If you could have....

[Craig Smerda]

... a C1 (not a conversion) that was..

(A) a capable river runner--say capable on solid classIV cruising
(B) play friendly-- good for surfing and mild hole play
(C) outfitted for more than one person to use or try
(D) attainable-- in other words.. easily availible

... what would you like to see in this *new* boat that you designed. Remember it can't be play, race, or creek specific so weigh all of these things together. A capable cruiser.

(I'm not doing one but I am curious to see what I would like versus others)

Craig

[CosmikDebris]

I was just thinking about this yesterday after paddling my 6'2" tub around for a while. I'm sick of paddling short little boats that are only really fun to paddle on a wave or in a hole. Maybe on flatwater if you are into that kind of thing. What I REALLY want is a boat that is at least 7 feet long, probably about 7'3" or 7'4" that has ample volume in the ends so that it will ride over the water and not plow through it. Surfing is fun, so it would be nice for it to be fast and release well from the water for spins and blunts. And small enough to toss some ends in a hole. Not a full on playboat, but something like a pyranha I:4 or whatever there new "do it all" boat is. Maybe I should just get an X or something.
I get so bored with playboating that I can't really justify having a tiny little spud boat. Plus, I don't think any of the new sub 6' boat's I've used have been particularly well suited for C1. I want something that will gracefully run down river, toss a few ends on the way, surf well, and splat rocks like a mofo.
Will.

[Mike W.]

(A) - My full cut Viper is fully capable on the lower Gauley. It made me look like I knew what I was doing. I love the speed, it will punch big nasty holes & it will stern squirt on flat-water.
(B) - It surfs green waves with a long wave-length. A shorter version would be better for holes. Maybe something in the 8' range.
(C) - Most folks don't like my "booster seat". One of the things about c-boaters is that I think most of us spend a lot of time outfitting our boats just for ouselves. What I find comfortable scares the heck out of some folks. I've been in some boats that have such low saddles that it takes 10 minutes of paddling before my butt ever gets that low.
(D) - Easily available...C-Boat...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hee hee hee

I'd be interested in a Viper-like boat that is shorter, but maintains the speed. It's got to have a good stern for squirts. I actually think that my Viper stern squirts are more controlled than my Acrobat's. I have only been in Atoms a couple of times, but I'm very curious about the glass version. I think the Atom could be a real neat boat if it were lighter & at least had the stern cut down.

There is no perfect boat. Every design is a compromise. Most aspects of every boat are compromises. Example: There is a big dent in the bow of my wildwater boat. I'm debating whether to resore the original rake to the bow (which will help me glide up & over rocks) or to make a plumb bow like a flatwater boat (which would increase the waterline length &, theoretically make it a hair faster. Also making rock encounters a bad experience.)

[CosmikDebris]

It would actually be kind of cool to have a super itty bitty creekboat design. You know, like 6'8" but with some rocker so that all those wheelchair 80cfs runs would be safer than running them in a playboat. I think I might get the dood from honey I shrunk the kids to shrink my blunt down to about half the size.
will

[CraigS]

...needs little CO2 rocker boosters too right Will?

[the great gonzo]

I think a good allround cruiser with excellent play potential is already out there! It is the full cut Shaggy Sith!

a) Good speed due to decent length and stability due to width,

b) Ends low enough in volume to throw down in holes, planing hull and hard chines, surfs, spins and carves nicely. (If you want a more playful boat, get a cut down and shortened one).

c) outfitted with a molded in composite saddle and thigh straps, holds you in solidly, can (if you use removable foam blocks to hold your knees) used by people of all kinds of sizes.

d) there is the problem, they are rare beasts!

martin

[Mike W.]

I sure would like for somebody to bring a Sith to the Armada! That's one hot looking boat
http://cboats.net/recboats/sith.shtml

[CraigS]

http://www.shaggydesigns.com for the Sith or Jedi... but they are oversea's. Nice looking boats.

[the great gonzo]

Craig, no they are not really overseas any more, Martin lives in Toronto now, and Gwyn works on the Ottawa as a raft guide during the summer.

They will move the mold for the Sith over here in April and then they will stat to build boats here. I have ordered a Sith, cut by 3/8" and shortened to ~7'7", I should get it sometime in May.

Mike W., unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the Armada this year, but if anyone want's to try it you can get in touch with me, or, if you happen to be paddling the Ottawa during the rafting season, go to RiverRun and ask for Gwyn or Martin, they will let you try their boats.

martin

[CosmikDebris]

I think that the Jedi looks like a cool boat.
Will

[the great gonzo]

Yes, it does. I have never paddled it though, liked the Sith (planing hull).
There is actually also a Jedi at RiverRun on the Ottawa, I it belongs to one of the staff there, but if you ask around , you might be able to test paddle it as well.

martin