If you are looking for a good deal on an open boat.....

[ChrisKelly]

check out NOC at GAF. I talked with Wayne dickert today. he sez that they will have a bunch of their instruction boats and demos on sale, including at least one Spark.
Chris Kelly


PS He also sez that they sold Scott Broam's Zyphyr.

Just kidding.

[sbroam]

Dat's not funny! Well, maybe it is...

You've Spark don't you? How is that Royalite holding up?

[ChrisKelly]

very fast, front surfs well, turns on a dime and rolls easily. It was by far the boat of choice in the tupperware classes at the open boat Nationals.

It is long, does not side surf as well (but I have no trouble in the Nanny Falls hole.) and the sharp chines make it tippy. It is the most responsive of the newer long boats.

I have had no trouble with the Royalite or the wood. Those toothpick thwarts are a bit flimsy but I put an additional thwart over the back of the saddle.

As with all Royalite, glue is an issue but so far the Devcon plastic welder has held well. The factory glue was not so hot. I had to reglue all the pads. The Esquif outfitting is excellent.

Chris Kelly

[boatbuster]

It melted right through the outer layer of an older boat I was repairing! But I am glad to hear it is good for something, ie Royalite. I had an R-light (same thing?) Rival years ago and had to by some super toxic junk to put the outfitting in. It was called something else, but when I mixed up that Plastic Welder I knew I had smelled that extremely acrid bad smell before

[ChrisKelly]

I have used it without incident for several years. Are you sure it is the sme thing? a two part glue that dries to a cream color?

[squeakyknee]

FYI.... The Spark does NOT roll well w/out air bags.... Sinks like a stone. Most boats of course do w/out them........
n Thought I'd try anyhow...

Scotch Scotch Scotch,, I love Scotch... MMMMmmmmMMMmmm....Scotch....MMmmmm Martini's w/ Scotch.......