C1 River Runner Conversion Advice for a Female Boater

[arhdc]

I'm not even sure where to start with this so I give the whole background.

My wife Kelly has been kayaking for the past 3 years (we've been a divided household) and is a pretty solid class III boater in her kayak. Currently she has a 2011 Dagger Mamba 7.5 that she loves as a kayak but she is wanting something more. This spring she decided that my spare canoe (a purple Outrage) would be her canoe and she has proven quite adept in it but she is not thrilled with getting water in her boat. Yesterday she was off in her kayak on the LY and was coerced into getting into a Big Dog Kaos C1 and she has decided she wants a C1.


What hulls should I be looking at as C1 conversions for a 140lbs woman who really loves her Muamba as a kayak. I'm hoping for something that is an old enough design that I can get a used kayak for a decent price to see if C1 is really what she wants. She is not a playboater so in spite of the fact that she tried a Kaos I'm thinking that a river runner is going to give her the best experience overall.

[deerwood64]

How about converting the Mamba 7.5? I converted a 8.1 Mamba and enjoy it very much. At 170# the boat paddles great.

[arhdc]

How about converting the Mamba 7.5? I converted a 8.1 Mamba and enjoy it very much. At 170# the boat paddles great.

I've wondered how the Muamba would handle as a C1. My other question was the size of it which you also addressed was whether she might have a better time with a one size larger Muamba as a C1.

Part of me wants to keep her kayak intact for now because she is comfortable in it, at least until she decides that she is done with the training blade.

Any other suggestions for hulls or comments on Muamba conversions?

[Sir Adam]

Instead of a conversion why not look for a purpose built C1?

That said, there ARE a number of good boats that can be converted - what some folks have tried are in our (now broken for new additions) Conversion Database (under "Boats" up top...).

If you're ever passing through upstate NY you can stop in and try a bunch of C1's:)

[arhdc]

Thanks Adam for the input. One of our number has stepped up and offered her the loan of a Cascade for a time to try. As far as visiting the cboats mother ship, I'll keep that in mind but I don't get up that way often.

[Creeker]

adam and aaron are you guys going to Beaver Fest? There is a great wide flat section just below Taylorville Slide for some demos.

[PAC]

I believe Bruce M has a Redline he is looking to move.... let me know when you two head back my way... she should have said something over the weekend.

Oh the Mamba would be a fine conversion!

[arhdc]

Thanks PAC, it was actually last Sunday that she got into Dave's Big Dog Kaos and decided she wanted to try a C1, go figure

She likes the kneeling position of a canoe and the pod boat aspect of kayaks so this really may be her nich. Time will tell.

I'll contact Bruce to see if he still has the Red Line.