Probe 12 to OC2

[billcanoes]

Has anyone converted a probe 12 to an OC2, I'm 195 and my son is 55lbs. I'm not sure if this conversion is/would be a worthwhile endeavor or not. I had an Outrage X, and my son would sit on the airbags, so in terms of weight I think it would work. Though realisticly, do we only have 20lbs before it is outgrown. Any tandem pairs squeeze into an OC2 this size??
Bill

[Longboatin']

bill,
IMHO why not go for a true ww tandem, if cost is a factor and you have the boat already, then hey I'd say try it. But I plan on getting a MadRiver ME when I start doing some tandem boating with my child. To my thinking I'd prefer the speed and balance provided by a dedicated tandem design, rather than the low speed and possible iffy handling of a converted solo boat.

[billcanoes]

Hey Longboating,

Thanks for the input,

I don't have the boat yet. The alternate boat I was considerring is an Esquif Blast. My rational, though potentially faulty, was the Blast is only 4" longer and almost the same width. I know 350 is not out of the realm for the Blast, but I too had the same concerns as you about the probe 12. I'd hate to mess with it if its not going to work, but a few hundred dollars is important to me right now, and probably will be for the next few years. I'm still trying to get my wife into an open boat, so if the 12 is in decent shape I might get that and wait a few more months on a Blast.

Though I'm still curius on the tandem possibilities.
Bill

[sc]

I used a viper 12' for a couple of years as a tandem. I'm ~140 lbs and my partner is ~110. Our main boat is a caption and we were looking for something shorter with a harder chine. The viper fit that bill ok -- a lot more edge, and a nice light boat. The down side was that the viper was a bit wet, and a bit small even for us. As I recall we had to set the seats approx 28" apart, and needed to offset them to make everything work.

All things considered, I think the Blast would be a better bet for you.

sc

[cheajack]

Bill,

I paddled a Rival as a tandem canoe with my daughter and when she turned six, I was afraid I'd knock her out of the boat with a cross if I had to use one in a pinch.

jack

[yarnellboat]

I agree the 12 probably wouldn't be worth the trouble.

But if cost is a real factor and you're thinking about something like that, there is a cheap XL13 on paddling.net in Georgia.

P.

[yarnellboat]

Bill, Check out the similar thread in the "for sale" forum.

P.

[billcanoes]

Thanks for all the input- It was something I wanted to do, but in the back of my mind something said "ask before messing up a boat"

Bill

[tgb]

hey bill,

thought i'd throw in my 2 cents worth. the probe 12 is nearly as long as the blast i outfitted for my son & i. interior length may eventually be a problem as he grows (this is why i wish i had waited a just bit longer & should have bought the vertige x or a caption). the biggest problem starting out was trying to figure saddle placement. my knees were right up against his feet. the advantage to doing a strap in system like you had on your outrage x is that it doesn't matter - you can always move the seating to compensate for trim, legroom, whatever. the boat would probably definitely have enough volume for the two of you, at least until he gets taller or heavier. if you want to paddle it solo, all you need to do is move around the saddles.

trevor

[billcanoes]

Hey Trevor,

I think Dave Sink and I are going to pick it up/check it on the Haw 2/19. Want to join?
Bill

[tgb]

sounds good - as long as there's water in the river & it isn't at floodstage. i'll check to see if the schedule is clear. email me some details.

trevor