WheelBoy playability on the river
Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 12:41 am
Playability, that exactly describes the WheelBoy in play on the river. My stats are 6' 185 lbs.
OK, I've given my WB review in the pool. Now it's time to review how it performs at the play hole. I've been to the river three times and the WB behaves differently in the current. The WB is edgier than I expected on those sharp and fast eddy lines -- so my first ferries were not too impressive. What I quickly discovered is the WB really tracks well when the bow is under water and on edge. This is very nice and my ferries are back on track.
In the hole, what I've found is you need to keep good upright and balanced posture and just trust the WB's floating hull -- and float it does. Spins are a real pleasure to execute and just plain simple.
The hole is still a bit shallow, so I've not been able to really get it cartwheeling on a consistent basis.
Everywhere I go, all the kayakers drool over the WB. Because I have one of the first WB's off the press, there are no labels, grab loops, or drain plug. Marko, I can't believe how many people learn about Drakkar because they all want to ask me about the boat. I've seen kayakers have the AHA moment -- they see the WB's design, the body leverage advantage, and the fact that it's just plain cool to be in a WB.
It's still going to be a couple of weeks before the big wave holes are running -- I can't wait!
Larry Horne, sounds like you are really turning heads over there in Northern California. Bruce, you better get that WB fast. If you give Larry too much of a head start you will always be boating in his shadow.
To all you Pacific Northwest WB owners, we need to plan a gathering of the WBs at the Reno WW Park. When is the best water play in Reno? We definitely need to capture some video footage at this one...Wheel-on!
For those of you that know Tom Long and his sons Trent and Kenneth of the C1 slolom fame, they run local pool sessions here in Boise and everytime I'm there with the WB, they always have to give it a spin. Every C1 boater that's tried my WB agree, it's a super fun boat.
Bob
OK, I've given my WB review in the pool. Now it's time to review how it performs at the play hole. I've been to the river three times and the WB behaves differently in the current. The WB is edgier than I expected on those sharp and fast eddy lines -- so my first ferries were not too impressive. What I quickly discovered is the WB really tracks well when the bow is under water and on edge. This is very nice and my ferries are back on track.
In the hole, what I've found is you need to keep good upright and balanced posture and just trust the WB's floating hull -- and float it does. Spins are a real pleasure to execute and just plain simple.
The hole is still a bit shallow, so I've not been able to really get it cartwheeling on a consistent basis.
Everywhere I go, all the kayakers drool over the WB. Because I have one of the first WB's off the press, there are no labels, grab loops, or drain plug. Marko, I can't believe how many people learn about Drakkar because they all want to ask me about the boat. I've seen kayakers have the AHA moment -- they see the WB's design, the body leverage advantage, and the fact that it's just plain cool to be in a WB.
It's still going to be a couple of weeks before the big wave holes are running -- I can't wait!
Larry Horne, sounds like you are really turning heads over there in Northern California. Bruce, you better get that WB fast. If you give Larry too much of a head start you will always be boating in his shadow.
To all you Pacific Northwest WB owners, we need to plan a gathering of the WBs at the Reno WW Park. When is the best water play in Reno? We definitely need to capture some video footage at this one...Wheel-on!
For those of you that know Tom Long and his sons Trent and Kenneth of the C1 slolom fame, they run local pool sessions here in Boise and everytime I'm there with the WB, they always have to give it a spin. Every C1 boater that's tried my WB agree, it's a super fun boat.
Bob