C-Forum

Greetings! I got into k1 last year but the OC boats always intrigued me so I recently siezed the opportunity to intercept an h2pro on its way to the recycle bin. It is in amazingly good shape for its age and still had the thigh hooks and lashing in place. I had a blast letting the wind blow me around in circles on my pond but my homeade saddle needs some more whittling and I need to find some bags before I go on moving water. The owner had the original documentation and sales slip but the owner's manual was kind of a generic Old Town Canoe manual with nothing specific so I have not been able to find a lot of information on this boat.

Does anyone know the factory specs for maximum load? I found an image scan of the old Old Town marketing brochure but it appeared to list the weight capacity as a blurry 820 lb so I think someting may have got smudged in the copy process.

Also, I have read several places and been told these are often set up as tandems. Looking at it appears to do so would entail moving the thwarts leaving little room for an air bag (not to mention the risk of the forward boater getting hit in the head with a paddle)unless the paddlers squeeze into the extreme ends of the craft. I have never paddled a canoe but it I wonder how it would ride that way. I plan on paddling solo most of the time but I would like the option of introducing a friend to CL I-II whitewater or paddling duo on flatwater. If anyone has some comments to offer on setting up the h2pro tandem it would help, or even better if someone has pictures!

Last but not least, are there alternative flotation options for a pauper? I was thinking of lashing in partially inflated 48" beach balls, or maybe large inner tubes. I hate to drop a chunk of change on bags then find out I should have got some other bag.

Oh yea, the paddle. I see $20 paddles listed as whitewater paddles. Will one of these do the trick to get started? At this point I am just looking to get on the water but I do not want something that will break the first time I get caught in a swirly.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

I like the beach ball idea, seriously. They're cheap, lightweight, and if they pop, just buy new ones. Hmmmmmmm.
JKaz

Seems to me the H2Pro is kinda small for a tandem setup, but that depends on how close y'all want to sit. To keep the outfitting fairly simple, check into getting a triple saddle. That way, you can do both tandem and solo paddling. As far as paddles are concerned, a $20 Mohawk paddle will do the job--just keep in mind that you do get what you pay--they should hold up for years.

KNeal

I have seen someone use beach balls as flotation but it is also was in an inflatable kayak I have also seen truck tubes they seem to work real good another cheap option is the pool air bags a 4/6 foot bag is $7:00
and they have smaller ones for 5 the draw back is they only have dump valves but and they might pop if any pressure is on them.but they are a heavy vinyl They might be hard to get now because they are out of season but some pool center may have them left over if not you can get them in the fall also watch ebay some times you can get real good deal on flotation

Cool! Thanks for the input! I have used a beach ball in my Kayak since the first time I went with a group and found out floatation was required. I buzzed up to the local discount store to grab a beach ball, pulled it half way around the stern pillar, then inflated it full enough to fill the volume and it has been there ever since.

I am trying to picture a triple saddle, don't believe I have ever seen one of those. I assume you would just inflate the bags around the section not being used?

I am going to town this week to stock up for the weekend, I now need to add a pool supply store to my list of stops! I will pick up a little of this and a little of that and see what kind of functional hillbilly setup I can get put together for under a C note total invested.

My first OC was an H2Pro. I wish I still had it to let new folks use. That thing was a tank...much stronger than the ABS on boats these days...then again it weighed more as well. Anyway, I can't imagine setting it up tandem for two adults...maybe for an adult and kid. I would think stability would be an issue with two adults. It has great primary stability but the secondary stability was not as good. Rolls very easily. Kind of slow but with enough power and skill can do any class rapid you wish.

I keep hearing about people that paddled the H2Pro tandem but I agree there just does not seem to be room unless maybe I move the thwarts to put in a triple saddle. This boat is a keeper even if I upgrade, though, because it is great for buzzing around my pond also. I do feel a bit like Hurcules when I heave it on top the SUV. I will start working on my roll as soon as I learn to paddle it.

I went looking for large beach balls but they do not seem to be very popular this year and pool supplies were all focussed on spring time maintenance so I had to imporvise a bit more:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/2ed27e7508791/

Not as much as I had to improvise my paddling technique! It was an easy run with only a couple Class II drops so I made most of the eddies and clumsy technique got me to the takeout dry. The next run I go on I will make sure there are some OC1 boaters around to show my how to properly paddle this thing but I thought I looked pretty cool, anyway:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/6f4b4b7508789/

My first OC1 was a H2Pro too, a big barge. But I ran up to class IV with it and liked the roomy comfort and big margin of safety. That was a while ago...

mralaska, I like the way the Orca fins stick out on top. Very classy. Although the flotation won't hold up on hard stuff. But for starters stay on class II max and enjoy being cool. That's the way!

It's harder to tie the beach balls in (they are great in closed areas like kayaks though.)

Friends use old blow up pool toys like Alligators....just lash it in good and away you go. Try for the bigger toys cause it's harder to collect up multiple crap that escapes from bag cages .
inner tubes are great and more puncture resistant but i think heavier?....at this point grab whatever works

cheap paddles...... get anything with a T grip and get out on the water
mohawk, Carlisle whatever....... if you feel like upgrading at a later date the cheap one is a back up
http://www.carlislepaddles.com/category ... ddles.aspx
they will flutter and bleed water and, and ,and you'll be out on the water in your price point having a blast so really..... who gives a large steaming pile of dog doo right?
beat the snot out of the boat and paddle and have a blast