C-Forum

I'm looking at the post in the for sale section advertising a Viper C1 "squirt boat". The boat is listed as full cut and I thought the full cut Viper was more or less an all around boat. Is there a squirt version of the Viper or do I have the wrong impression of what a Viper is? If it is the kind of boat I'm thinking of, how would a full cut Viper be for a person of 6'5" 205lbs wanting to use the boat as a river runner, mild surfing and cruising. I'm from VA and it gets pretty boney out he at times and the rocks in the James here in Richmond have been compared to cheeze graters so I don't think I would be wise to paddle it much there at lower water or is a glass layup tougher than I think. Regardless I just like the Vipers, I've only been paddling WW for about 2 years now and have been thinking about one for about 6 months, they just look COOL and like they would be a hoot to paddle

My Viper is full cut. It's not a squirt boat. It is a great all around boat. It's fast, spins on a dime, & stable. The stern does have an edge that took a little getting used to for me. Stern squirts are effortless. Weighing up to 194, I have not been able to transition from stern to bow stations. There is just too much volume in the bow. I can get a bow squirt on the right eddy-line though.

I bought a 1/2" cut Acrobat to cure the problem . The Acrobat will go pretty much where ever your skills will allow. This boat is teaching me some new tricks . I'm getting comfortable on the bow now. I've also adjusted my stroke to allow myself to paddle upstream without going into a bow stall.

Looks like you're a big guy. You should try a Viper. Be sure that you can get out though. I have the slalom sized cockpit opening. I've got size 9 feet & have to wear ______Mart water shoes that will come off easily. My good NRS shoes get stuck under the stern deck. You may want to look for a Viper with the larger cockpit opening.

Glass is not super fragile, but I try not to get carried away. I cracked my boat without even hitting a rock . I was backsurfing on a big foam pile & slipped down into the trough. The fast green water attempted to rip the stern off of the boat.

I've only done the James twice, so I'm not sure what level would be safe for glass (although "safe level" varies from boater to boater). Kneal?

Hi, Marshall. You HAVE to give me a call and try out my Viper. It is a full cut and I weigh 180+ lb. It was sold to me as a full cut and I am just enjoying the DAYLIGHTS out of that boat ! The Viper IS a squirt design--a squirt boat is designed to have either end (usually the stern) sink underwater on demand (or unintentionally ). The Viper is not a "mystery" squirt boat (they are radically low-volume and are designed to have the WHOLE boat, including the boater, disappear underwater). There have been times that I have had the Viper completely submerged underwater--pretty cool .

My number is (804) 405-3767. Right now, the James is really good for trying it out. I am heading up to western Md./WVa./Pa area for some boating and to host the April Armada I organized. If you can make that trip, you will be able to try the boat there.

So far, I used the Viper on the James last Saturday at 10 feet and had a REALLY great time. It is even better now that I adjusted the thigh pads and back rest for me. Still need to outfit the "Mad Dog" hip grabbers.

Let me know,
Neal (KNeal)

P.S. Go to the cboats c-1 rec. page, scroll all the way to the bottom and click on the Viper link. You will get more information and lots of nice pics to look at.

Hey Marshall, it was good to meet you yesterday. You should have joined us for the downtown section. At 1st break I had trouble keeping the bow up on the 2nd wave. The Viper loved the 1st wave though ! Hollywood wasn't too tricky . I ran most of it sideways. The only place that the stern wanted to sink on me was pipeline. Even then, it didn't feel out of control. I guess I wasn't paddling aggressively enough.

The level was 6' (1st time I'd run it at that level). I'd say it was a great level for the Viper.