Big Dog Force OC1 review from a beginner.
Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:13 am
First I am a beginner ww canoeist but have ww kayaked for about 9 years. I am 5'5", 190lbs I love the water but can't wear a skirt anymore (because a legitimate medical reason not because I was tired of crossdressing). So I switched to canoeing and love it. I bought a Big Dog Force OC1(thanks Gavin Rains).
Saturday(1/12/13) was the first time the boats been in the water, I took it for a quick run down part of Chattooga section 3, Fall Creek to Bull. First apologies for I am going to compair it to kayaks not canoes.
My Big Dog is factory except I cut the seat pad down it felt too high. It is heavy 64lbs. Chattooga was running 2.03.
When I first got in the water it felt unstable but then the secondary stability was great. It paddles in moving water like a mix of a liquid logic Gus and a jefe, it rides the top of the water like th jefe but it rutters and leans like th Gus.
It was a lot dryer than expected as it will plow waves if they are back to back and close. I found the factory air bags need to be bigger. I made it to Bull no swims or spills. Had to dump water once after a unskilled low brace at Washington's nose.
I found the boat slow in the flats but that is from my lack of canoe stroke skills, but it has nice speed in moving water.
All in all I like the way this boat feels. I will give an updated review after I become more accustomed to canoeing.
Thanks
Libraryhound
Saturday(1/12/13) was the first time the boats been in the water, I took it for a quick run down part of Chattooga section 3, Fall Creek to Bull. First apologies for I am going to compair it to kayaks not canoes.
My Big Dog is factory except I cut the seat pad down it felt too high. It is heavy 64lbs. Chattooga was running 2.03.
When I first got in the water it felt unstable but then the secondary stability was great. It paddles in moving water like a mix of a liquid logic Gus and a jefe, it rides the top of the water like th jefe but it rutters and leans like th Gus.
It was a lot dryer than expected as it will plow waves if they are back to back and close. I found the factory air bags need to be bigger. I made it to Bull no swims or spills. Had to dump water once after a unskilled low brace at Washington's nose.
I found the boat slow in the flats but that is from my lack of canoe stroke skills, but it has nice speed in moving water.
All in all I like the way this boat feels. I will give an updated review after I become more accustomed to canoeing.
Thanks
Libraryhound
