Whitewater PlayClassifications are subjective and will not apply to all individuals or all river conditions. These classifications are intended to reflect a boat's versatility and ease of use when playing on a variety of small to moderate size river features (including flatwater) and paddled by a competent, but not necessarily expert, boater in the middle of the weight range recommended by the manufacturer. These classifications are subjective and your assessment could easily be different. Important Note: A 5-STAR boat isn't a 'better" boat than a 1-STAR boat. Not everyone wants to do cartwheels, and a 1-STAR play boat can be as much fun to paddle as a 5-STAR boat! |
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Can stern squirt on a well defined eddy line. Front surfs reasonably well. Benchmark: RPM, Mamba, Hoss, El Jefe. |
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Probably has a planing hull. Surfs better and spins more easily than a 1-STAR boat. Can cartwheel in stronger features. Requires significant effort to flatwater cartwheel. Some boats in this class can spin on waves. Benchmark: Remix, Diesel, Lil Joe. |
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In capable hands can do many non-aerial freestyle moves. Multiple linked ends on moderate size features. Loose enough to spin on a green wave. Benchmark: Burn, EZ, Big EZ, '08 Hero |
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Loose, quick, and versatile. Can cartwheel on the small features and spin on small green waves. Easier to do clean 360s and wheels. Capable of aerial moves in the right hands. Benchmarks: Funs, Juices, EZGs, Recoils. |
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Generallly shorter boats than most of the 4-STARs. Can cartwheel on the smallest features in shallower water, and spin on small green waves. Short length allows hopping ability for easier aerial moves. Benchmark: Agents, All-star, Crazy88, Zero Gravity. |