I'm thinking about buying a Solo M but am concerned about the speed of the boat considering the short length and large rocker. Has anyone found this or better yet, the opposite?
Thanks, Isaac

It is really fast for its length. I have the small, and one guy (class V paddler) tried it for a lap at the park. His usual boat is a Nomad, and was amazed that the Solo was a foot shorter. If you are really concerned and are closer to the upper end of the weight range, you could look more at the L, E, or the new Big Bang (coming out next year). Here's some pictures of the Big Bang, if you're interested. www.facebook.com/notes/fluid-kayaks-nort...2011/125763060806815

The medium Solo has far less rocker than the Large, in fact it has the same rocker as the small but with added length. So it is the fastest in its class, probably quicker than the large.

Are you planning on racing in it or are you just worried about getting to critical spots in a rapid?
I say this because there might be (and i'm not sure on this) faster short creek boats out there but I've used the M Solo for two years now and have never had a problem with speed.

There's a reason it was voted best creek boat in Europe last year.

The Big Bang is for big boys and is essentially an upgraded and larger version of the current L Solo, probably not what you're looking for.

I'm mostly worried about speed for general running, as i'm tossing up between the medium and a wavesport habitat 80, but i will be entering a few downriver races and so the longer waterline of the habitat appeals to me.
Thanks, Isaac

I paddled the Solo M in NZ this Jan for 2 weeks. I loved it! It done everything I wanted it to, turned, boof, punch holes, eddied in and out well. What I didn't like about it was its weight. Portaging was hard work, the flip side is that this boat is TOUGH and will outlast nuclear war. The kayak had ok speed but took a little effort to stop/start it with its extra weight. If it wasn't for the weight I would have bought one straight up.

I have been hunting around for a comparable creekboat that was similar length (I don't want something too long for the rivers I paddle) and which was lighter. I ended up demo'ing a Bliss Stick Mystic and this will be my next kayak. Looking at it, it's ugly and from its dimensions it doesn't look like it'd be any good. But it really was. It's similar length to the Solo M, it's lighter, it has a really shallow draft (e.g. the kayak sits really high in the water), which helped to make quick turns really easy and it was actually really fast. I am now going to purchase a Mystic.

I don't have any experience with the habitat 80. But I thought I would share my experience with the Solo M and another kayak that I found which was comparable, the Mystic.

There is a big difference between the Habitat 80 and the M Solo, if you don't mind me asking why are you considering 2 radically different sized creek boats?

@AllenG: I dunno why the M Solo you paddled was so heavy, it might have been one of the earlier boats to be moulded and shipped over there, my first one was also heavy. But the one I have now is much lighter than the previous one I owned.

the reason i'm considering both boats is that at 70 kilograms i fit into both weight ranges, i'm actually around the weight that most of the team wavesport members who paddle the 80 are at.
i also really like both designs as they are both very successful and have garnered plenty of attention. I can't really speak to my interest in both designs, the 80 i've heard much better things about than the 74, likewise i've heard that the M Solo is the best of the three sizes.

Isaac

I know this is not the kayak that you are talking about but how about the M Detox? I have paddled all the Solo's and they are great creek boats. I am not a big fan of the "round bottom" kayaks, I recently got my medium Detox and love it. I use it as a creek boat, the harder edges give you a nice crisp feeling when catching eddies or peeling out into the current, the Detox is less forgiving if compared with a Solo. Detox is also a speed demon.
If you like having edges then the Detox might be the kayak for you but if you prefer the soft round edges then go Solo.

Granted, the Detox is bloody quick. But as Deon said it is less forgiving and is a bit of a handful when paddling lower volume creeks.
I weigh 68kg so i'm close to you, and while I can't comment on the wavesport, the Fluid M is the ideal creek boat for me.
Is their no chance you can demo one for a bit to see if you get the feel for it?

I don't know why an earlier version should be different in weight..
I took my Solo M in July and the first think was to weight it... 21kg!! To much for a medium size in my opinion!
are you agree!!??
bye
Andrea