C-Forum

Hi,
Anyone have any oppinions about the MILLBROOK RIVAL ?

I'm basically a class II - III kayaker, weight 182, 6ft tall.
But next year, I'll go canoeist .
Looking for light weight OC boat for novice paddler.

I have had one for 2-3 years and love it, even if I do break it once and awhile. Very light and stiff you will never wnat royalex again.

better design, and make out of twin tex should be a hellva lot better than a rivel 1,2,3,4, or 5. Designs have improved a lot since the early 90's

The RIVAL is a good novice open canoe. It is fast and it has friendly edges.

The MILLBROOK RIVAL would also be a light open canoe. It would be even faster than the Dagger Rival (made with ABS).

The Rival is a very good design, and not just a beginer boat by any means. It will be even better in glass. It is fast, stable and surfs well. Chris Kelly

your CAPS LOCK BUTTON was stuck there bud!

As for the Rival it is a fast boat in a straight line. That's about all I like about it. It was my first wwcanoe. Painted a big sharks face on it, so that shows you how cool I was. The glass (KAZ) version is nice and the weight is better than Royalite. You must use Sta-bond to get outfitting to stick in the plastic version and they are notorious for de-laming inside and out. I paddled it for a season and bought an Ocoee... and haven't looked back since. Kaz also makes a few other boats you might look into like the "Defiant" or "Rumba" which might suit your dimensions better. One KAZ bonus... he can lay it up any way you like and change things like the depth if you want....

Craig Smerda wrote: Painted a big sharks face on it, so that shows you how cool I was.

That's really great !
Are there any pictures on the net?
I must check your shark face boat.

Craig Smerda wrote: Kaz also makes a few other boats you might look into like the "Defiant" or "Rumba" which might suit your dimensions better.

Thank's for your advise.
But I'm bit confused.

I can understand the longer Defiant (13'2" length) is better for 182lbs guy.
But Rumba (11'11" ) is shorter than the Rival (12'2").
The shorter boat less suit for heavy paddler?

Hello Motoari,
While the Rumba is shorter than the Rival, it still has lots of volume which helps float a heavier paddler.
JKaz

I am 6'3" and usually around 195lbs. I have a Defiant which is a great boat but I have paddled a Rumba and thought it was a more than enough of a plateform. As I have said here quite often, it will probably be one of my next boats.... or the Spark. Though it would be nice to be under 180... that much less of me to move around the river, I think that almost all of the smaller OC's are fine for someone 200lbs or less. The Phantom and the Zoom are some of the only boats that have been a wee bit small for me. I have not tried many of the X class boats (CU Fly, etc.) so don't have a good feel for their weight limitations. Go for a Rumba over the Fat Boy!!!

kaz wrote:it still has lots of volume which helps float a heavier paddler.
JKaz

Uuuuuum....

I'm turn into shorter boat .
I imagine to get over huge waves on RUMBA!
What a cool paddler I am.


But....
Does the RUMBA allow novice paddler on it?

Motoari,
There is a paddler in Japan that has a Rumba. His name is Arahata. He owns a canoe company called Green Lake. Perhaps you can meet him and test paddle his Rumba. That would help answer some of your questions. There are also a few Millbrook Rivals in Japan. Contact the Mitake Canoe Club for more info.
Good luck.
JKaz

Hey man, what is the paddlin' like in the land of the riseing sun?



"I was touched by His noodly appendage."

kaz wrote:Contact the Mitake Canoe Club for more info.

Thank you for your advise.

Fortunately, the Mitake valley is one of my kayak training course,
and sometimes met club member (IGNITOR riders ) on the river.

I'll contact them.

madmike wrote:Hey man, what is the paddlin' like in the land of the riseing sun?

November 13,2005 local canoe race photo at Mitake Valley in Japan.
http://www.photohighway.co.jp/tp/14_f.a ... a=&Type=14

There are many IGNITOR riders at Mitake Valley,
and I'm longing for their nice paddling.

Awesome! Who knew... That is more Valley Mill Boats at one race than are in the entire state of South Carolina...