Gear Review: Dagger Alchemy 14

--Product Information--
Product Name: Alchemy 14.0L
Product Brand: Dagger
Best Use: Flat water Touring, some coastal touring.
Sizes Available / Specs: 14.0S 14.0L

--Test Information--
Location of Test: Willamette River and Oregon Coast
Duration: 3 months

--Ratings--
Value Rating: 8
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 9

Full Review: The Alchemy 14.0L is a good beginners boat for kayak touring. Bow, midship, and stern bulkheads allow for gear storage for multi day trips and a drop down skeg aids in tracking on the straightaways.

The hull design is more than adequate with very good primary stability. The secondary stability takes a bit to get used to but an intermediate to advanced boater would have no problem paddling the alchemy to its limits. The alchemy accelerates quickly for a boat in its class.

The cockpit in both sizes has been updated to be roomier for larger paddlers but still has enough foam padding and inserts to accommodate slighter body types. The Alchemy is a great instructional and beginner kayak that will take you well beyond a rec boat and out into the open ocean.

"The Good" List: Large gear capacity, spacious, good keel line, and she accelerates quickly.

"The Not so Good List": Secondary stability is not intuitive. Not a performance kayak and not an all around ocean kayak.

The Bottom Line: A great boat for beginners and classes.