Advice for a newbie?

blackfly · Post by **blackfly** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 4:06 am

Hey all! Like the website. Nice to see more forums popping up for us ww freaks!

I've recently moved to some crazy ww country out west, and see myself moving out of the world of open canoe tripping (ww) and into some of these wee boats. Hoping to stick with my canoeing roots, I don't want a kayak. So I have questions!

First of all, if any of you are familiar with the rivers and creeks close to Whistler, BC, that would be great. If so, is a small open playboat a good option for around here, or should I move right away into a covered boat? I really enjoy open boating.

Also, if I do move to a closed boat, what sort of boat is good for a beginner? I plan to take classes, and I do have ww tripping experience, but what are some generalities I should look for? Long boat, short, boat, wide, narrow, you get the picture. I am 6'3", 175 pounds. I want to play play play. Also wouldn't mind some river runs, daytrips.

Will my regular canoeing pfd work with a C-1? It's pretty new, from MEC.

Should I just run out and buy a used kayak, rip all its guts out and work my way through outfitting it? I looked at the outfitting page on this site, and am satisfied that I can research and figure out most of what I need to know.

But the most burning question of all, where can I get those bumper stickers you guys were talking about a month or two ago....!

Thanks!

bf

Paddle Power · Post by **Paddle Power** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 6:50 pm

Hey Blackfly,

You certainly are in crazy ww country especially with all that rain earlier this fall out west.
Not familar with local rivers but either an OC or C1 should work. Pros and cons to both, and in the end we'll wish for both.
Try to link up with some more local Tgrip paddlers. Ask around, check out the local shops, etc. See what they paddle and recommend.
Your PFD should be fine.
Picking up a kayak is an option but getting the right boat might take some knowledge and experience and therefore you should first contect wth the local scene to see what they are up to. Even if an OC works, if everyone else is paddling decked then there are some advantages to belonging.
As for the stickers, I'll leave that up to someone else.

PS Guessing I do know you as ck.

blackfly · Post by **blackfly** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:37 am

Thanks, sounds like good advice. Funny, small world. Or is it big?

The waters have receeded over here, only to give me a taste of what is to come in the spring.

That little boat of yours still for sale, B?

Still laughing,

bf

Paddle Power · Post by **Paddle Power** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:35 pm

Yep, the Viper is still available, in fact, it was made close at hand to you at clipper canoes or western canoeing and kayaking. It is very well suited to paddling BC rivers.

Good luck linking up with the local T-grippers!