C-Forum

i'm interested in a pyranha prelude, but don't really have the opportunity to demo. i fit the profile of a larger paddler - 230 lbs & 6 ft. tall. my past open boats have been a dagger genesis (comfy & stable) & a mad river outrage ( a bit twichy at my size, but fairly sporty & fun). my style of paddling is river running primarily class 2 to easy 3 with a little surfing along the way, & i want to do some easy to moderate creeking. i hear that the plastic on the prelude should wear better than ABS. any feedback on fit, performance, or durability for the type of paddling described would be appreciated. the prelude may not be the boat for my size & paddling style. if not, what would you recommend in the current offerings for OC1?
thanks,
trevor

No comparison between Prelude and boats like the Outrage. It seems to be based on the cut-down Ocoees used as creek boats. The Prelude makes 10-11 footers seem big and very stable- at first when you paddle it you wonder where the bow is because it's so small. However, you do adapt to it and it's a really fun boat but count on rolling a lot. Depends how much of a challenge you want- an Ocoee would be another option....
OC

Well, the Outrage and any other open boat in it's class feels like a big barge compared to the Prelude. The prelude is very much a shortened and narrower version of the Ocoee with more rocker. Primary stability is minimal, but once you lean it the secondary stability really kicks in. It is great in technical as well as in big water, it does not loose much of it's secondary stability once it takes on water, has tremendous maneuvrability and accelerates well, the only drawbacks it has are that due to it's shortness and rocker it does not track very well and is not overly fast.
That said, I weigh about 185 lbsand am about 6'2", which is probably close to the ideal range for this boat.
At 230 lbs and 6ft you are probably a bit too big for it. My friend Mike (he is in your weight range but about 5 inches taller) tried it out once and did not like it too much, it was quite obvious that it was a bit on the small side for him.
The best fit for you would probably be the Ocoee, or you could try out a Mohawk Viper.
I heard actually a rumor that Bell has purchased the mold for the Ocoee and is going to start making them next year. Anyone knows more about that?
Too bad all thise boats are royalex and not polyethylene, I think PE is the way to go!

martin

I e-mailed Bell and asked if it was true about them picking up the Ocoee...and was told they are going to be available early next year . What about some of the Esquif offerings as well?

Mikey B

Well, I have paddled the Nitro and Detonator from Esquif, but they did not really impress my, as they both felt somewhat sluggish and heavy.
Their Zoom is a good boat, it's fairly similar to the Prelude, same length, a bit less rockered.
But I'll take the durability of PE over royalex any day.
I have never paddled a Blast, but everybody I know who owns one really seems to love it as a tandem.

martin

I would say that you might be at the high end of the weight/height range of the Prelude for optimum boat performance (too bad it's not made in the 195/205/etc range like their kayaks!). This boat "wants" to be paddled aggresively to come alive. Saying it is a mini-Ocoee is about dead on (except for it's primary stability). I would agree with others and recommend an Ocoee or similar Esquif product to you.... and until Esquif release's their new non-ABS plastic.... it's sadly going to be of royalex.

I would recommend a Outrage as a round hull boat... hades Dana Henry whoops everyone every year with them... but he's no ordinary paddler either.

There is just something wonderful about a canoe with a true "edge" on it... snappy and responsive the way Frankie designed them and the outrage can't offer you that.

I paddle a Nitro, I'm about 6'5" and 230. Both the Nitro and the Ocoee are similar as far as being edgy, but the Ocoee is MUCH faster than the Nitro, and tracks better. I've been in a phantom, maxim, and a prelude, I all found them quite similar for someone my size. It felt like i was paddling a cork, and I spent more time trying to stay upright and on line. But then again I was beginner/intermdiate when I tried these boats, I still am not comfortable with no primary stability :-[

I'd go for an Ocoee if you can find it... It behaves like a small playboat for us bigger guys. The Outrage has similar lines to the rival, IMO.. It's big, round and sloshy. I havent paddled it but that's the impression i get.

What about the Robson Finenmeister? Im seriously considering that. It's still a single blade, that's what matters!