Gear Review: 2015 Jackson Fun
The Fun was Jackson Kayak's first whitewater boat to come out of the mold in 2004. After a handful up design changes, the 2015 Fun is here and ready to paddle all day. This river runner/play boat is a great combination of stability, comfort, and like the name states, fun.
Fun Profile
Comfort
This boat has a good amount of leg, and foot space, and comes with "Happy Feet" that make adjustments pretty easy. I like to stick a small piece of foam up front and use the happy fit to get a solid, but comfortable home for my feet to hang out. For reference I tip the scales at 165lbs, stand at 5'9" with size 9.5 feet and could paddle the 2Fun or the Fun. I went with the Fun because there was a little bit more leg/foot room, and it was a bit faster catching surf waves on the fly.
Down River Play
I got this boat for its playful nature, to surf waves, and to make the class II and III recreation section of the Rogue that is closest to me in the summer time a little more challenging. This boat holds an edge really well, making is nice to practice getting your boat vertical in the flat water. This boat surfs all types of waves, splats, spins, and squirts when you want it too. It grabs the smallest of eddies, and pops right side up through big holes.
Boofing The Jackson Fun
River Running
This boat is fast, really maneuverable, and stable. There is a great amount of volume to help you push through big holes, and not feel like a slug. Many of my local runs are a handful of great boofs, if you hit your stroke right you will fly through the air, if not, you will perfect your boof stroke in no time. You can sit in this boat all day long, paddle down stream, and play along the way.
Pros
- Surfs, spins, splats
- Comfortable to be in all day
- Easy to roll
- Stable
- Fast
Cons
- Some folks don't like the Jackson Sure-Lock outfitting system (I like it!)
- Could use a little more rocker to help keep the bow up when trying to catch waves on the fly
Top View
Conclusion
I got this boat so I could play while on class II and III. This boat has since become my to go boat, I find myself paddling it all the time and wanting to surf all the waves. The combination of its playfulness, stability, and ease of rolling has made me a better and more confident paddler. This is a great boat if you are looking to get into kayaking, push your skill level, or just want a boat that can be really playful as you float down stream.
Thank you to the Kayak Shed (Hood River's awesome kayak shop) for letting me try this boat out before I bought it.
