The CKS staff's general consensus for the new Dagger Agent 6.2 one thumb up and one thumb down. Dagger seems to have done a great job of taking the best features of many play boats from the past, and melding them together to come up with a slicey, well balanced freestyle kayak that is the most comfortable in a hole (and not on a wave).
The Specs:
Length - 6'2"
Width - 25"
Cockpit Dimensions - 34" x 18.75" (Large Deck Size)
Volume - 50 gallons
Boat Weight - 30.5 lbs.
Max. Inseam - 34"
Max. Foot Size - 12
Paddler weight range: Overall 125-190 lbs.
Outfitting: The Agent is well outfitted. The hip pads adjust easily and the backband stays tight and stiff. There is no foam included for the foot compartment, however a
Jackson Happy Foot Bag can make a great add on to this boat. For a boat that's only 50 gallons the Agent can handle paddlers up to about 6'2", and size 12 feet. Our test paddler weighed about 160 lbs and was 6'2". He commented that he had to get out of the boat every now and then because of occasional cramping. An IR over Thruster is also included, which is a nice addition.
Performance:
Freestyle:
Pros: The agent is a great hole boat. It is stable, loose and VERY easy to initiate. The bow and stern are super slicey, making this a great boat for beginner rodeo paddlers who want to learn to cartwheel, wave wheel squirt, stall or any other trick that involves burying the ends of the boat in the water. Advanced paddlers will also like the boat, especially with the included IR Overthruster. Fil (CKS staff paddler) also commented that the Agent is great for back looping. Stay tuned for a video clip of Fil throwin' his 6.2 around in the
BV hole.
Cons: The Agent is a much better hole boat than wave boat. It is not as loose as others (Wave Sport project) in this category. It is has pronounced chines that can catch, and flush the paddler off of the wave. Overall the Agent is a much better in the hole than a wave.
Downriver:
Pros: Slicey and fun. The Agent is super fun down river for both advanced paddlers and those wanting to learn downriver play moves. The boat excels in holes, and is really fun to wave wheel. Since it is a relatively low volume boat the Agent melts through big holes and some features that bigger boats might get surfed in.
Cons: Taller paddlers (6'+) may be a little cramped after sitting in the boat for a while. Also, the chines take some getting used to. Being only 50 gallons, the agent may get pushed around in bigger rapids. Dagger also makes an Agent 6.4 which is basically the same boat, but has 9 more gallons of volume (59 gal.) and accommodates paddlers up to 225 lbs. This may be a good option for people feeling a little cramped in the 6.2.
The Verdict: The Dagger Agent 6.2 is a great boat for advanced freestyle paddlers who want to spend most of their time in a hole, and not surfing waves. Also beginning rodeo paddlers will love this boat because the ends are so slicey. It is really easy to initiate the bow and stern, making cartwheels, squirts and stalls really easy
