2009 WaveSport Diesel 70
The original Diesel 65 and 75 defined the term ‘river runner‘ when they were released back in 2005. The designs were so solid that Team Wave Sport and countless others used the Diesels as their go-to big water AND creekers for years. Their combination of forgiveness, maneuverability, and bomber outfitting made choosing the Diesel a no-brainer, no matter what river you were putting on. For the ‘09 season the design team at Wave Sport decided it was time for an evolution of the ‘SUV’ of kayaks. We went out to improve every single aspect of the Diesel, and even added a size to the series.
The peaked bow and stern deck helps to create smooth and predictable resurfacing
2009 Wave Sport Diesel from Kelsey Thompson on Vimeo.
The Specs:
There are 3 versions of the Diesel for 2009. The 60, 70 and 80(gallons). The 70 (most popular size) is the first version to be released, and is available now! The 60 will be for sale by mid-December, and the 80 in late December. Here’s what we know so far….
- Diesel 60-7’4” long/24.50” wide-Paddler weight range: 60-130
- Diesel 70-8’ 0′ long/25” 0′ wide-Paddler weight range: 123-190
- Diesel 80-8’6” long/25.75” wide-Paddler weight range: 170-260
Pros:
- The 2009 Diesel is faster this year. How did WaveSport make it faster? With a new rocker profile and increased flared sidewalls in the bow and stern.
- How did they make it more maneuverable? By eliminating the section of the rocker break that hindered quick turning. This also gave us the only loose river runner on a green wave!
- How did Robert Peerson and the Team make it stay on the surface in huge rapids? We peaked the deck in the bow and stern just enough to resurface predictably and smoothly.
- The Diesel now has 3 sizes to choose from in 60, 70, & 80 gallon versions.
- The new aluminum-base thigh hooks are more adjustable and will allow the even the tallest of boaters to have a perfect fit with a higher knee area.
Fast,loose and forgiving
Team WS paddler, Bryan Kirk, paddled one of the first Diesel 70’s at Great Falls(see photos) on the Potomac River over Thanksgiving. Here are his thoughts(actually 99% of the information on this review came from him):
“It proved to me that all of our prototyping and testing really paid off. It was as if you took all of the attributes of the old Diesel and put them on steroids. The first thing I did was to lean the boat over with my hips to test its stability. The 70 felt more stable than my old 75 gallon version, and at least as stable as my creekboat, the Habitat 80! I felt like a faster, more controlled paddler in the 70. It carved into micro eddies effortlessly. I resurfaced the 23-foot Spout waterfall in control and moving away from the drop with speed. The deck now sheds water amazingly well in big wave trains thanks to the new peaked shape. The Horseshoe Wave at the base of the falls was almost totally washed out and didn’t even look surfable, but I stuck a 180 then backsurfed it with no foam pile at all.
The redesigned Diesel paddles better in every aspect than the original. It’s going to be my new go-anywhere, do-anything boat this winter in West Virginia. I can’t wait to take it on a Lower Meadow into 15,000 cfs” Upper Gauley run. I’d feel 100% confident in the Diesel 70 on a big mission like that.
(Paddler:Bryan Kirk-----Photo Credit:Kelsey Thompson)
(Photo Credit:Bryan Kirk-----Paddler:Kelsey Thompson)
(Photo Credit:Bryan Kirk-----Paddler:Kelsey Thompson)
(Photo Credit:Bryan Kirk-----Paddler:Kelsey Thompson)
(Photo Credit:Bryan Kirk-----Paddler:Kelsey Thompson)
Cons:
The Diesel is a planing hull boat with some edges. If you are used to rounded hull creek boats like the Jefe, it may take a little while to get dialed in.
The Verdict:
The Diesel’s an SUV, 4×4 kayak that has the best features from the older series (Diesel) and then some additional modifications to make it even faster(Bryan Kirk won the Gore Race in it), more stable and looser. It has great outfitting too. I remember the first time that I sat in a Big EZ…..I was sold on the WS outfitting. If you’re looking for a do-it-all boat that is a blast to paddle and will add some confidence to your game, this is it! CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONE NOW!
Related posts:
Diesel 70 :
Not really impressed that a Wavesport employee gave a “thumbs up” to the boat. Are you kidding ? I’m interested in the new Diesel, but wouldn’t go on a Confluence (i.e., Wavesport) evaluation of its own product.
Get serious !
I have an 06 diesel 65 & lovin it.-hard to imagine it any better.
John-
Thanks for checking out the blog. There are quite a few online resources that focus on educating paddlers, and one of them (ours) happens to include information from a professional team member. It is however an authentic review, but feel free to compare it against other independent evaluations (Boatertalk, Mountianbuzz,EddyFlower,etc).
I agree that his opinion may be a bit biased, but then again, if he didn’t feel that Wave Sport Kayaks were great, he most likely would paddle for another company. Bryan Kirk is good enough to write his own ticket as far as sponsorships (and boat selection) are concerned, and he chooses to paddle a Diesel. Thanks for the comment though! Your thoughts are appreciated and taken into consideration.
Doug-
Thanks for reading the review, and come by and Demo one at PaddleFest 09′(May 19th)!
CKS Admin
I’m using P52 in Japan. I love its strong stablity and maneuverbility. I started white watar kayaking 2 years ago at age of 45ys,and I’m thinking about getting a creak boat to start petit creak next spring. I wonder which is better new or old diesel. I’m afraid that new diesel would fail like Dagger’s Agent. Too much attempt spoiled Agent and still Kingpin is execellent for Japanese river. New diesel would be still easy for “a creak beginner”? still very easy to roll on boiling water?
My wife just bought me a 2009 for my 50th birthday and I am looking forward to testing it out on the Ark. Need some boating buds to help me to learn this sport. Any takers?
Jim Reddy
Salida, CO
You should come down to the Wednesday night roll sessions at the Salida Pool. 7:00 PM. You can also call us for more info. There are quite a few people there that are psyched for spring and looking for paddle partners. I think that they are actually having a group paddle the weekend of march 14th.
I love my diesel 65 but I can’t wait to try the 70!!! looks like wavesport made all the right adjustments. The only thing my 65 was lacking is down river speed. The new rocker profile and sidewalls will fix that.
Hi
i want to get a 09 Diesel…i am a 83 kilo man without equitment…..would drive max ww 3 next time is it enough to get
the 70 ???
ndreas
You could paddle the 70 or 80 depending on your height. The 70 would get you down river, but the 80 would be better for class III and higher. If you are over 5′10 or so and are going to run rivers and creeks you would want the volume of the 80.
I recently purchased a new 70 from CKS. I used the older model before, and was real comfortable in it, so I was surprised the first time I used the 70. The foot pegs do not come forward close enough for me to touch them with my feet when I sit in the kayak. The center pillar prevents them from moving up. Is there any workaround for this??
How tall are you? Also, what is your inseam? There may be one depending on how much or little you need to move the pegs up.
One idea is to get a pair of bigger booties/wet shoes like the Teva Avators or Gnars. They have a thick sole and will give you some extra height.
Gnar:
http://www.coloradokayak.com/Teva-Gnar
Avator:
http://www.coloradokayak.com/Avator-2
so, i measured the distance, and it is like 6 inches. (i’m 5′3″). The heighths of the people using the boat will probably range from 5′0″ to 5′7″. None of us at any of these heighths reach the pegs.
Do you have the foot pegs all the way up? There is about 2-3 inches of play there. Was there a particular reason that you got the 70 and not the 60? Just curious. If you want, you can give us a call, and we can work on this issue.
My hubby just got an 80. He’s a shorty at 5′5″ with a 29″ inseam. At first the foot brace wouldn’t move up past the 5th hole and we needed it to be at 10 or 11. I found you need to loosen, not remove, the two screws on each foot pad so that the plastic brace can move out toward the sides enough to let it slide up past the pillar. I loosened them and then banged on the elbow of the aluminum brace to open it up a little and to flatten out the long piece so that it didn’t dig into the side of the boat. Then we “walked” it up til it was where we needed it. Good luck. This was one of the easiest boats yet to get set up for his picky little feet. Boy, we said a lot of bad words about the Big EZ he had years ago.
Oops, sorry, it was a 70, not an 80. And he wanted me to tell you that he loves it. He has coveted my Perception Madness for years, but finally crossed over from the little play things to a real boat.
So when are you getting a new Diesel!
I’m 6′3″ but slim. Any chance the Diesel 70 will fit me or should I move up to the 80?
If you are 6′3″ you would want to paddle the Diesel 80. Since it is a river runner/creek boat it may not be so bad to have the extra 10 gallons helping you out. It’s a tad faster too.
The Diesel 70 fit great, I couldn’t believe there was that much adjustment in the pegs. I’m going to try it on the river tonight.
nice. Let us know what you think!!!
I am 5′ 10” (179 cm) but wegih only 130 lbs. Any chance I will fit into the Diesel 60? I had a Diesel 65 and liked it, but it felt a little too roomy.
You ought fit just fine. WS has some really good outfitting that can be tweaked out to fit smaller paddlers (seat forward, bulkhead all the way back, thigh hooks back, etc). It is 5 gallons smaller to you outta be fine. 60 gallons is right in there for a 130 lb. river runner / creek boat.
Hello. Is it possible to retrofit last year’s Diesel 75 with the newer thigh braces? You state “The new aluminum-base thigh hooks are more adjustable and will allow the even the tallest of boaters to have a perfect fit with a higher knee area.”
My wife & I are both taller paddlers. We each bought a Diesel 75 last year, but found that the thigh hooks did not work for us. After several frustrating months trying to dial in the thigh braces, my wife sold her Diesel & bought a Mamba which fits her perfectly. I took the old style thigh baces out of my Z and trimmed them down. Better, but not great.
Do you think the new Diesel braces will work in last year’s boat?
Thanks
Joseph in White Salmon, Wa.
That is a great question. I’ll have to check with WaveSport and find out if the new thigh hooks are compatible with the Diesel 75. I will email you and let you know when I know.
Thanks,
CKS Admin
Joseph-
I found out that you can indeed order this year’s thigh braces and put them in last years Diesel.
I purchased & installed the 2009 thigh hooks in my 2008 Diesel. Been using them for about 3 weeks now & they work great.
Thanks,
Joseph Hochendoner
I ma looking at buying the Diesel 70. i ma 5′8 and about 170 lbs.
I currently own the Amo S which is 55 gallons and fits me. I want a longer boat with a bit more speed. I ried to fit in the diesel 60 but no luck. do you think the 70 will be a good fit for me? funny how i can fit in my 55gal ammo but not in the diesel 60.
That is funny, the little Ammo’s a spacious little spud boat.
so what are you trying to say?
I am 150 lbs, 5′6″, I tried the diesel 65 in the past and always felt it was just too big. So I just demoed a new 60 and it was fantastic. I was by no means too heavy for this boat. It was predictable, easy to roll, and surfed great. The specs say up to 130 lbs top end for this boat, but I would say that is wrong. The 60 is perfect for me.
Dave
yea, the boat specs are a good gauge for the general public but you really have to sit and paddle a boat to know for sure. i learned to play boat in a wavesport xxx. I know that it was WAAAAAYYYY too small for me, but it got the job done.
I think the Mamba is a better boat for recreational boaters in the class 2 and some class 3 range who want a fun comfortable river run and stop at a few surf waves and have a boat that is easy to roll.
I almost got a Diesel instead of the Mamba, and have not tried the Diesel on a river.
Is my assesment correct? I am a big time Mamba fan.
I would like to see what one who has used both has to say.
Pls. can anybody compare Diesel 80 and Jackson Superhero? I have Diesel 75 and I am looking for a new boat. I was quite satisfied with Diesel 75 but it seems that Superhero can do the same performance with more comfortable seating.
Any opinion is welcomed
pospisr@volny.cz
There are a few differences between the Diesel 80 and the Super Hero. For starters, Jackson kayaks do have very comfortable outfitting. They also have a uni-shock bulkhead, which is a great safety feature for pitoning. the hull’s are similar and both are great for river running and creeking. the Super Hero would probably fit a really big person better than a Diesel. It has a ton of volume in the knee area.
You are right though, if you want a boat like the Diesel that has plush outfitting, look at the Super Hero. Also, the Liquid Logic remix 79, has some of the best outfitting, if the not the best outfitting in the business.
Thanks for reading,
CKS Admin
Thanks for reading the blog! let us know if you want to see any reviews in particular. We can add them.
Thanks,
CKS Admin
is there a more precise size guide for the Diesels than just paddler weight? I am 5′9″ with a 33″ waist and 32″ inseam but weigh 175#, so tend to be in-between sizes… have sat in a Diesel 75 before and it was comfortable, so wondering if I will fit well in the 70 or do I need to step up to the 80. The 70 is of interest because there are several in stock at an outfitter a couple hours’ drive from me, but wouldn’t want to waste my time if it’s too small. Thanks
I think that you would fit inside of the 70 and be OK. A lot of paddlers your size like the 80, because of the extra volume. If you are running class IV or higher whitewater, I would go with the 80. The 70 should fit just fine though. CKS has a few 80’s in stock and shipping is 19.95 if you don’t want to make the drive. No tax either.
I’m a newer boater (been out like 5 or 6 times) and have been learning in a diesel 75. I’ve been doing ok in this boat, in class 2 and a bit of easy class 3, but they say I’d do better in a smaller boat.
I’m 5′3″ and 120 lbs. Is the diesel 60 too small?
It matters more to me to be in something stable and workable than surfing and all that.
Would I be better off in the 60 or 70?
The Diesel 60 would be a good fit for you. The 60 would be easier to maneuver, and the 70 would be more stable. The more gallons a boat has, the more stable it is (for the most part). I would think that the 60 would be just fine in terms of stability, and would also be easier to handle because it is a little bit shorter and smaller than the 70.
if you were planning to do more advanced kayaking, and paddle class III / IV and V whitewater, you would want a bigger kayak like the 70. Bigger boats make paddling harder whitewater easier. They do not bounce as much, and push through holes and waves easier.
Another great boat to look at is the Dagger Mamba Series. The Dagger Mamba 7.5 and 8.0 are two boats that are great for learning in, and can also be used for intermediate and advanced paddling. The 8.0 is 62 gallons. This is just a little bit bigger than the Diesel 60 (if you wanted a little bit more volume).
thanks for the beta cks! I ended up gettting the boat; a used diesel 60. Was on it today for the first time and loved it! Definately the right size… take care and thanks again.
ok so here again a short paddler in the 70 (5′6 30in inseam). Great boat but a little hard to get dialed in on the outfitting. i took out my thigh braces, carefully removed the covers and added a 1/2 inch of closed cell foam with sticky sided backing. carefully pulled the covers back over and reinstalled. What a difference!!! The vertical adjustment is solved. Go slow with the covers they will stretch. This boat rocks!
Glad you got your boat dialed on. Thanks for the feedback!
Admin
We just returned from the Colorado River (Sept-Oct.09) and the Diesel was the preferred boat against 2 other newer big volume boats.
Moenkopi Riverworks provided us the boats, and Brady said the WS Diesel would be good. it was Great. Five of us were rotating through the boats, 220 miles and 109 Rapids – and it was always the top choice.
All 5 boaters were experienced paddlers/instructors (Ottawa River, rivers in Alberta, BC, Idaho, chile). Volume for the Colorado was 10,000 cfs, and the forgiveness and responsiveness was #1 on Lava Falls, and numerous Class V.
At least 3 of us are now on the hunt to buy the Diesel to our specific size. Great design.
Yea, as far as planing hull river runners go, it seems like the Diesel is quickly becoming the crowd favorite. What size boats are you all looking for? If you need any help finding Diesel’s of any size let us know. We’ve got a bunch in stock, and can also order them. They are on sale too right now ($100 store credit with purchase).
What other boats did you all paddle and compare the Diesel too?
Admin
I am trying to decide between the Diesel and the Habitat. I have not done any creeking, but want to in the near future. From what I have read it seems like the Diesel would be a better all around boat for both creeking and river running. (class III to IV)Is there a significant disadvantage as far as edging with the Habitat? Is there a significant disadvantage as far as creeking with the Diesel?
Thanks for the input!
I think that both boats would be good. They both have a lot of volume, and would get the job done. The feel of the boats are different, and it is a matter of preference. The edges will give the Diesel a crisper feel, but it will feel differently on landings and in current. The best thing to do may be try a planing hull boat and displacement hull boat and see what you think.
I paddel a Prijon Soca but I would like more volume in the back for class IV. Can’t make up my mind between the Diesel (70 or 80?) and Mamba 8.0. Is it true that the Mamba 8.0 has less volume than the Diesel 70? They look so similar. (I am 165 lb (75 kg), 6”2 (187 cm), inseam 34)
What would you suggest?
The Dagger Mamba 8.0 is only 62 gallons believe it or not. It has 8 gallons less than the Diesel 80. They are similar boats though. The Dagger Mamba 8.5 is close in volume to the Diesel 70. At your size I would get a Diesel 70 or the big Mamba (8.5). If you thought that you were going to get into class V, you could get the Diesel 80.
I have a 2010 Diesel 70 purchased from CKS. I’m all over class 5 creeks with it and it handles it with ease. Landings can be a bit harder due to the planing hull, but whatev. I have a full on DragoRossi creeker as well, sick boat, but I prefer the Diesel. Loooove the diesel. I love being able to whip that thing around… even while in current. Not so easy to do with a displacement hull at times. Diesel doesn’t get pushed around like a creeker. But then again, if you’re doing BIG Steep creeking, class 5 type stuff you should get a creek boat. But I feel like the Diesel is the top notch river running creeker on the market. Period. Oh yeah, the outfitting is great. I put a happy seat in mine to really pin myself into the boat – perfecto.
Just sat in one of these boats Saturday and loved the feel! I am 5′10 and about 220lbs. The 70 felt so great but reads i am too heavy for it(up to 190). Should I really go with the 80 even if the 70 feels so right???
What kind of white water are you paddling? If you are going to go get into class III / IV and beyond, I think that you would want the extra volume. Big holes, powerful eddies, and vertical drops all are much easier with an extra 10 gallons of volume.
If you are going to paddle smaller creeks and class II and III than the 70 should be just fine.
I just got a used Diesel 80, and am super excited about it- I am graduating up from my RPM Max. What handling differences should I anticipate, and what size flotation bags should I get? I can’t find anywhere that has a suggested fitting for flotation – I am leaning toward the NRS bags. Finally, I see on the Wavesport a section describing putting extra foam on the foot pads – I don’t think mine came with this foam, where could I find it? Thanks!
Hey there-
Thanks for reading the CKS blog!
The main difference between the RPM Max and the Diesel is that the RPM has a rounded displacement hull, and the Diesel has a planing hull with a bit of a chine on it. It will feel crisper and have tighter handling. You will also have to get used to having a little bit of an edge on there. When you eddy in and out you will feel the edge catch, and pull you down river a little bit. The flat bottom will make the boat easier to turn, and also fun to surf!
I would get large float bags. NRS bags are great!
We sell foam in 1/4 in thickness increments. You can order it by the square foot, carve it to the shape you need, and glue it in. This is a great option for the bulk head.
Trying to decide between the Diesel 70 and 80. I’m 5′8″, 145 lbs, with a 32″ inseam. It seems like the 70 would be the way to go for me. How’s the 70 when it comes to space for packing on self supported expeditions?
Thanks,
Chris
The 70 is a good sized boat for you. If you are considering doing lots of self support trips, as well as want to paddle bigger water, you could go for the 80. All you would have to do is pad it out a lot in the hips, maybe some foam in the knee well, and move the bulkhead up. Then you would have lots of room. Plus, the 80 would be faster when you are loaded down, and are paddling in big water (or even in the flats) like the Grand Canyon.
HI, IM 15 AND LOOKING TO BUY A DIESEL 70 / 80 AND WEIGH 80KG WITHOUT KIT ON. WHAT ONE SHOULD I BUY?
How tall are you? What is your inseam? Also, what type of paddling do you plan on doing? If you are tall and want to paddle hard whitewater, get the 80. It has more volume and will be more forgiving down river.