C-Forum

Hey everyone,

I remember a while back Corran was asking what kind of new C-1 people want. I want to ask a slightly different question:

If a company was going to make a new plastic C-1, what kind of boat would you rather it be: a "creek boat" or a "play boat" or some sort of compromise boat, like the Atom??

Also, if you could design your own type of boat, what would it be?

I used to think that if I could make a creek boat as wide as the Cascade, with a Cascade hull, but cut it down to about 9 feet long, that would be the perfect creek boat. But now I have the Necky Blunt, which for me is almost the perfect creek boat, and so I dont dream as much about building a boat.

But I'm curious what other people would buy or would design . . .

Alden

I would go for a all out play boat, which can do all the moves and still be ok for river running. Not slow and bobbly like the kayaks are as C1's. All so I would design a surf C1 I love the beach but getting a good ride in so hard in a Space Cadet cause you have to take off too late and my AMP's nose likes to dig in if I drop too fast from the top to the bottom.
I often think about making myself a fiber glass surf canoe, but I know it would be very hard to do, but a lot of fun as well and I know almost what I want. It would be some where between 2.5 and 2.8meters long with a kicked up noise, hard edge, caved in side walls and a squared tail and of cause fines on it as well. But thats a one day project when I have a bigger car shed.

Wayne.

I want the boat that lets me paddle like Alden.

Let me put it in perspective: when I paddle my Slasher my friends are fond of calling it "the Splasher". Summary: I am fortunate when I can keep the boat upright, so what I really want is a boat that makes me look good in it.

Now that is a pretty rigorous demand, so to finish my dream: light weight, decent hull speed and really stable for creeking. It also probably needs to come with a year of lessons if I am going to actually look competent in it.

Jim

Last year I drew a bunch of designs. Now they're useless . The river was real high for 11 months. When it finally dropped enough to have rapids again the wave had changed. Now we have a steep breaking wave. The boats that were great in '02 are not getting great rides now. The 'new' wave (no pun intended ) likes shorter boats. Now I'm thinking of something less than 7' for park & play. Priorities are:
1 - Surf like a feind on the local wave.
2 - Surf like a feind on the local wave.
3 - Surf like a feind on the local wave.
4 - Not break when it hits the rocks that moved.
5 - Go verical. (both ends)
6 - Spin effortlessly on the local wave.
7 - Wide enough to be stable w/ an 8" high seat.
8 - Be fast.
9 - A decent cockpit opening. This'll look kind of weird, but be comfy & functional.

How would a 7' long Viper perform? Just shrink the length, not the width. You'd probably have to add some depth to keep it on the surface.

Have you seen the new Angst 'yak? From just looking at the photos I think this could be a neat C-1 if the deck were designed for us & it were a little wider. http://angstkayak.com/otherboats/narthex/

My son converted a LL Hoss. It is a cross between the LL creekers and play versions.

It is shorter than my GTX and has a more rounded bow. Just might be something to get into if you are interested.

CN

Alden,
Your thoughts about the Cascade were right on. It would be a much better creek boat if it retained the original dimensions and shape but was shortened to something slighlty over 9 ft. That boat would probably perform very well.

Wayne: The John Frachella Viper (a glass C1) is a great surf boat. It is fast and tends to stay in front of the wave giving a nice long ride. I'm hanging onto mine ( a very tough layup made by New Wave about 10 years back) for that reason. You might be able to buy one used.
Who's got the mold I wonder?
SYOTR,
Bruce

PS Composites will still make the Viper, as they have one of the molds. There are also 2 for sale in the Boats for Sale section right now, including a really sweet 1/2 cut one (which, depending on your size, is either a hot playboat or a squirt boat (albeit one over 10').