I recently added a sprinter to my collection of kayaks (multisport and fishing) and it was an instant favourite as it is one boat that does it all - touring, fishing, child friendly, rugged and fast. I mostly paddle/fish offshore but it has also proven its worth fishing rivers upstream.
Its speed makes it a really enjoyable boat to paddle. On the first decent fishing trip I fished 30km of coastline, if I was in my Cabo or Scupper, my shoulders would have been drooping at the end of the 5 hour trip. I've had it out in 30knot wind and short steep chop and was impressed by its stability (especially secondary). When I am stationary fishing over reef offshore I have a small telescopic outrigger system which makes stability bombproof. If you have been kayak fishing for a while and want to step up the speed of your craft a few notches this is the kayak for you.
The Sprinters are awesome! I own two. I purchased both from guys over 6 ft. And they found them unstable (one fished out of the Hudson River by the Coast Guard). I believe the center of gravity has something to do with this. I am 5'6" and do not feel it is tippy.
I have paddled this yak 20 miles in one day (out to the Content Keys and back) and it was effortless. I wish it had a tank well for storage of cooler and fishing equipment. I always use this yak for distance paddling.
The sprinter is a great all around boat in my opinion. I read some reviews that say it is tippy. Trust me, far from it. Maybe if you have never paddled a kayak before and this was your first kayak then yeah maybe you would think it is a little tippy. I think a newbie would feel comfortable in a few short paddles. I fish from this boat constantly. So you know if I can fish from it, the boat is fairly stable.
As far as the speed goes, maybe not the fastest sit on top but you are sacrificing stability when you gain speed. So yeah there are faster SOT out there but they are not as stable as this boat.
I would consider this a great boat for fitness and general everyday paddling. If you a racer this boat will hold its on to most kayaks but if there is a tippier boat out there the same length it will probably be faster as long as the person paddling it is a great paddler. I give this boat a 9 for the all around comfort, speed, and stability this boat has. If you find one for sale I would not hesitate to buy it. You will enjoy it.
Had the sprinter for a few weeks now and love it to bits. I tried a K1 racing kayak and just couldn't stay in it for more that 100 yards. The sprinter feels almost as fast but is just stable enough for my ample bulk to not fall off it.
It is easy to car top as it is so long it loads (one end first) like a sea kayak. The rudder and peddles work very well and are super fast to adjust. Upwind and downwind it is superb. Cross wind and cross waves I am still a bit nervous in it but I already feel my core muscles and balance improving so this is probably a problem with me and not the boats stability.
It has quite a reassuring secondary stability that I didn't think was there but found when I messed up. The two times I have nearly tipped have laughably been when gliding and not paddling. The boat is so low to the water that when you balance the paddle across the gunwales it is common for one blade to catch the water and give you a surprise. I started using my wooden Greenland style paddle and this cured the problem. Very long slim blades. It also slowed me down to sub-divorce speeds when paddling with the family.
The only real negative is that at 15stone I am constantly sitting in a few inches of water. I have not tried scupper plugs but will update if they help. I kayak in a light wetsuit or cycling tights which dry quickly so no real problem. Might think differently in the middle of winter?
All in all a great boat. Will buy another if I manage to kill this one. (Unless I try a cobra eliminator and love it more.)
I just bought a sprinter (used). Took it out both of the last two days, during the peak of whale season. I own six kayaks and I bought this one for our Sunday excursions. Generally we use our kayaks for camping. The coast that we traverse Hamakua I believe a bit to rugged for a sprinter. However we regularly go out on Sundays for a leisure tour. I found it quite nice to be faster than my companions.
Although it is tippy and requires constant balance, like a bike, I expect my coordination to develop with some time and it will become second nature.
Just tried out my new Sprinter last night (strictly flatwater). Is it tippy? Depends on your frame of reference. I tried a lifeguard spec surf ski once and had to dangle my legs in the water to stay upright. So, if you're coming from a surf ski, this thing is solid. If you're coming from a typical SOT, it's a little tippy. For me, it was feeling pretty good after 100 yds or so.
This boat is a hoot! My easy cruising pace got me 4.5 mph on GPS, fast cruising 5-5.5 mph. Hard for me to get it above 6. It's a very wet ride. The water was at the top of the scuppers as the boat was sitting by itself. I'm 190 lbs and I sat in a pool. Didn't bother me, just lettin' ya know.
The footpegs are very narrow. I just fit my size 8 Chota Nunavut heels into them. This boat was really made for small people, short and light. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone heavier than I am, as a matter of fact, I think 150 lbs or less would be better. The seat was very comfortable but it does need a backband. It also needs handles in the middle of the boat. The gas pedal rudder works well once its set up. It appears to be a Swede form design, but the bow is very high volume. Because of this, it might make for a good multi-sport boat (flat water to Class II stuff). I'll try that out later.
Maneuverability is good, the rudder is handy when you're trying for speed. More maneuverable than my Tarpon 160, similar to Manta Ray 14, less than Synergy 14. Can't wait to get it in some textured water.
I'm 5'11' and around 165 lb, and my wife is under 5' and 106 lbs. We both have Sprinter kayaks. After trying several plastic sit on tops, we had to acquire the Sprinter because it's in a class of its own.
Fast, incredibly stable under way and seaworthy. Turns on a dime with rudder and lean action. Initial stability may be somewhat of an issue on the very first time the boat is used, after a couple of times on the boat, it's easy to handle. Secondary stability is amazing for a boat this narrow
We use a low back rest to reinforce correct posture. We paddle in flat water and open ocean, handling up to 4 foot swells in any direction, surfs swell without burying the nose while shifting weight. We don't surf breaking waves.
Windy days are no problem, the Sprinter tracks well with the rudder system provided. The adjustable foot rests allow for applying forward paddling technique and rotation.
The rudder can be set in two ways, depending on the desired sensitivity to foot pressure.
The boat's handling without rudder is tricky but possible, due to the rocker line which enables turning and surfing, but also makes the rudderless boat sensible to side shifting of bodyweight.
Forward and back hatches are appropriate in size and the rubber covers provide an hermetic seal. The day hatch right between the legs is very accessible for hydration and light food, I just fitted it with a mesh bag attached to the hatch cover.
I have to give the Sprinter a 10, because, for a plastic sit on top kayak, it does extremely well for the way we like to paddle and it adjusted very well to our different body sizes and weights. After Sprinter, a glass surfski!!!