I'm relatively new to whitewater (12 trips) but a strong paddler and living on the ocean. I want to surf the big waves mostly, but have a boat that's also decent for whitewater and flatwater. Can anyone recommend a kayak for me?

when you say flatwater, what do you mean? do you mean recreation trips across a lake or a boat that can flatwater carthweel and floop?

Check out the Dagger Approch and the Enduro



edit: When he said flatwater I assumed he ment no whitewater rivers just floating down the river.

For surfing big waves I think the Approach will be out of its class. try the longer river running playboats around 220 or above anything shorter will be too slow for the waves and general pottering about! could consider

X
Z
EZ series
Inazones
S8
Glide
Session
centrafuge
id
etc my head hurts too much work on my dissatation not enough paddling
Im off to pub to recoperate

try a dagger juice.....my friends got one and its really fast on a wave and realtively high volume, 60 gallons i think so running rivers would be fine and you could do some playing in holes on the way down the river:D

heard the riot tekno is supposed to be great for ocean waves, if not he most freinly boat on the water.

The Riot Tekno is a lot of fun but pretty nose heavy if you'r etall with long legs. Also it tends to bury its nose a lot so you need to carve.

The Fluid Flirt is supposed to be pretty good on ocean waves as well but that's only hearsay (albeit from someone who has been in a Flirt in the surf a lot). I can say for sure the Flirt is a lot of fun on the flat (if you're cartwheeling and flooping).

Anyway, it also depends on what you want to do on the ocean waves: if you're into akayk surfing (like board surfing) forget about most white water boats as they are too slow. A surfkayak will be a lot better. For instance the Mega Maruder (new version) is a pretty friendly boat suitable for tall people. I used to paddle one myself.

If you're into freestyle stuff, a more play-oriented boat could be what you're after. Urge gave a pretty decent list, I'd like to add the Necky Gliss to that as well.

Try a Necky Orbitfish Its faster than almost all of the small playboats and has lots of leg room for us tall fellas. Make sure you try lowering the seat if the one you try has the new light gray foam seat and feels retardedly edgy/tippy. Also get as far forward as possible.

To see the Orbitfish in action click this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAuEUTcMw14

Later
Ben