Blackfly Option Review

markzak · Post by **markzak** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:09 pm

Thanks for the the cross post Craig of those carnage pics!

I definitely LOVE carnage and swimming pictures! Swimming is part of boating... everyone swims.

YTcanoe · Post by **YTcanoe** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:16 pm

Thanks Shep.

Curious, Is all canoe plastic the same composition?
Would it have the same hardness/ gouge/ crack resistance, rigidity/flexibility if you disregard the effect of thickness and hull shaping?

kanur wrote: My bud that bought the Option kept trying to get Esquif to make him a lighter one but didn't get anywhere. Jeremy told him he could make him whatever he wanted so...... he has an Option

Is this true, Jeremy? Can you vary the thickness of your hulls?

Great CAN-ARNAGE pics.
Wish I had footage of me and Yukon's matched "boatless boofs" over a 10m falls , but the excellent Esprit photographers were too concerned about making us look good

and left it off our photo discs

RodeoClown · Post by **RodeoClown** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:31 pm

I'm using Shulman Superlinear. It's the industry standard for whitewater (and a lot of flatwater) boats- basically developed for kayaks. But how plastic is cooked is just as important. If it's overcooked, it becomes brittle, so even a high-quality plastic will lose impact properties.

As far as weights go, I'm willing to play ball a little bit. If you catch me when I'm about to mold some boats, I can do it. (I do have one boat right now that's 5lbs over spec, if there's anyone out there who really likes hitting rocks).

econpaddler · Post by **econpaddler** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:00 am

YTcanoe:

No teetering feeling at all (or other oddness). But you CAN change the trim by leaning forward or backward. I had Louie check it out in an eddy: sitting normally upright, the trim was level. Lean back, and it was stern heavy; lean forward and it was bow heavy. Just the way I like it. Of course, you could trim it any way you like with a little rearrangement of the outfitting.

This is so much fun talking about ALL these boats.

RodeoClown · Post by **RodeoClown** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:30 am

econpaddler wrote: But you CAN change the trim by leaning forward or backward.

I'd agree. I'd say it has a very 'lively' rocker, which is handy when trying to keep the bow up going through waves and the like. I'm uploading some video now that should show what I mean pretty well.

RodeoClown · Post by **RodeoClown** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:04 pm

a little Option video from the Mascoma. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEr9HtLBYnA

Sorry for most of it being head and stern cam footage. We were going to get more from the shore, but there was an irate meth-head screaming at Alden that kayaking was illegal. (no, we didn't try to explain to him the difference between a canoe and a kayak).

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:29 pm

RodeoClown wrote:a little Option video from the Mascoma. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEr9HtLBYnA

Sorry for most of it being head and stern cam footage. We were going to get more from the shore, but there was an irate meth-head screaming at Alden that kayaking was illegal. (no, we didn't try to explain to him the difference between a canoe and a kayak).

Nice little in town run Jeremy... looks fun.

I'd bet Alden could've taken the meth-head though... he's witty.

Sir Adam · Post by **Sir Adam** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:53 pm

What? Near Canaan? Never!

<I dated someone from Canaan for a long time, her family lives on the outskirts. Some GREAT folks in that area (such as the family I'm referencing as well as the Mitchells), but also some *interesting* types....>

Nice to see more footage:)

Keep up the GREAT work (both you and Craig)

Shep · Post by **Shep** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:59 pm

Hah! I wondered who that mysterious paddler was. Man, I am really jonesing for an Option. Trying to make myself wait till after the wedding this summer. I think I ought to pick up a new Mitchell to go with a new boat.

BTW, if no one wants the heavy, err, big-boned, boat you mentioned, I would buy it in the fall.

Is Alden going to paddle the Option in the New HAven Ledges race this weekened?

Thanks,
Shep

*Edited for too many smilies. Ugh*

Remoteproductions · Post by **Remoteproductions** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:43 pm

Wayne, Esquif has the L'edge coming in at 56lbs, but you are saying 70. Have you had it on a scale? Where's that coming from? Thanks

RodeoClown · Post by **RodeoClown** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:53 pm

Sir Adam wrote:What? Near Canaan? Never!

He had MD tags on the car that he nearly hit me with as I was walking back up to the put in. He got out and started screaming at me again for 'kayaking.' (this was 2 runs and probably a good hour after we saw him on the river.) The woman in the car behind him saw the whole thing and called the police. Not surprisingly, there was a warrant out for him.

Todhunter · Post by **Todhunter** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:14 pm

Remoteproductions wrote:Wayne, Esquif has the L'edge coming in at 56lbs, but you are saying 70. Have you had it on a scale? Where's that coming from? Thanks

Probably coming from me. I have a decked L'Edge (2010, #19), and fully outfitted with bags, battery, and pump, mine weighs 68.5 lbs.

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:44 pm

I'm weighing in at 60.4 in an open version with wooden gunnels and airbags only.

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:25 pm

Like the video! Busy run! Nice hand switchin'!

kanur · Post by **kanur** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:24 pm

Sweet video, I can't remember ever paddling a canyon of buildings. It looks like fun and I bet the rocks are sharp!

C-Forum

Blackfly Option Review

teetering or odd feeling

Re: teetering or odd feeling

L'edge weight?

Re: L'edge weight?