I've had a 95 for the last month and a half. I haven't been out in it as much as I'd like (6 or 7 times?), so I'm still adjusting to it (there's one data point). I'm 6', about 220.

I'd been paddling a Jefe Grande for the past 5 years or so, mostly in California, some in Colorado. My paddling style is more to drift into things with last-minute adjustments rather than consistently drive, and I love boofing. (The Jefe boofed like a dream.)

The Squirrel is *fast* and expects to be driven more. I've definitely found that I need to be more consistently aggressive in order to move it around. It's also loong (8'11.5" vs. 8'5" or so), which is something I've had the hardest time adjusting to; I find that I consistently bang the stern when boofing (and have needed to adjust my timing in order to launch properly.)

The Squirrel's primary stability isn't as good [as a displacement hull), so the first couple times I side-surfed I was thrown off before being caught by the secondary stability.

Can't say much about how it rolls; I know some people have had more trouble with the Jefe (than, say, a Remix), but I'm not one of them.

No problems with plowing through holes; it generally skips over the top, though when I've melted, it surfaces nicely (perhaps not quite as smoothly as the Jefe). It tracks better, which makes it easier to move fast in boogie water (that was really my only complaint about the old boat).

All in all, I'm not as confident in it as I was with the Jefe, but I also haven't been back, so I don't have the opposite perspective.

Hope this helps.

Yeah, I don't think there are many Squirrels around these Western parts.

But if you love paddling the Remix then this could be a winner of a design. Only time will tell.

You might want to paddle a Remix 79 or 69 first to 'see' if what you're looking for... there are some significant design changes to the bow rocker with lots more volume in the stern but very similar hull profile to Remix.
Good luck finding one to Demo! If you do I'd like to hear what you thought of it.

Edited by huckin harms - 19 Dec 2014 at 7:45pm

I'm also interested in paddling this boat. Being a very large fan of the remix and disliking the stomper I think this could be an excellent choice for the northwest. I always thought a touch more bow rocker and more stern volume would make the remix from most people's big water specialist into an all around go anywhere creeker. Though I doubt I'll be buying one unless it's a major upgrade from my mamba.

So anyone heading to Chico and back to seattle?
Or driving up from Cali anytime soon?
Apparently there are still some squirrels down there and i am trying to get one.