Why do people still paddle the long boats?

cadster · Post by **cadster** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:18 pm

I wouldn’t have a whitewater boat less than 9’ long that couldn’t use a skirt.

For something to have the feel of a canoe that I like it has to be longer than 9’. It’s the length as well as their volume that make paddling them more fun than decked boats. Canoe’s come alive in whitewater whereas kayaks don’t. A canoe will surprise you and let you feel the power of the water.

BigMike · Post by **BigMike** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:22 am

Some people like long boats, others like short. Who cares? I have a long boat for flat trips and canoe camping, and a shorter boat for whitewater but sometimes I use my long boat for whitewater upto say, a III, depends on the mood and the river.

I'd say the only people who really care what you're paddling are the kind of people who would judge you on what car you drive, or where you live. who gives a monkeys?

Big Dave · Post by **Big Dave** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:10 am

I have an ignorant newbie kinda question for y'all. Does this whole long vs. short boat deal even take the paddler size into the equasion? What about the big boys like me...... the ones that are obviously well above the 250 lb mark?

I'm not trying to throw a wrench in the works on this....just tryin to learn. Does the whole long vs. short boat issue change or what? Is this relative to the paddler's size?

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:25 am

I think it does. Some (Louie) consider anything approaching 12' to be an unresponsive, auto-pilotted barge. But most ww canoeists probably consider 12' a pretty normal ww canoe: some think it's small, others think it's big, depending on the circles you travel in.

At 220lbs and according to my tastes, I haven't found any boats under about 12' where the disadvantages (wet, slow, unstable) don't outweigh the advantages (shorter, snappier, lighter).

I realize there are some shortish (< 12') boats that can carry weight pretty well, and I'm looking to try them out more!

But even though I won't likely paddle much in a Zoom, Solito, Rodeo, etc., it doesn't make me want to paddle from the stern of a hole-bridging 16' tripping boat!

If I'm in a 12' boat, I'll try to catch 12' eddies - I think most of this "size" debate is more about paddling style than boat choice... if it's about anything at all, mostly it's just about Louie entertaining himself by tossin' some e-barbs at long-boaters.

Pat.

insolence · Post by **insolence** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:51 am

speed
style

fun....

--> short boats rather for rodeo

and yeah, one could provide his/her friends with more beer when they are longing for it on the way - since, I mean, water is for paddling, right?!

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:30 pm

"if it's about anything at all, mostly it's just about Louie entertaining himself by tossin' some e-barbs at long-boaters."

Damnit Yarnell don't tell everything you know. Just because I was fishin for Carp and caught a bunch of Shads, that ain't my fault. If the fish wouldn't bit every piece of bait that went in the water, I wouldn't have to bother takin them off the hook. I was really just fishin for two particular Carp in particular. You hear them a lot but you never see them, even when you go to their home pond.

horizongfx · Post by **horizongfx** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:41 pm

Why do people still paddle the long boats?

because I feel so insecure about my manhood I have to compensate somehow!

jscottl67 · Post by **jscottl67** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:02 pm

long boat - short deck?

Longboatin · Post by **Longboatin** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:47 pm

Well, I guess, drinking problem, retro, and rebel. Though I dont quite unnerstand how longboats could discourage anyone, even tourists on the shore can reconize it as a canoe. the short puds, i mean spuds though, to the casual observer it a kayak.
Shid, even people at work continue to ask if Im goin raftin, when theyve been told, and seen actual canoes on my car.

Plus many sports etc. have vintage or retro components, so If you early adopters really want to grow the sport, seems like longboats are but one way to do that, the boats can be accessible to people. Making newbies aware that whitewater is possible with a boat they already might own, or have access to.

Additionally, Im interested in seeing how far an abandoned design paradigm can go. As Louie suggested, back in the day, longboaters got bugged by the ole lady into taking the kids, thus put them in kayaks. Those dudes got old or gave up, they kids kept on in yaks. the canoes were abandoned before the full possibility of the hull was realized.

Sure, there are some runs that I think caint be done in a longboat, but who knows, if a clean line is possible, maybe a longboat run on anything is possible

milkman · Post by **milkman** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:06 pm

I've gone to progressively shorter canoes (from Outrage to Prelude, with steps in between) because I feel for the sub-200 pounder, they're more nimble and dynamic, open up the eddy possibilities, are more fun for creekin', etc. Just the same, I often paddle with a friend who is about my size and paddles an Outrage X and constantly reminds me through his paddling, not his words, what a longer boat can. He can do attainments I can't, surf some fast waves that just won't hold my slower boat, and paddle through holes that will eat my boat. So there are tradeoffs and you have to decide what you like. I get in a longer boat, like my old Outrage, from time to time and think it just feels like a log. a boat with about 1.5 feet on each end that it doesn't need. People get in my Prelude and complain it's slow, hard to paddle straight and tippy. Different boats for different folks.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:20 pm

Quote from Joe Pullian when ask about the lack of speed in the new shorter designs. " how can they miss sumthin they never had?"

As a big fan of the Encore and the Ocoee, I do miss the speed and stability of the old coal barges, but like with the internet, cellphones, and a thousand other new fangled ideals you either adapt or get get left behind. However to show that I am not totally opposed to usin retro, outdated, and left behind boats, this Friday I will be teachin three of my kids how to roll in a Quake.

Before the peanut gallery starts their ignorant of facts babble. I want to say I did roll yesterday in 33 degree weather. How many out of the peanut gallery do you think even paddled?

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:41 pm

just curious how many only paddle one length boat....

I like to mix it up a bit myself, that old 15footer will fly after being in the short boat... and the Fly's not much for tandem.

Lengthy · Post by **Lengthy** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:39 pm

The longboat provides more of a challenge for me on easier water. That results in more fun for me. Also it's pretty impresive just how good the longboat really is. I mean sure it's fun to do moves in front of other boaters (short boats) that they can't do but I still do those moves when I'm all by myself on the river just because the boat can. I can honestly say that when I'm in my longboat I've never thought I brought the wrong boat or wished I was in my short-er boat.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:20 pm

We all are awaitin your apperance too where we can all see your abilities in the long boat. I do paddle an encore myself...when I have a kid with me.

Lengthy · Post by **Lengthy** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:33 pm

When I say long I'm talkin 16', not an encore. Maybe what you think is long Louie is really short.

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Why do people still paddle the long boats?

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