Factory news flash

[Kaz]

Er........um.......thanks Craig, I think.
I haven't received any feedback on the Amoeba yet. The stern, while flat, has lots of volume so I don't think it would do sky pivots very well. I also think it's too short for the new race spec.So I guess it's just a "playboat", whatever that is. 25 years ago "playboating" meant something different than it does today. I'm not even sure what a playboat is anymore. I'll try to get some better info about the Amoeba from it's pilot.
Thanks.
JKaz

[sbroam]

My definition of "play boat" is probably looser than most - I think that if you "play" in it, it is a "play boat". Since I don't *work* in any of my boats, they are all play boats. Now if I had a tug boat, fishing trawler, freighter, or aircraft carrier in my fleet, that would be different

I've already got a "milk jug" that surfs well, can play in a hole, and do flat water party tricks (squirts, cartwheels, etc.). After hanging out this weekend with folks driving glass boats, primarily slalom boats, I have a renewed interest in speed... After hopping in a slalom boat, I still find them to be distractingly long and hard to turn, though the latter is almost certainly a matter of technique that I'd overcome in time. My wish list for a boat is this, in descending order of importance :

• Surfs well (needs rocker for those steeper waves)
  Turns well (on a pivot or not)
  Pivots/squirts smoothly, easily (not just for turning, but for fun)
  Is fast
  has volume in the middle (so I can be IN the boat, not sitting on the back deck)
  Long enough to qualify for the new slalom specs

Some might say a glass Atom would do that, but that design has never clicked with me (might be the weight...) The Amoeba sure looks interesting, maybe moreso with some volume taken out of the stern...

[the great gonzo]

Scott,

Neither the Amoeba not a glass Atom fulfills the new slalom rules .
Although they meet the new minimum width rule of 0.65m (25.6"), the fall short of the new minimum length rule of 3.50m (11' 5.8").
Easiest thing would probably be to just cut the excessive length out of a current slalom boat.

Out of the glass rec boats, the Acrobat and the viper fulfill the new length rule, but are a bit wider than the min. spec.
Never paddled either one, so I don't know how well they might fit your requirements.

martin

[Sir Adam]

Yup, Scott, you STILL want a Viper . With the enlarged cockpit, of course . Might be a little slower than the current slalom designs due to its width, but still a great boat.

Or, if you wanted to sink, a Maven.....

[sbroam]

Scratch that length requirement - I had mistakenly thought the new slalom length was less than that. Maybe it is too much time in converted kayaks, but 11 1/2 feet still seems like a long boat. Maybe it is all the time I spend on shallow, more technical rivers... I'm thinking for me that the Amoeba's length and rounded ends are looking even more appealing. Especially if the stern volume could be cut...

So, nobody here has paddled it yet?

[Kaz]

Scott,
As far as I know, there are only a few paddlers in the Concord, NH area that have paddled the Amoeba. I have only built 2 of them so far and I have 1 of them, but have not paddled it yet. Why da heck not you ask? No good reason really, just paddling other craft. I've emailed the owner of the Amoeba in Concord for feedback and am waiting to hear back. As soon as I do, so will you. Thanks for your interest and or curiosity.
JKaz

[aldenb]

kaz -- playboat? the words just dont go together. anyone who knows the man, knows that he is all business on the river. he does not play around. there is no time for fun. basically he is out on the water to do a job, and when he does it he goes over to shore and is never tempted by the pleasures of alcohol or friends or pretty young ladies.

in fact, i heard that before he bought millbrook boats, he was deacon of the new hampshire catholic church.

In fact, the whole NESS slalom series is nicknamed "The NFL" -- "N.o F.un L.eague." there is never any clowning around and everyone takes the racing more seriously than the parties. actually parties dont happen. and kaz is never the ringleader.

thank you for your interest in millbrook boats, but remember -- the owner drives a minivan, not a sports car.

Personally, I used to own a Millbrook boat, but it was too fun. Too much like a "playboat" -- so I got a "workboat." It's made of concrete.

Alden

[Craig Smerda]

.....so we have work and play boats availible. Apparently what we need is a "party" boat... the pontoon of the whitewater arena. I get to hang out with some of those New Englanders once a year and believe it or not they have some wild-men up there. I suggest Millbrook hires a design team of partying paddlers and come up with some designs..... boats may include cup holders, etc. and of course Mark Clarke would be the ringleader.... I believe this was how the Twister was designed.....?

[NZMatt]

Whaddaya mean we haven't got a party boat...easily fixed by strapping two (or more) 15' MEs together

[Kaz]

Howdy,
There will be an Amoeba available to paddle June 12-13 at the Amoskeag slalom in Manchester, NH. There is good surfing and a couple holes available to play in, in addition to numerous eddylines.
JKaz

[aldenb]

hey everyone,
i tested out the amoeba on saturday and figured id put up my thoughts.

pros:
it's fast. definitely faster than any other 11 foot boat ive paddled

it's light. way lighter than pushing around a Cascade or any other plastic boat. also much lighter to carry than my Necky Blunt (hey, i got to test this too -- the put-in was a long way up!)

good primary stability. it's pretty wide and has a fairly flat bottom. no tippy boat here.

it's tough. this boat has an extra couple of layers of glass -- i could feel how strong the deck is. that means it's going to hold up.

cons:
it doesn't stern squirt. the ends are too blunt and round.

secondary stability I noticed was not quite as good as my race boat.

Final Thought:
This is definitely a river-running boat. It would be perfect for beginning c-1ers. It's stable, durable, light to carry and fast.

On the other hand, it is a compromise boat. It doesn't have the kind of high performance of a race boat or a Groove or something.