Silverbirch Agent 8.8 Vs Covert 9.3

[rlemphers]

Looking at buying a Silverbirch and looking for people who have paddled both boats and can speak to how they compare. Website info is not super detailed.

[YoungOldMan]

Here's a message from Silverbirch comparing the Agent & Covert
forwarded -

Thank you for your interest in our canoes.
At your weight and size either of these models will work well for you. Both the Covert 9.3 and Agent 8.8 have unique attributes that give them a different feel.
The Covert offers more speed around the river whether ferrying or driving for an eddy, and also punches through features better. We class the Covert as a river runner.
The Agent is move forgiving and will boof dry at lower speeds and will spin on a dime. It has good acceleration but lacks the top end speed of the Covert. We class the Agent as a creeker.
When at Alf this year, I would have chosen to use a Covert on the Ocoee, and Little River Canyon then the Agent on the Citico and Little River (Smokeys), and I would have happily paddled either on the Middle Telico. (The levels on the Ledges were too high for me)
Ultimately it depends on your personal style, but if you are going to paddle the Telico and creekier I would look towards the Agent and if you are going to paddle the Telico and larger rivers I would look towards the Covert.
I hope this helps!
Best regards
James Dennis
Director
Tootega & Silverbirch
a: The Boat House, Bunns Bank, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 1QD

[FullGnarlzOC]

Based on what I've gathered. It's an Agent that you are after! A L'edge to Covert will feel fairly similar when all is said and done with little differences here and there. The Agent will feel like a whole new boat and can pretty much guarantee you'd love it. It can be tough to make a well informed decision on such a big purchase when there are not always demo opportunities all over the place, but I've sent out hundreds of Silverbirch boats throughout North America, and take pride in my ability to steer people towards the boat they are looking for. Agent...

The boat is at home on creeks like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5jgeS0OFw4&t=200s

Feel free to drop me an email - am here to help.

[FullGnarlzOC]

Here's some more inspiration...

my buddy Adam on his first Upper Yough run - only had been paddling a canoe for 6 months at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWFd5cM0LzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuvaYEKy22U

Stoney Fest. 20 canoes, 80% Agents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7YBEc4uDYY

Trip I took to the UK to help SB with prototyping the Agent. We made sure we got it right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytzyqi78fmM