C-Forum

Well, since it got ALL the way up to 15 degrees, and the water wasn't completely frozen in front of my in-laws (it IS frozen all the way across at our house), I decided to take the almost-completed Mentor for a little spin...right at dusk.

A few notes:
1) Seams are not beautified yet, but they are water tight!!
2) I need to put a back-brace in to trim the boat out better... I knew this before hand, but didn't to see how much it mattered. I had to lean forward a bit to keep the bow level-ish.
3) It's faster than i expected, though I wasn't expecting much.
4) In some ways it's very much like the Maven - ridiculously easy to sink the ends.
5) In other ways, it is very, very different. Like in stability!
6) It's also wicked comfortable! Even with my "just toss it in" outfitting

So, on to the images!!

First, on the dock (note the ice and snow...as well as all the pretty patterns of ice on the dock. It was slippery...), and heading on in!


Now, IN the water. We had to lighten this image up a bit, as it was getting dark. In the first image I'm paddling right along, in the second I'm just sitting there - note that BOTH decks are 1" under water, and only the micro-turret and cockpit rim are out of water!! This is a "full cut" Mentor (nothing taken out) and I'm about 156 with no gear these days....



As previously mentioned, I need some foam behind me to keep me forward a bit. 2" should do it, or it may be overkill. But I'm going to wait to play with that until I have access to a nice warm pool!!!


All done..time to get warm!



Needless to say stern and bow pivots are a piece of cake. I'll try playing around in it a bit more once the trim is worked out...and the temps where I'm paddling are warm enough I don't mind a roll or three!

Surely a nice boat... The next goal for you might as well be a surfC1...

Congratulations on wetting her Adam. Looks great! I know you'll have big fun with it- and there's every chance you'll be roaming on mysteries in good arenas. That must have been real fun and satisfying to paddle. I'm sure you're going to have fun cranking that thing up once you get used to it. Now you just have to be sure you can tip it to bow light for easy cruising conditions- pick up yer speed- lean back- should work!


thanks for the report,
jim

SWEEEEEEET Glad to hear it's stable. After seeing you in the boat, I thought that cockpit design would be comfortable. Glad to hear that it is.

Looks like you nailed the volume for your weight. What's it gonna be like w/ another 40lbs

I hear ya on the coldness. It only got up to 42 today & water temp was a very chilly 51 Had to roll quick! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I can't imagine how awesome it's got to feel to paddle your own design. My hat's off to you again

Looks very cool Adam, Or at 15 is it just cold? All the moisture is solid here, wind chill of -45 this morning at work.

Aric

Thank you all for the kind words!

I'm relieved it floated as well (or rather didn't) as I'd hoped.

I'm frustrated I didn't get to play around more...BUT, given the temps, it was the wise thing to do.

15 was "warm" for the day...and though we're expecting 2' of snow (yes, that's 24") tomorrow, I'm not sure it will get that warm (usually when it snows it warms up a little, for you southern folks, but not always...though it will be mostly fluffy powder I suspect).

With the windchill it was below 0 here this morning as well...just cold.

Methinks if anyone out there wants a Mentor eventually a float cut will be the best way to go...I gather PS Composites float cuts almost all boats they build now, and I can understand why.

Looking good Adam!!!
Oh and in case you are wondering....
Up to an inch of rain in the mountains today in WNC, and it's still raining.
Next weekend is Mid 50's and more rain in the forcast.
I'll let you know when Cowbell is ready for ringin'.

huge

It's only rainin' down there because I'm leaving the country in the morning! You can thank me later!

adam, I am curious how it handles on the flat while trying to do a regular carving turn? just looking at the shape, I am curious how much edge you get? it looks great, and i am jealous of the boat... I really want to design my own boat...
cheers
-isaac

Good question, and one I hope to answer in more detail once I get to play around in it a bit more (the river here is now all frozen over, with snow on it...but I'm trying to track down a pool session (one may be starting up locally soon!))

The one thing to remember is that this boat, and all Cquirts, react differently with the water. Same 'rules', but remember that rather than a thin sliver of the boat having an "edge" in the water as your slalom boat does, the ENTIRE boat is under water, or at least level with it...so you can have the same, or more of an edge to work with.

My theory behind the not-quite-vertical sides around the paddler is that this would help serve as a bit of an edge to facilitate going straight...while hopefully not degrading spinability and mystery performance too much.

The big plus so far is how stable the platform appears to be:)

More once I get in some warmer (non-solid) water!

very nice Adam! Looks like the cut is good for you! Might be a tad small for some of us but then that might be a plus!
But it looks like there is plenty of room - seeing those shoe you had on and how wide your knees looked (out past your shoulders).
We look forward to more updates (pix and video) from the warmth of a pool as to tracking, squirting and play trials! Stay at it ... it looks pretty darn sweet.
Paul C.

Hmmm. Guess I'll have to order and XXL fullcut!

Really sweet looking boat, Adam. I'm really eager to see it in person, if not actually get to paddle it. Great colors on the boat, too, eh Mike!? Now to impatiently wait for the pool reports.

KNeal

Adam,
well, I could have given you enough HOT water to take all the ice off your river when my water heater just blew, sending tons of effing water everywhere in my newish apartment... it's cool though, I have nothing to worry about, I am upstairs.
anyhow, i have to wait for my maintenance guy, and out of a lack of nothing else to do, i had to post...
cheers
-isaac