C-Forum

My primary boat for the last 10 yrs. has been a 16ft. Blue Hole canoe. I am now in the market for a used white water canoe to learn to paddle more aggressive water. Does any one have recommendations on what's a good model to look out for? What was the "in" boat 5 or 6 years ago? There are lots of boats for sale in the $500-600 range, so I want to get something that will find itself on top of the car on weekends, not on the rack while the old Blue Hole gets to have all the fun.( my kayaks almost always stay home.)Thanks.

We need more information:

How much do you weigh?

What kind of rivers? Big water? Steep, technical? Class 2, 3, 4, 5?

How would you rate your current ability?

Anything is going to feel lightweight compared to the Blue Hole...

I'm 5'10" 175 lb. (180 by tomorrow) I've been paddling steady for 32 years. I will toss my Blue Hole in class 3, not much problems, but I usually use a 8' double blade paddle. My downfall in the ww canoe will likely be switching to a single blade.

Going from the Blue Hole and for a first solo boat I stay in the 12 to 13 foot range with softer chines. Mohawk probe 12, Dagger Encore, Whitesell Descender, Bell Prodigy x, Mad River Outrage, not the Outrage X. The Encore is my favorite of these. Most of these boats can be found on the used market if you look a little. As for new the Mohawk is the best buy.

Moving from a Blue hole tandem boat with a kayak paddle to a solo boat with a single blade will be quite a jump. At your size there are lots of boats out there, I chose these because I think the feel of the boat when you lean it over will be more like the Blue Hole. I woud paddle one of these boats, get the feel of the single blade and a boat that responds to more subtle movements and builds confidence.

When you are out on the water ask everyone you see with a boat different than your if you could try it out. Most will not have a problem with it.

Have fun

Trey

Mohawk is not the best buy new ( for what you get).

How aggressive do you want to go nor or in the near future ?

You can learn to drive in a Chevy or a Porshe but you are going to want to end up in the Porshe.

Now of days the Blue Hole is so far removed from the boats of today that it is kinda goin to be like learnin all over again

you need to paddle as many different boats as you can, and see what feels best for you. just ask, most will let you try for a few rapids...happy hunting!

Louie wrote:Mohawk is not the best buy new ( for what you get).

Ahmm - they still make the Viper, that might work.... I agree with above try, try, try... with such an extended knowledge base, you're past the newbie stage and have a definite type of boat already... otherwise my preference/suggestion - would be break the mold, swim a bit, and go for something with edges... because for offside control, that's what you need to carve on

vertpaddler wrote:I'm 5'10" 175 lb. (180 by tomorrow) I've been paddling steady for 32 years. I will toss my Blue Hole in class 3, not much problems, but I usually use a 8' double blade paddle. My downfall in the ww canoe will likely be switching to a single blade.

Greetings, vertpaddler. Thanks again for being there to take our wounded-rib paddler to the take out a month or two ago at Balcony. [James River in Virginia]

Happy to swap boats if you want to try out an Ocoee. I've never "strided" in a canoe like you do -- might make good footage.

You know the water. I think you'd get a kick out of something with some edges after about a day of getting used to it.

Ken

Hey, while you're waiting to try out other boats look at the technique link above and take that Blue hole out for some flat water drills to start to get used to a single blade.

Agreed. Scrap the double blade, and start practicing in the Blue Hole single blade. If youre in the VA area, there are a bunch of great resources, some free, for getting the basics. And its warm right now.

No Mohawk Viper, sounds agressive for your level, Probe would be better, or some of the other "X" boats.

Andy

Been canoeing for 30 +- years and ww canoeing for 6 years. Started with an XL-13 went to a Nitro, then a Vertige, then then an Taureau, back to a Nitro and now have an Ocoee. Sounds like your journey and mine have been similar. The Ocoee was too advanced for me until I had paddled the Taureau. Dumped the Taureau and went back to a Nitro. Paddle "paddlrs" Ocoee and haven't looked back. Try a Nitro for an excellent entry level play boat but keep your eyes out for a deal on an Ocoee. you'll be wanting one.

Hey,
Stick w/ the bh until yer up to speed w/ single blade - also the bh should be able to handle up to class iv - dont discount a longer canoe just because most people abandoned the paradigm for whitewater - theyre just as good or better than anything out there -
easy, LB

That seems to be along the lines of what people are suggesting. Anyone got any experience with it yet?

I have been paddling a probe 14 for the past couple of months. It's a big boat when paddled solo but it still has some performance. I took it down Section 4 (Chattooga) recently with no problems. I am keeping my eye out for a used Viper 12 though.

Andy