decked canoe for 60 year old river guide

[ahaley]

I spent a good many years guiding rafts and kayaking on the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers and always liked the looks of C-1 boats. Now at the age of 60, weighting 200 lbs and being 6' tall, I want to try and learn how to paddle a C-1 good enough to run big water on the Kennebec. Problem is that C-1 is not very popular anymore in this part of the New England, not many 2nd hand boats to look at or try out. What would be a good boat for a guy my size? I have laid up a number of canoes over the years and made some Kayaks as well so it would be really nice if I could purchase plans or specs and build my own.

I dont need a high performance boat, just one that I can surf a big wave with and roll without having to be an athlete.

[TNbound]

I have a Wavesport Z conversion and a Dagger Cascade you are more than welcome to test drive if you want to come boating sometime! Both are lots of fun, the Z being very playful and the Cascade being very stable and confidence inspiring. I'm living in Unity right now, and boat the kenduskeag/marsh/sou/other local runs when they are up.

[marclamenace]

Well, if you feel like a project boat check this out:

http://www.cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php?t=7963342

High performance for the time (1991) I couldn't comment on the boat at all myself though...

[Roy]

I have a 12' x 10" deep river runner C-1 for sale. A short and high-volume Stealth. Winter price of 200 bucks w/o skirt or anything like that.

It is an ideal large/low-angle wave surf boat. Disappearing Wave, Z-turn, 5-O, and such. Not great at surfing steep waves. Most don't consider it an ideal new-to-C1 boat. But, get a roll and you'd be fine. And, it is in Maine and it is cheap.

Email for pics and full description. ir_hunter at hotmail

Alan, I sent you a PM.

Roy

[ClassFive Boats]

If composite is ok, hit up Charlie Walbridge. He has a 11' modified Munich hahn thats a pretty good river runner. He is 6'5" maybe 250 lbs.
Its an old design, but Charlie runs most anything in one.

http://www.charliewalbridge.com/


pic: http://www.customkayak.com/html/archive.html

[MrTgrips]

There's a fella around these parts that's sellin' a mold for a Stealth if you're interested. The mold is in Upstate NY methinks......
Check the "For Sale" section.

[Sir Adam]

As the aforementioned one selling or trading a Stealth mold, if you want to build a boat, we can easily work something out.

That said, there are MANY Vipers around ME. And if you can find one without much volume cut out (most of them I've noted are in this category) you'll have an excellent Kennebec / Dead boat. John Frachella (Viper designer, long time City of Bangor Dentist, now retired) used it everywhere, and has some epic shots from the Cribworks from 10-15 years ago (see the Viper page). I've yet to run the Penobscott, so I can't comment other than that. I spent some time in Maine, guide trained with Wilderness for a bit (I already had my NY license and experience), and visit relatives over in Norway / South Paris once a year.

My recommendation, without any hesitation, is find a Viper. Just keep watching Uncle Henrys or Craigslist and asking around. Most folks on this board are familiar with New Wave (now PS Composites) that made the Viper - Winterport Boat works (John and a few friends) also made many, many Vipers that are still in Maine. (a Winterport Viper will not have metal flake).

Viper Page - if you see where it says "Search Boats" you can select "C1" (or OC1, OC2, etc...) and see several hundred boats and their info)

http://www.cboats.net/c_db/list.php?typ ... name=Viper

[Shep]

Roy also has connections with the Outward Bound people in Western ME (Newry/Bethel). They may still have an outfitted cascade you could try out, before you buy anything. The one I am thinking of was listed for sale on the forum a while ago, so it may have been shipped off to someone who will use it more, or it may be available.

Best of Luck,
Shep