C1 Questions and Recommendations Please
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:41 pm
My Taureau with combing (C1) has died and I can’t afford to spend the $$$ they want for another Taureau with such a limited life span, 70 days. I think a new one is $1,800.00! Overall, i enjoyed paddling it.
So I am now paddling my Skeeter, wet, heavy, and can not hit the meat with out feeling like your diggin in, paddling a sunkin log and dumping all of the time. I know, take the dry line, but that does not seem near as much fun to me as hitting the meat, been there and done that. So I want to find a kayak to convert to a C1, if I can find a good fit.
What I liked about the Taureau: 8' long 27" wide, dry/skirt, felt nimble/light, 7.75” saddle and I could bash through holes and meat and keep on paddling dry.
What I did not like: felt a little top heavy, hard to roll, on occasion tricky edge and hard to fairy on my offside. These issues maybe due to my lack of skill, but everyone I paddle with had no interest in paddling my Taureau for some reason.
I paddle class III/IV- rivers, creeks, and a little surfing. I prefer creekier levels and runs. I am not a play boater. I want a C1 that I can learn to be a better paddler, like learning to boof. I rarely boofed in my Taureau as it seemed flimsy and I did not want to damage it. Heck, it wore through the chine without me trying to boof stuff.
In researching hulls, it looks like a Super Hero or Mamba 8.5 seem to be good hull design, length, width, and volume choices for an all round C1 for me 5’9” 190lbs. These boats seem similiar to my Taureau dimensions, hull designs, and hopefully easier to roll, being lower profile.
Besides the hull shape, the key for me is going to be how high a saddle that I can use. My last saddle was 7.75” high and I had ankle blocks that were 2.5”. I could sit lower by lowering ankle blocks and stretching, but I really do not know how low I can go, bad knees from many years of tele skiing.
I would welcome your comments and opinions on the following:
- Boat recommendations
-What is the highest saddle do you think I can get away with?
-Also, I really think I want to go with a bulk head versus straps for easy exit and entry.
- If I find a kayak with similiar charcteristics as the Taureau will there be a big learning curve?
Thanks
So I am now paddling my Skeeter, wet, heavy, and can not hit the meat with out feeling like your diggin in, paddling a sunkin log and dumping all of the time. I know, take the dry line, but that does not seem near as much fun to me as hitting the meat, been there and done that. So I want to find a kayak to convert to a C1, if I can find a good fit.
What I liked about the Taureau: 8' long 27" wide, dry/skirt, felt nimble/light, 7.75” saddle and I could bash through holes and meat and keep on paddling dry.
What I did not like: felt a little top heavy, hard to roll, on occasion tricky edge and hard to fairy on my offside. These issues maybe due to my lack of skill, but everyone I paddle with had no interest in paddling my Taureau for some reason.
I paddle class III/IV- rivers, creeks, and a little surfing. I prefer creekier levels and runs. I am not a play boater. I want a C1 that I can learn to be a better paddler, like learning to boof. I rarely boofed in my Taureau as it seemed flimsy and I did not want to damage it. Heck, it wore through the chine without me trying to boof stuff.
In researching hulls, it looks like a Super Hero or Mamba 8.5 seem to be good hull design, length, width, and volume choices for an all round C1 for me 5’9” 190lbs. These boats seem similiar to my Taureau dimensions, hull designs, and hopefully easier to roll, being lower profile.
Besides the hull shape, the key for me is going to be how high a saddle that I can use. My last saddle was 7.75” high and I had ankle blocks that were 2.5”. I could sit lower by lowering ankle blocks and stretching, but I really do not know how low I can go, bad knees from many years of tele skiing.
I would welcome your comments and opinions on the following:
- Boat recommendations
-What is the highest saddle do you think I can get away with?
-Also, I really think I want to go with a bulk head versus straps for easy exit and entry.
- If I find a kayak with similiar charcteristics as the Taureau will there be a big learning curve?
Thanks