Otter, I know this is your post, and I hope that you got some good info about trying some new playboats. I have to change the topic to address a false comment. Again, I hope you find a playboat that suits your needs.
Now, I am going to go back to a quote written by mrekid; sorry, I just couldn't let this one go. The below statement he wrote is so far from truth.
And, mrekid, I still have no hostilities toward you.
Besides who wants to pay top dallar for a regurgitation of the Jackson star series!
First of all let me say that the Wave Sport Project received Paddler mag's top choice pick for playboat of the year. It is in their most recent magazine (buyers guide edition)...check it out. There is a reason why a group of very respected boat testers chose the Project as one of the best playboats out there.
Here is my take on why mrekid's comment is very untrue.
Spud boat designs have been an interesting thing to watch. There is no doubt that the Disco was the first one to come out and wow the market. Since this time each manufacturer has created their version of a spud boat. Dagger had the G-force; Wave Sport had the Transformer; Pyranha had the Sub series; Liquid Logic had the Pop, Space Cadet, etc.... Then each company evolved on their ideas and incorporated others ideas into their own to keep fine tuning designs (G-force to Kingpin; Pop to Space Cadet; S6 to S6F) Each company had their version or "gimic" of why their boat was better. (For ex: WS tips, Dagger pods, Pyranha scoop cut) After all of these trial and error gimics failed designers started to figure out that the wedge was the best way to create a spud boat that maximized its air abilities. However, the only time these boats were awesome was when you would be in a hole or on a very steep fast wave. All other waves were really hard to catch or stay on, because the one thing all of these boats had in common was that they had unbelievably slow hulls. The Jackson Star series is a prime example of this. Even EJ admitted to me personally that his Fun series has a faster hull than the Star series. (Sorry EJ, I am not trying to discredit the Star series; it really is great in a hole or on a steep wave.) There are some companies that not only worked on the evolution of the tops of boats but also on the hull speed issue, most notably the G-Force to Kingpin to Crazy 88, and the Transformer to ZG to Project. And, of course, Corran (Riot) was always about creating fast spud boats; unfortunately, in the process he made them to aggressive for the average joe, which is evident with Otter as an example.
The speed of hulls is going to be the next step in the evolution of spud boats. The designs of the tops of boats have been figured out; there is only so much a company can do to improve that. This is most likely why MREkid thinks the Project is a regurgitated Star series. In truth, the tops of most boats all have knock offs and similarities to each other. What is going to set a spud boat apart, now and in the future, is going to be the advancement in the hull. Afterall, if I am in a playboat I would prefer it works awesome in ALL situations, not just holes or steep waves. This is where the Project stands alone in the evolution of great spud boats.
I am biased, but I doubt that the Paddler magazine guys are! :wink:
Mark Olson
Wave Sport Regional Team (Colorado...no trolling here, mrekid)