C1 market

[Louie]

on the US Jr. that think they know everthing I can give you their phone numbers and let you talk to them. Let me know when you're call them I want to be there when they answer the phone and you tell them who you are. I'll have a camera.

[msims]

Corran-

OMFG UR SUCH A )(*@$%)(* and )*(#%)*% .... futhermooore )(*%)(*@%~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[signed anonymous]

(oh, isn't this b0atwerks.n3t? my mistake...)

Corran are you just trying to the small faction of yakkers that hate any non-yakker on the river! (ie. first surfboards now c1's)....

In all seriousness- thanks for thinking of the C-market- This is probably one of the best loc's for cboating feedback. We're all so polite (EH)...Hope you got the answers you need.

ps... what about a c1 ocean surf boat?

[Sir Adam]

Ocean surf boat? Already out...try the Groove:). And check out the Massive promo video from 1997, and you'll see some nice footage of the Groove Yak "conversion" (yes, Ian did make the Groove in a Kayak version as well...) surfing in the ocean. I've had mine out a few times in maine...it's a real rush:)

[LHTC1]

Based on the number of Wheelboys being sold, and the lack of a marketing budget by Drakkar/ name recognition/ paddler awareness , I'd guess that a good playboat design or good river runner w/some play would sell 100-200 units / year.
I often get into a conversation on the river that could be distilled to - other boater "Why do you paddle an Atom?" me "Because until the Wheelboy came out it was the last C-1 that was designed to be a C-1" other boater "What's a Wheelboy" This conversation often takes place with someone paddling a kayak conversion. - Lee

[Craig Smerda]

As much as things CHANGE they stay the same.... http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1577420

Man... is this an old thread or WHAT?!?!?!?

With the "rebirth" of the river-running kayak designs (think R.P.M.) that you can play in being brought back into manufacturer's lines. I would have to say that you may be onto something. The Atom was (IMO) not a great boat but OK, the Fink will certainly fit a niche market but I don't forsee it having too much play potential. Designing a C1 that you can river run, and still play at the better spots on the river is a good idea. Granted, the boat might not link ends, or throw blunts and loops, but big-air enders are still fun and a stable platform breeds confidence.

It would be ideal to see a larger cockpit in width, and height, for good volume and the potential to use... dare I say it???... adjustable footpegs!.... AND a taller saddle for comfort of the bigger fella's.

The sad reality in my view is that there are so few C-boater's vs. the enormous amount of kayaker's especially in the US market. There seems to be a new kayak design every other week which is also IMO hurting the boat manufacturer's market. You can purchase a brand new kayak left on a dealer's shelf for at least a third off during the same year. Where as a new canoe might loose a $100 in value if it is a good design... take the Ocoee for example. The boat has been out for over 10 years now and it has finally in the last few years "really" taken off... Bell purchased it from Dagger/Watermark for "some" reason. If you are working with a manufacturer who has patience and doesn't demand high sales of the boat initially, the long term reward may be there. C-boater's are the slowest to change boat's and that is a double edged sword for us.

Lastly it would be great to see more folks trying this side of the sport. Many of the really good c-boaters of the last few years have stopped paddling competitively or altogether for various reasons. It would be great to see another manufacturer step up and really support and promote C-boating. Robson (a small company) has been a big surprise of the c-boat's. The Fink and CUFly (daring designs?) alone speak volumes where as Watermark and Confluence have pulled away from due to low sales figures. Pyranha has given us two great boat's in a plastic that is durable, and come outfitted! Esquif is also one to be proud of and I give a hat's off to Bell who has jumped headlong into whitewater.

It would great to see some new video's out there as well as articles in magazines, etc. It's up to us as a group of paddlers to do this though... as the publisher of a magazine reminded me this weekend.

Sorry I went long on this... but if "we" want new design's... well we have to buy them rather than convert them... and I'm recently guilty of that.

Thanks for your interest Corran!
Craig

[ezwater]

Decker, you ought to put yourself on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. You'll dredge up virtually any old thread to see what it's worth.