Reviews for Cypress Kayak by Dagger

At first it felt tippy to me because of my inexperience, but within a few minutes I began to feel more secure in it. It was very fun to paddle, and the cockpit was comfortable. It tracked reasonably well, although I'm sure it will be even better after I master rudder control! Speed was very good, although my daughter's Perception Catalina was faster (which ticked me off, especially considering I paid about $180 more for my Cypress!).

This boat is one of the fastest recreational models on the market today. It essentialy is a slightly shorter (and more stable) touring boat. There is one deck hatch behind the cockpit. There is a fair amount of room in front of your feet inside the boat too.

The only thing I wish it had was another sealed deck hatch in the front of the boat. No big deal though.

I actually have two of these boats; one with a sealed bulkhead and one without. In my opinion I think it's worth the extra money for the sealed bulkhead. It will save you time if you have to bildge pump the boat out in cold water.

After testing the three, I eliminated the Acadia. Strictly based on comfort. The Cypress and Manteo were more comfortable (I'm 5'8'', 170#'s) to sit for long periods. The Manteo and Cypress were both excellent, but I choose the Cypress because it weighed less, was narrower, and I liked the hull designed. (My family and I will use it primarily on lakes and rivers.)

I can only say that it performs excellent, is comfortable, and I'll have it for a long long time. Everyone who's used it has nothing but positive things to say about it. It fits my kids, they can handle it, and is easy to get gear in and out of. In lakes, it handles great through boat wakes, is stable, and easy to control. In rivers, it's absolutely beautiful.

For those looking for a fast, stable, recreational kayak, this boat is a great choice. I paid $550, which I thought was a good price. The only negative is that the decals appeared cheap. To me, who cares. I will say, my next kayak will be another Dagger, only longer - probably 16' long.

The Cypress is well made, stable, a straight tracker, and easy to handle. It's a great first boat and pushes the rec boat - touring boat boundry.

We live in northern New York and paddle flat water from Lake Ontario marshes to Adirondack rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. For both day trips and weekends the Cypress performs!

The day after I bought the boat I was treated to surprising warm temps, sunshine, but moderate windy conditions. So I found a local lake, and enjoyed my new Dagger! I got to try this boat in calm and moderate winds, with and without the rudder. WOW! Tracks great, turns tight, stable even in crosswinds and crosscurrents. Someone in one of these reviews said the rudder becomes part of the personality of the boat. Well, yeah..and the boat became one with me too! Nice concise package, with quickness and manueverability. I agree with others...this is a light touring boat, not just a rec boat. Oh yeah, treat yourself to a rudder upgrade...you'll just smile even more as your gliding along on the water.

At 6' tall, I also found the boat hull and deck to open up once on the water. Plenty of room. Paddled 2.5 hours straight (in the wind) with no break. My legs and back still felt great.

I sat in a Cypress in REI before I made my purchase, and I was concerned with how little room there appeared to be for my legs (I am a big guy-250lb), and almost did not purchase the Cypress for this reason. Though the other boats I sat in appeared to provide little or no ability to brace against the hull for control. When I hit the lake with the boat I was pleased to discover that the buoyancy of the craft altered the shape slightly than on the flat surface of REI's sales floor (duh!) and that I had what amounts to a perfect fit. The snug fit allows me to control and steer the kayak with a great deal of leverage. I can really feel this boat like it is a part of me. I know have the right boat when it is time to start practicing my roll--which will be soon.