Thoughts on the Perception Overflow X as a C-1 conversion?

[boatbuster]

I was given one by a friend and have been working on the outfitting. It had almost none in it (other than the pedestal) and I have installed a bulkhead, knee pads, ankle blocks and hip pads. Seems to be a good fast boat that should be good for creeks. It definitely turns a little better than the Cascade I was paddling. If anyone else has converted on I would to hear about your experience and what kind of water you paddle it on.

Thanks

[cheajack]

The OverflowX is the best C1 conversion I have ever paddled. Poor primary stability as the only negative. Great secondary stability, fast, responsive, resurfaces very well. Only problem I had was that I had to get the saddle height down to about 6" or a little less before it stopped feeling tippy. By then I could only stay in it about two hours without crying.

[ezwater]

Cheajack.... Fast?? The Overflow X? Only relative to new school playboats. My old Corsica would whip an Overflow or Overflow X in any measure of speed, and the Corsica is SLOW.

The Overflow X was designed at a time when people believed that a lot of volume and no sharp edges made for good creek and river handling. We are over that by now.

This guy is already into converting his OX before asking us if it would work. I suggest that after he gets done, he paddle it a while and then try, for comparison, the first Critical Mass or Mega Rocker conversion he encounters.

Or, maybe not. If he can roll that OX, he will be safe enough, and happier than if he knows the truth.

[cheajack]

Sorry! I guess I'm still stuck in old school and length and volume translate to hull speed. And I said it was the best conversion I had ever paddled. Compared to the Rock-it, Blunt, Z, I do think it was fast. Maybe not as fast as a Savage Skreem but hey that's still old school. My biggest problem is I don't like to spend a lot of money for hulls and hence I stay three or four generations back. Besides some one gave him the hull remember. And it will be easy to roll - in both directions!

[boatbuster]

Thanks for your input. Your experience Cheajack seems identical to mine so far. The boat is tippy because the bottom is so rounded, so a low seat (and resulting discomfort) is needed. I just need to get it to the pool and do a bunch of roll practice in it to see if I have tweaked the outfitting correctly. I have already run it down a couple of class III 10-foot drops and it handled well, but the lack of hip grippers at the time made it too loose.

The stern on that puppy is huge which is nice. I would however like to try a flat bottomed, hard-chined conversion sometime because I love my superfly so much. I think a super EZ might be great for a 180-pound 6-footer such as myself because it has a monster cockpit.

[boatbuster]

Re. The Overflow X was designed at a time when people believed that a lot of volume and no sharp edges made for good creek and river handling. We are over that by now.

Not necessarilly. I paddle both displacement and planing hulls and like them both for different reasons. The boat is 10 feet long so it is pretty fast

Re. This guy is already into converting his OX before asking us if it would work. I suggest that after he gets done, he paddle it a while and then try, for comparison, the first Critical Mass or Mega Rocker conversion he encounters.

It was a free boat and I have no money in the outfitting so what's to lose? I would love ot paddle one of those other C1s you mention. If you have them, please bring them to TenneC-Fest so I can try them.

Thanks, Gary

[ezwater]

I, personally, have not done a kayak to c-1 conversion, though I did convert a c-1 to kayak.

No CM or MR to bring, but >might< bring my Wide Ride, though I will be using mainly my Synergy on the rivers. Much more comfortable in winter clothing.