I weigh 170 and was looking at a Nomad 8.1. The only problem is that I hear I am at the max range and that it is impossible to get gear behind the seat. I've heard awsome things about the boat design and am looking for a boat thats relativly small but would still allow me to pack enough gear for a one or two nighter.... Am I S.O.L. on this one?

But a lot of folks seem to think the Nomad and Jefe are very similar designs. I"m also 170, I like the Jefe, and it has plenty of room for gear.

I paddle an 8.5. I think its a pretty good boat, the outfitting is less gimicky than the dagger playboats and so far it has withstood some henious abuse with only cosmetic damage. I'm never comfortable about how much the sides crush in when its staked on my roof bars but it always returns to shape soon after I unload. As far as getting gear into the back, yeah the opening is dissapointingly small considering that huge tail due to the low cockpit rim and the seat edge however it definately in;t a deal breaker. I switched to a new type of dry bag (Orange nylon from REI) that has a kind of rectangular crosssection and a valve so I can suck all the air out. I never been short space on 2 and 3 day trips. Like most non german creek boats, getting gear infront of the bulkhead to balance out the weight is a pain, the bulkhead won't come back very far without a total dissassembly. Oh, did I mention its heavy, REALLY heavy! BUt at least the weight seems to make it tough...I've done some truely nasty pitons that would have punched the nose of an M:3 into Miss Piggy with nair more than a scratch. So apart from my general loathing of Dagger being a big corporation I'd have to recomend this one.
But do check out the Jefe and Magnum if you want choices.
Ian

"I paddle an 8.5. I think its a pretty good boat, the outfitting is less gimicky than the dagger playboats"

an 8.5 is a dagger boat, right?

I own a 8.1 and love the hull design. I tried the 8.5, seemed a tad too long for most creekin. The outfitting is straight forward and very basic. Almost too much so. Getting gear into the boat is a chore. Even my throwbag behind the seat was a pain. I moved the non adj seat forward a bit and it helps with access and weight distribution due to all the gear being behind the seat.

I still want more access and might have to modify the seat in the back. Looking for good ideas on that one....anyone??

If I could do it again, I would go Jefe and not worry about the lack of nomad stern access.

I don't own either boat but I have checked out both the Jefe and Nomad and one difference is that the seat on the Jefe is much higher, more edge control but also more tippy. Try before you buy.
Rick

i weigh in at about 180-185. when i first got the 8.1, the stern seemed squirrly and didn't like it at all. i have since moved the seat about 3/4" forward and this is the best creek boat i have paddled! it accelerates through holes, boofs super easily, and has great stability. as for the access to the stern, i cut the back of the seat down to right about where the rivot for the backband is. i can now get my small drybag, throwbag, and watershed drybag back there. again, i truely enjoy paddling this boat, good luck.