C-Forum

Yet more Downriver Racing boat questions.

Has anyone had any experience paddling a Savage River Susquehanna in significant whitewater (Class II+). Rivers like the Nantahala (Gorge), Deerfield (Fife Brook), or Lehigh (Upper).

Savage River can increase its depth by an inch. The extra inch of depth would give it good center and stern depth for a downriver racing boat. However, it would still only have 18" in the bow. Even with a front deck, water diverters, and spray rails, I'm wondering if it would be wet. The boat lacks any rocker, but that is true of some other downriver racers like the Whitewater II and Sundowner.

As a related question, does anyone know how well Savage River's Carbon/Kevlar layup holds up to encounters with gravel bars, rocks, logs, and other hazards of whitewater.

FWIW - for fast cruising / tripping I replace the Champ II with a Savage River Blackhawk.

Susquehanna is a really fast flatwater boat, and in the right hands might be a lot of fun in WW.

Personally I'm not sure I'd purchase it for a dedicated downriver race boat (class II / III) for the reasons you mention, but others may have more personally experience with the boat than I do (which is just a quick paddle while testing out their offerings and talking to lots of folks while obsessing about what to get...)