Taureau Outfitting and Paddling Suggestions

[AJ]

I had the opportunity to paddle my Taureau for the first time this past weekend on Waterton Canyon III+/IV- run at 420cfs. I have paddled it two other times on easy class II as I worked on outfitting adjustments.

I am 185lbs, 5’9” advanced intermediate (not advanced) paddler. In comparison to my Ocoee and Skeeter, the Taureau is light, quick and nimble. However, with my current outfitting, it does not feel stable or predictable. I feel like sometimes I am riding a bobber, it feels top heavy, and way more edgy then my Ocoee, I am definitely not confident paddling it yet.

For example, when hitting easier eddys on my on side the boat sometimes wants to go over on my on side to the point I have to through in a low brace to bring it up. It seems top heavy?

I had one fast on side peel out that I got flipped to my off side for a little swim. I guess I didn’t lean it don stream enough? The boat seems very hard to roll in comparison to my other boats (I am not a good roller to begin with). Ferries and upstream maneuvers in strong current are also difficult, which I expected in a boat like this.

So maybe I am not an aggressive enough/good enough paddler yet (I am trying to work up front); my outfitting is not right; need more time in it; or I suck.

In terms of outfitting, my saddle is 7.5” high. From my knee imprints in the foam on the floor it looks like I can push my knees out another 1” to 1.5” before hitting the end of the edge of the foam and the side. The boat trim is also front high.

So I sanded out the outside of the knee holes allowing me to push my knees further out to point where I may need to add foam to the inside of the knee holes. Or I might add a 1” to 1.5” piece to the back of the saddle to push me forward into the bigger knee holes and balance out the trim a little more.

Any suggestions?

[Mikey B]

AJ,
I know I cut my foam out until I could feel my knees hitting the side of the boat...and I had to glue foam on the inner edges to tighten the fit back up. I also trimmed a little bit of the sidewall foam to allow for the wider stance. I think this will make a ton of difference for you. I know it made mine feel much more stable and not having that floating bobber on edge feeling.
I feel like it is a bit harder boat to roll than all the others I have/had. I have to really push with my offside knee hard as I initiate the hip snap. I also think it was a bit of a mental thing as it was harder than my other boats and if I missed my first roll, I would start to rush things. It does get easier and is pretty easy if your technique is good.
As for trim, I'm 6' 185 lbs and the front edge of the back of the saddle is 3 1/2" from the cockpit cutout or 12" from the outside edge of the raised part of the hull/rim if that makes sense.
Mike

[philinasheville]

AJ,

Thanks for posting this. I just picked up a Taureau this weekend, immediately cut the saddle from 9 inches to 7.5. It felt very unstable, much like what you are explaining. I just cut another inch off the saddle (6.5 now)and cut a little off the inside allowing my knees to reach the outter edge of the boat. I will know tomorrow evening if it made a difference and will post back. I'm 5'9 180lbs.

Phil

[Louie]

I think we are forgettin the basic. Don't change to fit the outfittin, change the outfitting to fit you. Let start at the beging, how is the boat trimmed out? Are you stern heavy, set level or bow heavy? I'm 5'8" and weight 160 and the factory outfitting had me setting level, my type of boatin I ain't too worried about being able to bury my bow to start some stupid Kayak trick. I want to lean forward to go nutral and keep from sterm squirtin, but mainly I want to lean back to raise my bow over some wave or boof. The factory outfittin is great and they have done their best to place it in the rigjht palce for the most people they can but it is up to you to get it where it works best for you. In my case I cut three inches off the back rest of the saddle to move back three inches. raised the seat a half inch and had to add a half inch of foam in the top part of the knee holders, but by moving back I was able to spread my knee to the out side with out havin to cut any foam.

[AJ]

OK, I am really encouraged by your responses. Once I get the boat to a predictable, non edgy/top heavy handling feel, this boat seems like it would be a lot of fun for our Front Range creeks and lower water runs. I am hoping a few minor changes will achieve the stability that I am looking for.

I know my Ocoee was squirrely at first, until got the outfitting right. I will first try to get my knees all the way out to the outside of the boat and see how that works. I am hoping that I don't have to go to 6.5" on saddle height.

I want to leave the boat bow light, but maybe not as much as it is now. So I am going to add about 1/2" to the back rest to push me forward and tight in the knee holes, so I don't have to add foam to inside of the knee holes and make it a little less bow light.

I did cut out side wall foam for my calfs. I might have to carve side wall for my thighs, once I get my knees out to the edge. It is a process of change and try right now.

[philinasheville]

AJ,

I just tried my Taureau after the above listed modifications and it feels MUCH MUCH more stable! I even rolled the boat 4 out of my 5 practice attempts. I really feel ready to try it on Class 3-4 now!

Good luck with yours!
Phil

[AJ]

Well, I sanded the side walls, outside of the knee wells, and added foam to the inside of knee wells and the boat feels much better and morerpredictable and I can roll it!

Coming from open boats, I do like the skirt. Needless to say, the boat is much warmer and drier. I really noticed it after surfing my Skeeter this past weekend and having all of that mid 30 degree water pouring over my legs in low 60 degree weather. I couldn't wait to get back into the Taureau! Also, the skirt thing is really a motivation to hit your roll and stay in that warm cockpit.

I have one follow up outfitting question for you Taureau owners. After paddling this boat 6 times, my bulk head is a little loose from side to side. I don't notice this when paddling the boat. However, I was thinking about squeezing in foam between the saddle and the side and or top to tighten it up. Seeing how there is very little room to work, I don't think I could use contact cement. Is there a foam to foam glue that I can position and let dry? Anyone else have this problem?

[boatbuster]

Did I miss something here? Is the Taureau now coming with a cockpit rim and available skirt to convert it from OC1 to C1? Not that I would ever consider doing such a thing!

[AJ]

You can order it with skirt combing. I hear ya, about the skirt. This is my first skirt, I hope it doesn't make my butt look big.

[Eric Nyre]

The Taureau with the coaming has a slightly different deck from the standard Taureau. Instead of the large opening, it's trimmed very small and a plastic cockpit coaming is installed. A Seals 1.2 Pro Randed skirt fits without any modifications. There is an upcharge for the coaming since it's an extra part and labor.

There isn't to my knowledge a retrofit that will take an OC Taureau and switch it to where you can use a skirt. Craig did his mods, which look cool, but are a bit extensive.

AJ might post more photos, or I'll have some on our Wiki when I get back from the Dolores.

[Mikey B]

AJ,
Glad to hear trimming the foam at the knees worked. Have fun in that baby
Mike