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Kayaks: Downriver / Play Wave Sport Fuse 56 (2008)
 

Fuse 56 (2008) Featured Hot

Written by admin     May 21st 2008     Hits: 42258     Favorites 0 Add
 
User rating
 
 9.0 (1)

Wave Sport Fuse 56

The Fuse family continues with the adult sizes. featuring a unique version of Wave Sport’s legendary hull design, which offers excellent user-friendliness and river-running speed along with an extremely loose and fast feel on waves. Volume distribution of the FUSE provides a roomy, comfortable space for the paddler, enhanced control in river-running situations, and more ’pop’ for modern playboating moves, such as loops and airwheels.

PADDLER WEIGHT RANGE 140–210 lbs / 63.5 kg-95.3 kg
VOLUME 56 gal/ 212 L
LENGTH 6'6"/ 201.2cm
WIDTH 25"/ 63.5cm
COCKPIT 33.5" x 19"/ 85.1cm x 48.3cm
DECK HEIGHT 12.45"/ 31.6cm
BOAT WEIGHT 33 lbs/ 14.9 kg

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Overall:
 
 9.0
 
 

Mid Season Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
So, prompted by something I read and posted on boatertalk, thought I'd share a mid-season impression of my Wave Sport Fuse 56 that I purchased from boatwerks.

To set the stage, I traded out my Astro 58 last May for a ZG54 while doing a liquid skills course (was able to demo tyler fox's ZG which did it for me). I've been struggling since I started paddling to find a boat that suits me - I am around 6'0, 175lbs and size 12.5 feet (im all free range chicken legs and chicken arms). The ZG 54 seemed to be a good balance between the project 52 (which pained me greatly to squeeze into), the astro58 (too big - space shuttle - and found the position and outfitting unbearable for my body type), and a river runner with a no real playboating traits. I did tweak the outfitting considerably but was still not completely satisfied with what I was getting out of the boat - specifically I was finding myself in the back seat a lot in bigger stuff or pearling consistently on waves.

I moved from my ZG54 to the Fuse56 this may (palmer fest i got to pick it up) and haven't looked back! The struggle between comfort and jonsing for latest/greatest playboat performance is at an end I think. Anyone who knows me or has seen me on the water, will say my playboating skills are pretty damn basic... so I finally resided to that fact and think I would rather be comfortable for a full day's paddle rather than suffering the pain of a smaller volume boat (for my limited abilities on a wave or in the hole).

Did I demo? Have I learned my lesson not to buy a boat without paddling it first? No... the Fuse 56 was purchased purely on website specs and some hope of a better future for my feet. Other boats I considered: I did look at dagger RX series (didn't like how I sat in it), the Rev M long ($$$ plus a bit of a tank when i sat in it) and of course the Jackson Fun (no comment needed). I think coming from the ZG, the fuse seemed to be a no brainer. It had the smoother more forgiving lines and similar distribution to the ZG, the volume and foot room needed as well as a bit more length and waterline for speed.

I live in KW and so have taken the boat on the gorge quite a bit. Gauge snobs would barely call that a river... so I didn't want to post anytghing about the boat until I had tested it on some big water / pushy stuff). Let me tell you, In big water it handles like a charm. Had it up at Kipfest, where I would have taken my river runner over the ZG as well as some mid-teen Ottawa levels over the long weekend. Have never felt that balanced and in control through massive bum waves before (such as on the Kipawa). The boat is extremely fast and stable making ferrys a breeze and catching features of all sizes on the fly. As far as play goes, at my weight it seems a bit harder to throw around then the ZG, but still responds well (most of it is my technique I would imagine). It surfs really fast and is decently controllable on big and small waves - bounces well too. What I enjoy most is that it has a lot more spring to it then some boats I've been in... making it easy to get up to hull speed and to sustain an angle.

Edit: Has been known to surf itself without a boater and is good for dry exits.

One thing so far I've found that I dislike: the edges don't release as easy on a wave which has me yearning for the hard rails of some of the more aggressive playboats I've paddled. This can lead to flushing, blasting or carving off a wave/hole unintentionally unless you are aware, aggressive and timely with your cutbacks and strokes. Again this is probably skill and experience, but just seems a bit harder to release the edges. Maybe someone else with more experience could agree or disagree with me on that point.

Edit: while the outfitting is awesome, when I raised my seat 3 inches yesturday I blew the screw out of my right thigh brace and lost it while emptying water. This is something that also happened in my ZG. Thighmaster be damned.

Oh and if any wavesport paddlers have tips to making the hip pads high enough to not dig into that nerve, let me know. The velcro i find is too low and the bump never sits high enough, especially with a raised seat.

That aside, I would recommend this boat to anyone looking for that comfortable inbetween play and running boat. Especially the taller skinny guys with big feet who'd like to playboat but aren't good enough yet to make it worth mangled toes and ankles. It will at the very least give you the option of expanding your playboating repertoire without making you hate yourself and is a boat you can take down the big water runs with no problem!!
Overall:
 
 9.0
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Reviewed by harris
Oct 23rd 2008
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