WTB-Slasher and general boat advice.

[Ed Eout]

WTB – Slasher, Cascade, Atom or some other C Boat with some hull speed (compared to a Wave Sport Z conversion).
Washington, DC area, willing to drive a bit.

So to make the day of the two or three of you who have strong opinions my question is…
What plastic boat is or converts to a good fast boat suitable for river running and general goofing off?

I’m a total old school former open boater I’ve never understood how folks can rush through a rapids to get to the play hole at the bottom. 5’10” 175# and the most difficult rivers I paddle would be Lower Gauleyesk and Top Youghy stuff, maybe more on a good day. Picking a river apart, hopping eddies from one side to the other is where I have most fun, as a result I’m usually facing up stream ferrying. The Z I’m currently paddling is just too short to make these ferries, especially with a single blade. The thing I like about the Z is the super hard chine.

The Mowhawk Viper was my OC1 of choice, I loved the edges and even though it was no speed demon, by the standards of the day, I had little trouble making hairy ferries. It fits in small eddies, carves up a storm and suits my boating style nicely.

Given the above who has an opinion on which hulls make the best C1s for this kind of boating?

Let the Games begin!

[TomAnon]

Why not go back to an OC1? If it essentially did everything you like and all....

Please comment as the additional information may help.

[sbroam]

Similar transition here a couple of years ago. Paddled a Viper 12, then picked up a Slasher, and then went through a couple of conversions (WHiplash, UltraClean, Score). I still have a Score, similar to a Z but a little longer, pointier, and I think faster. It works as a river runner OK on most stuff (up to the Ocoee) for me but surfs and plays well in the flats, too. Converted a Rockit, as well - light, fast, and forgiving but a very soft chine (no carving, but no tripping). I still have the Slasher and like it because of it's speed. I recently bought a Viper C-1 and love it, but it's so dry around here I hate to take it out and bang it up (glass).

And then with the kids coming along, I find myself more and more back in an open boat, in fact the same model that started all of this - an ME.

Boats that interest me, and might fit the bill for you, include the Dagger GT series and the WaveSport Diesel. Maybe one of those longer Prijon boats - the Cross or Wizard maybe?

[Mike W.]

Soooo the Score is faster than the Z? I was thinking of a Z for hard boney rivers. If the Z is slower than the Score I guess I'd better keep my eyes open for an Atom.

Joe has a Dagger GT 8.1 posted for sale. http://cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php?t=5127

[Sir Adam]

If you can put up with glass I'd seriously consider an older slalom boat - Zealot, Fanatic, etc.... They are fast, front surf and attain well, and are a blast for doing what you seem to like (zipping in and out of eddys).

A warning on the Slasher - some folks like them, other folks really don't. So I'd try one before you purchase one.

Conversion wise, you might look for an old New Wave Cruise Control, Dagger Redline or RPM Max, apart from the boats already mentioned.

Two other options, depending on how much you like to stern squirt, would be the Viper SBroam mentioned, or a full cut Acrobat like PAC has. Nice cruising boats, they they are glass.

[ClassFive Boats]

A glass slalom boat is really fun if you shorten the stern a bit. Davey's superglide is super for general river running boat. Or perhaps an atom.

[Ed Eout]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments all.
Sorry for the long delay getting back to this thread, I’ve been out boating.

TomAnon,
I still have my Viper 12 and paddle it on occasion. Probably always will. But, it’s heavy and I’ve grown fond of having a deck and skirt. And just because I like to pick ‘em apart doesn’t mean I don’t throw down in a hole from time to time – hence my affinity for a deck!

Scott,
We are just fine tuning the outfitting on my Julie’s GT conversion. It’s a 7.8 and my weight pushes it a little low in the water but I’m sold on the hull. Sure hope the 8.1 has similar handling properties.
Thought about the Rocket but lack of edges puts me off. Same with Redline and RPM.
Nice outfitting on your page. Might steal some of your ideas.
I’ve developed a conversion system after doing 3 boats. It’s loosly inspired by the fence rail system I saw several years ago. If you are interested I’ll send some photos - would be interested in some feedback.

Adam,
I’m just way to busy (lazy) to deal with glass boats although I recognize their inherent superiority in every way ;-p
Dave B. let me paddle his Slasher the other day and I loved it but I did notice a tendency for it to get er, well, – quirky, in bigger water. Would like to find a good deal on one, or something similar, for attainment days on the Potomac. Besides, I only have 5 boats and feel inferior because of it.

Even though it’s not as long as I might like, it looks like the GT 8.1 is the next hull to take up space in my boat pen. Now if I can just find a nice blue one to match Julie’s…

SYOTR,
E

[John Coraor]

There is a Slasher advertised on the Northeast Paddler's Message Board (NPMB), see http://www.npmb.com/cms2/forum_viewtopic.php?21.51224 It's in CT, but only $175.

John

[Not Elvis]

Mike Dudash (of River and Trail) has a Slasher in his warehouse in Brunswick, MD. Short trip to see, possible demo, used (so probably cheap) Go to River and Trail and get his cell phone number. I had it, but lost it. If you go, let me know if you see any other boats there that look interesting.