and grade IV rivers – it’s possibly the nearest sane thing to a real squirt boat (sorry Jim S.) True, for my size it’s not a real squirt, but for carving in breakers and adding an extra grade to any river, there’s nothing better! If you’re paddling one on rivers, look for flat green waves (the nose is a bit prone to pearling) and deep eddies with sharp eddy lines for maximum fun. Don’t expect pop-out moves in playholes, but cartwheels are possible in the right hole (if you’re brave enough!) On surf, nothing with a deck carves as well – you can even cut out of side surfing rides by ducking the stern under and running ahead of the foam pile, but getting out through the breakers can be tough in big surf. I stripped out the original seat and filled the cockpit and rear hull with etherfoam, then cut out a shaped seat and also wedged in a foam pillar in front, so my Enigma still floats full of water with me in it in real emergencies. As for comfort, some pieces of camping mat pad the knee braces, and I’ve run 7-8 mile trips in it with plenty of playing… — Pete Ford Unix Sys. Admin. Oxford University Computing Services Phone: +44 1865 2~73266 Look mum, a real job! "I’m sorry but you need more help than I can give you over the phone"- R. Letts The above message represents my personal opinion; neither my employers, nor any other organisation, is responsible for statements made therein
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Anybody out there paddle one of these things? : : Lifes Short Paddle Hard Erik : I’ve had the chance to paddle one on a couple of occassions. The boat is a lot of fun to paddle, especially when all you have paddled is surface boats. While it isn’t a true squirt boat (not glass) it can still perform a lot of squirt manouvers. Plus, as it is now made by Euro-Kayaks (used to be made by Valley) it is extremely durable. Also, it is fairly comfortable compared to other squirt boats I’ve tried to sit in. Jeremy Knoll, Co-President Queen’s University Wild Water Club Kingston, Ontario Canada
I would go along with this, allthough I’ve only paddled them on flat water, but you can still have a lot of fun in them then! I’ve seen them in surf and they seem to handle okay, but don’t allow a lot of room for errors. I’m hoping to get one on to moving water soon and see what it goes like. As for the comfort issue I beleive it is a relative… if you are the right size it’s not to bad. I usually need to come out of it after about twenty minutes. — Bertie.. Nat. Vice Chairman, BCU Lifeguards Vice Captain, Weymouth BCU Lifeguards Fixtures Sec, Salford Uni Canoe & Kayak ***The views expressed are entirely my own!***
Response:
: Anybody out there paddle one of these things? : : Lifes Short Paddle Hard Erik : I’ve had the chance to paddle one on a couple of occassions. The boat is a lot of fun to paddle, especially when all you have paddled is surface boats. While it isn’t a true squirt boat (not glass) it can still perform a lot of squirt manouvers. Plus, as it is now made by Euro-Kayaks (used to be made by Valley) it is extremely durable. Also, it is fairly comfortable compared to other squirt boats I’ve tried to sit in. Jeremy Knoll, Co-President Queen’s University Wild Water Club Kingston, Ontario Canada
Response:
Anybody out there paddle one of these things? Lifes Short Paddle Hard Erik
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