20/20 At Zoar Gap On The Deerfield

[Kelly-Rand]

Last weekend friends paddled the Deerfield river and produced this short video of us running Zoar Gap at the end.

The video features two Millbrook boats first the Red/Black themed Shacho and then the Gray 20/20. At the end is myself in a blue and white Storm Chaser.

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I paddled the 20/20 for about 10 minutes and felt comfortable, but not long enough to evaluate, I did like the edges though. The Shacho I've paddled on two different rivers and I like it's handling and speed. It is just a bit narrower and harder to get in and out of for me.

[wwh]

Cool video. Thanks for sharing. What was the level?

[Kelly-Rand]

The posted level was 800 CFS. I would say that it was probably correct.

This past weekend the posted level was 900, but calculating the downstream inflows before the guage led us to believe the actual was nearer 1000 CFS. The holes were much wider.

[Mikey B]

How you liking that stormchaser?

[Kelly-Rand]

Mikey,

It surfs just about anything you park it on, big or little. It's quick to go to where you point it but it has a top speed that makes it less enjoyable on rivers that have long pools between rapids. I like it on the loop at the Lower Yough but I wouldn't take it to Bruners. For a C1 with no edges it still gets quickly to where you propel it over short distances. It jet ferries out of eddies as forcefully as my edgier boats. I think it is growing on me over time. I have to say I've only been out in ti twice this year, as I've been spending more time in my OC tandem with family and friends.
The only thing I have not tried yet is side surfing. I've heard rumours that it is a good side surfing boat. I just envision this boat will surf at the very bottom of the hole given it's rounded hull and will be hard to climb out. My edgier boats surf half way up the pillow and I have confidence I can drive out the end.

When I first demoed it on the NB Potomac I felt very comfortable in it. I wish there were some posts by others that have paddled it more than me. I don't have a reliable roll anymore so I can't comment on how easy or harder that may be.

It will be a good boat on creeky runs that have a lot of flow through narrow gaps, but shallow runs would be hard on the hull and the psychy. If I were 20 years younger I would go for the slicier low volume boats that let you put the wings into the current and see what happens, and I still have my Atom and Viper for those rare occasions when I can bare the lower and more confined cockpit.

I don't regret getting the Storm Chaser, again it is a boat that grows on you.

[Mikey B]

Thanks...it's a great looking boat, hope to tedt drive one someday