2010 Jackson Kayak Fun Series Product Review

The 2010 Jackson Fun’s have arrived! We are really excited to finally see these boats, and more importantly learn the differences between the 2007 model and 2010’s. Here’s the scoop:

Specs:

Here’s a few different You Tube clips of the New 2010 Fun. The JK crew is throwing down pretty hard in a boat that seems to do pretty well in class IV and V.

General Fun info

The Fun’s out on the Russell Fork

The JK Crew on The North Chick

Here’s what Clay Wright has to say about the new 2010 Fun:

I loved the 07 Fun when it came out – fast and poppy on waves, huge loops, and so easy to run downstream… and then the 07 All-star came out and as a serious playboater I never looked back. So this review is from someone who paddled the 07 a lot at first, but now paddles the All-star series nearly exclusively.

My height: 5′9 1/2” Weight: 165lbs Inseam: 31” Shoe size: 10.5

Fit:

Perfectly ’snug’ but roomy in the right places, with a lower feeling deck and narrower knees than the 07, which I found cavernous. On the 07 I used a 2x Sweet Cheeks while on the 2010 I felt more comfortable with the stock 100. Foot room is ample, but my feet do reach the foot bumps with my Teva Cherry Bombs on in this model. Much more comfortable and quick to outfit for me than the 07 Fun, more like an 07 All-star with extra foot room.

Flatwater:

Feels slicey and the ends go through the water much smoother than the 07 version. I could link ends easily as well as flatwater loop and tricky-wu much easier than in the older one. This is no All-star .. I mean it’s a longer feeling boat with more volume down by the toes for sure, but it gets the job done with less effort than the 07 version. Paddles straight ahead very easily and the bow stays confidently on the surface. It’s all waterline behind you, to get the most speed possible out of this length of boat, and coming from the 2010 All-star it felt really fast, directional, and tracks better.

Whitewater River-running:

Where’s the next eddy-line? For some reason I started stern-squirting this thing and got a bit carried away. Reminds me of the old Blade / RPM days a bit the way you can just rock that stern rail down on every seam and spin vertical circles down the river as you balance with the currents swirling whims. Driving into my lines I appreciated the extra speed, and it’s ability to ‘punch’ through curlers and holes nice and level. Didn’t bang down anything too rocky but it was certainly at home on the big water lines of the Gauley and Ottawa.

Whitewater Play:

It’s a slightly longer extra-forgiving playboat .. and there is no trick you can’t do in the 2010 Fun. Compared the the 2010 All-star it’s a much more substantial boat. Blunts, spins, and cartwheels felt so smooth and stable, while Helix’s and Loops felt slower coming around .. because there is more boat to pull though of course. I never felt I had a knife at a gun fight, this is not Ammo / RX / or CR territory where your play is limited by it’s river-running volume distribution, it’s more like an extended 07 All-star in performance with a bit more forgiving edges and a bit more volume all around. A sleeker Fun. Great on big waves and fully capable in holes yet stretched a bit to get more people down more rivers with confidence.

To simplify:

Pro’s:

• Completely capable in the play arena – looser, still poppy, and much slicier than before.
• More comfortable ‘fit’ for my size – requires less outfitting for me to feel comfortable.
• The stern-squirt is back!

Cons:

• Long legged people may find the knee fit less roomy.
• The stern edge is lower, so though it’s nice and round some might find it surprisingly capable

Hope this helps you choose the best boat for your unique paddling preferences and style

- Clay Wright

Spy shot of EJ testing the limits of the 2010 Fun at Great Falls on the Potpmac River. Looks like it boofs pretty well.

EJ also did a pretty detailed write up of the boat. He seems pretty psyched on it:

2010 Fun Series is Here- The best just got better! David Knight and I have anxiously awaited the opportunity to add what we have learned about boat design in the past three years to the new Fun series. Now, we have finally been able to apply our new knowledge and improve what has become the staple boat for people wanting the best of both river running and playing. This is our third edition of the Fun Series and I am proud to say that we achieved our design goals once again. Simply put, we wanted to improve both the river running and the play boating characteristics of this model. Here is what you can expect.

River Running:

1. The 2010 Fun is lighter weight, making it easier to carry and maneuver for everyone, and those people who aren’t as strong will really appreciate the lighter weight package.

2. The comfort of the 2010 Fun series is awesome and also an improvement over the 2007 model. There is more footroom, a better knee position, and the cockpit rim is lower around the hips and back allowing for more comfortable rolling too.

3. The bow and stern stay out of the water better for downriver paddling and surfing waves. This makes for easier peel outs, ferries, and carrying speed through the harder moves. Awesome!

4. The edges have been rounded off substantially on the parting line eliminating a lot of the ‘torque” that can come from catching an edge, making it easier to stay upright.

5. The forward speed is also improved for longer lake paddles and flatwater over the 2007 Fun.

6. Rolling- This is a terrific boat to learn your roll in, take it to the next level, or simply assure you the easiest rolling available. You’ll love how easily this boat rolls!

Playboating:

1. Faster wave surfing, looser hull, and very user friendly. We took then same design ideas that made the 2010 All-Star a surfing machine and applied them here.

2. Easier for vertical moves- the improved wing shape, better parting line position are both big parts of why this boat is so improved in getting vertical. Squirting or cartwheeling are both much easier and smoother. No more “splash splash” when trying to cartwheel. A nice smooth entry and exit on both the bow and stern make it easier to learn your first vertical end, or link a dozen of them!

3. The wedge shaped bow and stern provide a ton of POP for launching huge loops! This boat is crazy good for getting air!

4. The bow and stern are shorter and higher out of the water making learning your first spin in a hole or on a wave much easier, or freeing the expert boater up to think about other things.

Who should get the 2010 Fun Series?

This boat is your one boat does it all boat. Run about any river or play about any feature. If you are learning to paddle and want the fastest learning curve, while still being able to get on as many new rivers as possible, the Fun is just that. If you are an expert wanting to run hard stuff, but still want to play your way down, the Fun is the ticket.

Sizing? We are doing three sizes of the 2010 Model. 2 Fun, Fun, and 4 Fun. If you are a really little person or a really large person- we have the Fun 1, Fun 1.5, and the 2007 Super Fun for you still in full production.

When can you get your own brand new 2010 Fun???

The Fun is shipping to dealers NOW!

2 Fun and 4 Fun will be available by late November.

I hope you are as excited about this new boat as I am!!!

EJ

Another shot of EJ eddied out at Great Falls.

Check back soon for some You tube clips of the Fun, and paddler reviews from “real world paddlers”. EJ and Clay know the boat better than anyone, but it will be good to get some feedback from a few “working man(or woman)”boaters.