Boat of the Week - Dagger Cascade

[Sir Adam]

I've been pondering what C1 to highlight for this week - and this video was linked to elsewhere:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geJoGnPhhy4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - an awesome CBoater for sure, but also some great footage from over the years of the Cascade in action!

The Cascade was one of my first two C1's (I purchased a used Cascade, and he threw in the Perception Slasher as he couldn't stand it). My first C1 runs of the Hudson Gorge, Bottom Moose (Fowlersville down through Double Drop - first half of the run), and others were in my Cascade. Stable and forgiving, but a bit of a "pig" and slow (at least for my weight), I happily moved on to other boats.

But looking at it in the video, and thinking of how it would have performed in Costa Rica (for instance) it certainly has a place (or two) in a quiver of boats. I have two these days, as I feel they can be OK boats to teach some folks in (depending on what they are coming from).

As usually, please post up thoughts, reviews, experiences, and images of the Dagger Cascade. Hopefully this will be a fond trip down memory lane for some of you too....

http://www.cboats.net/c_db/list.php?typ ... me=Cascade" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (red and white boat is mine... with me in it in '95 or so)

[Craig Smerda]

the best Cascade story E-V-E-R

http://vimeo.com/7178359" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[valhallalongboats]

Always loved the Cascade. I'd really tall, so folding myself into C-1's is a bit of a pain. For that reason, I usually run open boats, the big ol' Cascade is the only C-1 I've ever owned that I've been able to really rig up in a manner that was comfortable for me to paddle, so it has a place in my heart for that reason, if no other.

[Rand C1]

I love my Cascade. That's why I have a spare.
Rand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6av9vq ... DfndB0BtfA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bkebs]

I have one, but I just have not fallen inove with it. I prefer an open boat. I actually have it listed in the classifieds.

[sbroam]

I had one for a while and sold it to a local - might have to borrow it back...

[johnd]

I had a Cascade. I didn't like the boat and got rid of it. With no edges it was like paddling a log. And the outfitting, at least in its stock form which I didn't modify much, never kept me in the boat, so I had my worst swims ever in the Cascade. The boat was to blame, of course. Still, the few successful runs in which I flipped and rolled up with no water in my boat were pretty cool. It almost makes me want to get another C1, or a converted kayak. Almost. Mulling it over.

[cadster]

I had a Cascade longer than another whitewater boat that I've owned except maybe an Ocoee. It got me down a lot of runs. The aspect I liked most about it was the ability to pack it with overnight gear. My longest trip was five nights.

Paddling a Cascade didn't develop my boat control skills since it lacked edges and play-ability. The length and volume caused the bow to take unpredictable bounces.

[Rand C1]

The Cascade is an old boat hull design, I get that. But I love the classic C1 shape of the Cascade. Its the old William Nealy C1 look.
Rand
PS It doesn't "paddle like a log" sounds like oc issues

[johnd]

OK then, I stand corrected, the Cascade was not like a log. It was like a Dodge van that I once owned, with loose steering. You pointed it in the general direction that you wanted to go, and hoped for the best. And if you flipped (the Cascade, not the van) you hoped that you could roll up, and didn't immediately fall out of the outfitting which did not have (for safety reasons) foot pegs. That Cascade sure was an exciting boat!

[sbroam]

I tried a friends and loved it - had to have one. I'd been paddling open boats (by then a Viper 12) for a while and had dabbled in C-1s - tried a Gyramax and a Slasher. What I loved about the Cascade was that it was stable (you could concentrate on paddling, not staying upright) and big booming enders. But... the love faded over the course of a year. We went down the French Broad and I got blown around in Windy Flats as bad as I ever had in an open boat. It had no edge except in the catalog - the ones in the stern that Lugbill had designed to be there to engage when you needed them - I sure couldn't make it happen, so I must have been doing something wrong. It rolled OK (with the anchor point adjusted), it just paddled "mushy", no precision. Any how, I sold it to a friend and started paddling the Slasher harder and moved to a Whiplash. But... as with other boats on which my opinions have changed over time (like that Slasher...), I wonder what I would think of the Cascade today... I'll go see if I can borrow it from Larry for a little bit...

[Rand C1]

A Cascade's factory outfitting must be modified as with any C1. I have knee cups and toe bocks in mine and added to the pedestal height. I also have a Fink, another purpose-built C1, and it required substantial modification. But, it really is an easy rolling boat. They are used to teach the canoe roll.
Rand.

And they are pretty

[Mike W.]

The Cascade was my first C-1. I had a lot of firsts in that boat. It was fast enough to make the difficult moves. There were only two things I didn't like about it: 1 - weight, 2 - it was a bit of a hole magnet.

It was at home on everything from lazy river trips to the Gauley to ocean surf. Once, while carrying it from the truck to the beach I passed a couple of boys. I overheard one say "Man, that's a thick board!". It was fast enough to get out in surf as high as 6'.

Sometimes now, I think I need a long, plastic boat & think about picking up another Cascade.

[Bruce Farrenkopf]

I have had two Cascades. It was my go-to boat for difficult creeky water because of its forgiving nature and predictability - and it was easy to roll. It resurfaced stably when dropping waterfalls. Yes, it was a dog in easier water but you need to select the right boat for the task at hand, so to speak. I had some very good times in the Cascade!
SYOTR,
Bruce

[busterblue]

A few weeks ago I borrowed a friend's Cascade to race with in a local creeking competition (just for fun). I have really enjoyed getting to know this boat. It takes a few strokes to get momentum, and sometimes you have to work darn hard to turn it. But I love the speed. It's great to ferry, and it's let me make some attainments I have no right attaining. And most of the time the length doesn't really get in the way. I can still find some waves and park in small eddies.