A first look at the new Jackson Kayak Gnarvana. I discuss a "hidden" feature I've not heard anyone mention yet, my thoughts on the name and bow aesthetics (ugh to both), a quick comparison to the Code and Scorch, width and how it rolls, an overview of other changes/upgrades, and put it on the scale for actual weight test. Links and timestamps below. Thx for watching! Links: JK - Official Release: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JVVu1WFMGxs.html Seth - Gnar vs Nirvana: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Bkl-uC9fooc.html Wade - Walkthrough & On Water: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0PN4ogKdPuw.html Dane - Walkthrough: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w7RE1HBCLDo.html Alex - Initial Review & Walkthrough: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-czxcJXX3Qfc.html Southern Yak: Cheoah Laps & Initial Thoughts: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YZB0E5LYnis.html Time Stamps: Intro & "Hidden" Feature 0:00-2:06 Name & Bow 2:06-4:06 vs Code & Scorch 4:06-5:43 Width & Rolling 5:43-6:51 Changes/Upgrades 651-11:12 Actual Weight 11:12-11:37 Selling Itself 11:37-12:08 Final Thoughts 12:08-12:24
Nice detailed walkthrough thanks for the call out funny 😁 I just watched a random documentary on whales and that’s when that popped in my head while paddling that boat. It’s like JK should have learned from the Z3 bow to so some styling lines up there could not hurt. I noticed the GoPro mount was missing after I did the video. Good call on the smiling stick man. I also think they did a really good job on this design and enjoyed paddling this boat. Love what you’re putting out buddy keep it up..
Thx Wade. Now I just sing Baby Beluga whenever I paddle it, haha. 🐋 Boat is pretty great. Looking forward to getting it on some harder stuff as the rains return. Taking it down to Feather Fest next weekend, so that should be fun too.
I bought a Gnarvana recently as well. Only paddled it once so far but already pretty impressed. I agree that the bow is pretty ugly but it does what it"s supposed to do and also gives the boat a lot of foot room. At 6'2" and size 12 feet that"s a big plus for me. Can't wait to get more paddle time in it and get more dialed in with the boat. I was a Wavesport and Dagger fan for years but Jackson is becoming my favorite brand now. I have the Antix 2 which I absolutely love and I think the Gnarvana will soon become a favorite as well. Their newer designs have been almost spot on.
Good call regarding the foot room! Glad you are liking the boat, and I agree with everything you said about it and the Antix 2.0. Both are fantastic designs. If you don't mind saying, how much do you weigh? My buddy tried my M Gnar yesterday and he's 220-225. He said he could tell a L would be better, but that it wasn't that bad, which is pretty wild for a M. He paddles a Lg Code now, and liked how the Gnar edges helped him drive around the river, and be more precise.
I weigh about 210lbs and feel the M is more than big enough for me. I would not want the L since it's such a big boat but it's probably fine if you weigh close to 250.
@@ianpinchin4423 I paddle the L but I could probably do the M. I think Jackson is usually pretty conservative on their weight range. My biggest issue is foot and leg room. That would be the problem with paddling the M. I have the bulkhead almost all the way forward and barely enough foot room in the L. The Gnarvana is about the only M Jackson that I can fit my feet in with little issues.
@@brianswafford3471 yeah I am 6,4 205 ish and with a lot of squeezing I could fit in the M antix to demo it but was too tight. I only got to paddle the L for 30 minutes and felt it was a bit sluggish but that may have just been because the was coming right out of the M, which at my specs was super sporty.
Thx! I think you will love the small. I sold my medium and got a small and it’s so much better for me at 135. And my buddy who has a medium just paddled my small today, and is selling his M and buying a S, and he’s like 170, but not super tall.
🤣 It looks like a Camry! If my memory serves correctly the smiley face logo came along on '09 or 2010. As far as not looking bad ass enough, I'm glad to see them designing function over looks. The front does look odd, I'll give you that but the volume it offers to make sure it gets back to the surface even faster is great. After watching Hayden run big falls on the South fork Payette I can't doubt that design choice.
Great videos Kevin, appreciate your opinion and input. The bow could obviously look better, but it's not horrible and the added volume could make that a great creeker for multi day self support trips. Looking forward to trying one this spring. Also looks like you could drill a couple holes in front of the wing nut and add some shock cord for added security for a throw bag.
Thanks! I agree, I think it will be a great boat for self support. I actually found an even simpler solution for the throw bag. I added shock cord by just looping it through the front seat hole and tying it into a loop. I leave it a little long so there’s a tail sticking up, making it really easy to pull up for getting bag out quickly. Works great.
Thx. Maybe the name will grow on us. Other day someone reminded a group of us that we made fun of the name Scorch when it first came out too. But at least that wasn’t a poor play on words. 🤷🏼♂️ Looking forward to your thoughts once you get some seat time.
The Gnarvana is a great boat to paddle. I have paddled it quite a bit since I got it that first day. It is great on the water! The large volume on the bow definitely is an asset when landing boofs and skipping over holes.
@@SouthernYak thx! Lots more I’d like to do (got a lot of videos in process), but I’m too busy boating, haha. Seriously though, I set a goal of 100 days this year; prev high was 59. I’m already at 87 as of 9/14/22, so been on the water a lot lately.
I don't mind the bulbous banana bow. They could have done a more interesting carve on the top deck, sorta like a peeled banana. The name is a bit literal, but as a dad, I'm ok with it.
I'm 6', 165#. My buddy has the large, and I had hoped to paddle it until I saw it. I didn't know if I should load it on my car or the car on it! He is 6'8", probably 230#ish and it even looked massive for him. I'm still interested in giving the design a go, but I think a small would be my preferred size too.
Yeah, the Large is BIG! One of my buddies was paddling a L Code, and when he got his L Gnar home and put it next to the Cody said it dwarfed it. At your size I think you could go S or M. Probably mostly depends on whether you prefer a boat to feel a little on the big side or a little on the small side. Small Gnar is still 26 inches wide and 80 gallons, so not exactly small. But it’s only 8‘6“, so that does make it feel a bit smaller.
I’m on the cusp of purchasing either the code or the gnar. I’ve asked this question to others but I try to get feedback from everybody cause everybody has different experiences, so… What’s the secondary stability like on the code compared to the gnar? Of the two which one rolls easiest? I know the code has softer edges so if I had to take a guess I’d say the gnar has better secondary but the code rolls easier…. What say you Kevin?
I’d say you are probably correct, but I’d also say that it’s kind of splitting hairs on both counts bc the differences in stability and rolling are pretty minor btwn the two. Definitely too similar to make any kind of buying decision based on differences in those factors, imo. The real difference is how they feel on the water, and potentially how well they fit you (height, weight, ergonomics, etc.). If you like a softer ride that stays forgiving, go Code. Prefer some edge (but not nearly as much as Scorch), go Gnar. I think Gnar is also a much better multi-day boat bc of easy bow access vs Dagger, so consider that as well if it matters to you.
Is there something going on with Apex and Jackson? Is EJ leaving Jackson and taking the branding with him? Might explain the logo and name changes as well as the competing designs from Apex. 🤔
Interesting idea. EJ did leave Jackson some time ago, and started Apex. They started with a very expensive carbon fishing kayak, and I believe they recently put out a carbon playboat called the Rebound. As for the logo/branding and names, I don't think he carried anything over from Jackson, but I could be wrong about that.
Good call! I noticed the same as I started paying closer attention. In fact I think the Nirvana may have had that JK logo, not the smiley face, too. Gnar has neither, which may or may not be a new thing. Either way I like the clean look; I just wish they had added some deck lines to break up the beluga bow, haha.
Hi Kevin I am thinking about getting one of these and was wondering if you feel this boat if faster than the code I have a code a wound like a little more speed I’ve tried a new RMX and I’m not sure about it yet anyway good video
I only briefly paddle the Code, so I consulted with a buddy who paddled one for about a year and has been in a Gnar for over a month now. We both felt that while the top speed of the two is probably pretty similar, the Gnar is faster in most WW situations. This is mostly the result of the bow staying really high and dry, where the Code sometimes dips into bigger waves and holes, then kind of surfaces and slows down. My buddy also pointed out that with the Gnar he's more likely to be on line, whereas the Code gets pushed around, and he would find himself making a more course corrections, which tends to slow you down. Hope that helps!
@@kevinhill.8 yes it does thanks for this information I’ve been trying out a RMX and I like it but not sure it’s the next or not all the boats are very good now days
I want my money"s worth. Translation: The portion of the boat out of the water and up in the air at any give time is not helping you. When you have that much rocker, you have a lot of boat that is not helping you most of the time. But you have to carry it all down the trail to the water.
Good point. But when it is helping you, it’s often pretty critical. In both my Gnar and Scorch (which I paddled for over a year), I’ve had multiple times where that bow rocker saved my ass, and I literally thanked the bow rocker out loud mid-rapid, haha. 😆
It has grown on me. Does cause some confusion when talking to people though, bc it’s easy to confuse Gnarvana and Nirvana when spoken. We’ve taken to just calling it the Gnar, which is what they should’ve named it imo. Jackson already has a fishing kayak named the Knarr, which perhaps played into the decision. 🙄
Aesthetically speaking I agree, the bow is just hideous, however, functionality is what counts in the end so I’ll have to demo one. I have an antix 2.0 but want a creeker in my quiver and I’m still trying to decide between a scorch and a gnarvana. Great review though man, subscribed 👍
@@kevinhill.8 which one is better for a beginner? Scorch or gnarvana??? I am 1.83 and weigh 192 pounds, would gnarvana M be fine for me or would an L be better?
@@gabo5020 I’d recommend the Gnar over the Scorch for sure for a newer boater; Gnar is def more forgiving of the two. I think a M is right for your weight. Someone commented that they are in the M at 210, and wouldn’t want the L, and my buddy who’s 220-225 tried my M and only felt it was a little too small. Ymmv, but at under 200 it seems pretty safe to say a M is gtg. Now if you like really big boats, or want something huge for multidays and carrying a lot of gear, that could change things.
Good call! I noticed that when I saw the little black plastic screw in the bag w the hip pads. It’s provided to thread into the hole left if you remove GoPro mount, but is obviously not needed for this boat. Then I promptly forgot all about it, haha. Thanks for mentioning it. 👍🏼
@@trifilmer oh boy. Tough call. Guess it depends on how you like the Z3 and what you are wanting out of your boat. Gnar seems like a high performance Z3 of sorts. 🧐
