Types of boaters

[gumpy]

just curious Gabe, anybody run Caney Fork that day in an open boat?

[oopsiflipped]

sure did. phil from alabama and roy from the horrible midwest. both paddling spanish fly's and both hanging out with butt boater's. go figure.

[Randy Dodson]

open canoe almost always.

lately it's been 2% of my time rowing a friends raft. I'm getting addicted and will probably get a raft in the next year.

[c1swim]

"they mostly come out at night...... mostly." * Newt.

5 open boats, 2 C1s..... so 36.5 : 1.
I don't know; someone do the math

[cadster]

I expected not many open boaters would kayak, but it surprises me that once someone has spent much time in a C-1 they wouldn't kayak, too. Plus I would have expected a few kayakers would transition into decked single blade. C-1ing should make anyone a better kayaker.

I find by paddling all three types of boats, I get to spend more time on rivers. I will say that I've had the most fun paddling an open boat.

[the great gonzo]

I have hopped in kayaks a few tiimes. Found it very easy, could roll them in no time. I have just no desire to do it. Single blading is where it's at. More aesthetic to watch (well, maybe not with me paddling ...) and more challenging. I know a few guys who kayak when they go creeking, but I never felt the need for that. I can run just about anything I feel compelled to run using a single stick, be it in an open or decked boat. As far as open or decked, don't matter to me. Use em depending on what I feel like on a particular day.

TGG!

[sbroam]

I expected not many open boaters would kayak, but it surprises me that once someone has spent much time in a C-1 they wouldn't kayak, too. Plus I would have expected a few kayakers would transition into decked single blade. C-1ing should make anyone a better kayaker....

Consider the sample population - this is going to be more the committed single bladers and miss a lot of those who mix it up.

[PAC]

Any day on water is a good day - whatever I paddle.
Right now I'm in a C1 / shredder mod.
Mostly because I don't have a OC. I just finished a k-squirt re-build so I'll be hoping in it for sure.
So many boats and rivers so little time!!!!

[Mike W.]

I expected not many open boaters would kayak, but it surprises me that once someone has spent much time in a C-1 they wouldn't kayak, too.

"Why kayak? I already know how to paddle" Quote from a C-Boater I've paddled with for years.

I taught a couple of 'yakers to roll C-1 last summer. They wouldn't take my boat into the current though. They wanted me to try a kayak, so I hopped in & headed straight for the wave. While surfing I just kept laughing & yelling how EASY it was I think I yelled something like "This is SO EASY! No wonder so many people kayak!"

[knu2xs]

Past a point, it is all water...choose your weapon. Truly good paddlers can paddle a park bench with a log for a paddle.

[pblanc]

I paddle open boats and kayaks on whitewater and flatwater.

I have several times borrowed friends' C1s and paddled them for a few days but could never get comfortable in a low kneeling postion.

I started out flatwater canoeing and canoe camping, moved to the Southeast years ago and got involved in whitewater. By the time I got to the point of running the Ocoee, I got rather tired of emptying the boat. Also, when boating in cold weather found a decked boat much warmer. Since a C1 didn't seem to work, a K1 was the logical choice.

I had worked to develop an open boat roll which usually worked when I didn't need it, and sometimes worked when I did. I found I could roll a kayak the first time I sat in one at age 40, and an "offside" roll (which in a kayak is, of course, just an onside roll on the other side) the second time I tried it.

Obviously, decked boats have advantages especially in large, open water conditions where winds come up quickly, or in big waves.

I agree that kayaking is considerably easier, without the need for cross strokes, a strong brace and roll on both sides. There is no doubt that visibility is not as good. I think there is a grace and esthetic to canoeing that kayaking lacks.

I used to know a number of whitewater open boaters who switched to kayak because of knee problems.

[phreon]

My first paddlecraft was a Dagger kayak. Now I have 2 kayaks and 2 canoes. My heart is always with the canoes, but sometimes it's just easier to chuck the Dagger on the car than the canoe and if I don't feel like struggling to keep up with sea kayaks, I lug my Cape Horn (a Tupperware sea kayak) out.

Kayaking is fun, but there's something soulful about single blading.

Phreon

[Alden]

I just paddled K1 yesterday on the Big Sandy. Fortunately I did not swim First Island . . . It went okay and was actually pretty fun. It got my heartrate going pretty good above Zoom Flume and First Island. Pretty neat feeling to have at 5.5 on the LBS.

[Carol]

Let's not forget those of us whose boat of choice is WW OC2

[cbcboat]

Truly good paddlers can paddle a park bench with a log for a paddle.

I think I'd rather paddle a log with a piece of a park bench for a paddle.
I'm a cboater at heart but I own a really nice Sea Kayak and a few years ago after knee surgery the only way I could paddle whitewater was in kayak and it was actually quite fun, and much easier, which maybe made it fun. To each his own and let them enjoy their weapon of choice on their river of choice. Its all about enjoying the water and your company.
cheers
B