C-Forum

Anyone paddled a rodeo? DOes it surf well?

...every boat has it's wave grasshopper....

give us some more info to guide you on your way

(Sorry, I just saw an old KUNG FU (the TV show) recently and I've been dying to use that phrase..)

I spent a summer in a Honcho and learned to surf. I just can't seem to get past the "death factor" of being in a kayak. I've got too many little kids running aorund the house now. I guess, is surfing a short canoe like throwing a kayak into a wave? Is it the same concept? Obviously, these are newbie questions so please be kind:)

I had one for several years. It was a great boat, and it surfed well. It has an edge, though not as edgy as a viper, and can flip you quickly when you get sideways in a hole if you are not careful. The ends of the boat are lower than a lot of boats, so you can sometimes get enders, but on the downside it will sometimes fill with water.

It is made of "R-Lite" and going down creeks took its toll - I had to patch the boat several times.

I have a Prelude now - most fun boat I have ever paddled. So far it seems very durable.

Kevin

What's your opinion of the Pelude? How's it for larger paddlers?

What's your opinion of the Pelude? How's it for larger paddlers?

I've sat in the prelude (i really cant say i've paddled it as i've only done a few ferries and a bout 15 mins in a pool session). My opinion is it's a little small for larger paddlers... too much boat in the water. I also found it really hard to roll...not sure why... (oh, perhaps it's because i only learned to roll the week before)...or perhaps because the outfitting was too tight, i was 2" off the seat! .... Anyway, compared to Ocoee/Nitro, rolling was really difficult.

How's that for an informed helpful opinion!

The problems mike had in my Prelude are, IMHO mainly due to the fact that it is outfitted to fit me perfectly (I am 6'2" and 180 lbs, while Mike is at least 6'5" and probably around 220 lbs), and since Mike is taller and bigger than me, he did not fit all the way into the saddle and was falling out when upside down. Once it is properly fitted for your size and height, rolling it is no problem.

I think it is good for at least 220 to 230 lbs. Pyranhas sizing chart even suggests something like 260 lbs, but I don't know about that.

The main complaint I get when people paddle my Prelude is that they don't like the lack of primary stability, but on the other hand it has excellent secondary stability, and that's what counts.
I test paddled mine last year on the Kipawa River during the rally weekend(Big water, mostly class 3-4, some class 4) and I liked the boat so much that I bought it on Monday.
The Prelude is performance wise pretty much a shortened, somewhat higher performance Ocoee.

martin

I paddle a rodeo and absolutely love it...It's my first OC-1 and it was a pretty steep learning curve because it's kind of tippy compared to some boats (e.g., Probe, Prophet, Ovation) Hard chine in the middle let's you carve...Displacement ends makes enders an absolute blast! Great surfer (short length helps you get into small waves and holes) and flat hull in the middle makes it spin pretty well on the wave/hole. Sheer is pretty flat, so if you flip on your offside it's really easy to whip right around and roll up. I've got it bagged out and lots of extra foam in the cockpit to displace water (Without these additions, it can be pretty darn sluggish when full of water). I haven't noticed the R-lite wearing too much, but then again I don't do a lot of steep creekin'.

-Kevin

Not sure about the Prelude for larger paddlers - I am 5'9" about 155 pounds. For me it is perfect. Another plus it has over the Rodeo is that once I roll up it is still stable enough/maneuvarable enough to make it through the rest of the rapid. I have rolled in the middle of the Olympic section on the Ocoee and made it down quite a ways through some big rapids until I could get to an eddy.

It has the foam bulkhead system, the Rodeo had the Mohawk thigh retainer. I like them both about equal. The drawback to my system is that it is set up for me, and only me - so really no one else is comfortable in my boat.

Kevin