Mad River ME, any history, thoughts...

elunopaddle · Post by **elunopaddle** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:02 pm

I just ended my long hunt for a true whitewater oc-2 tandem. It's still on the roof rack, and I'm about to start outfitting and was hoping to get some inspiration to get this boat out on the river! Of course, no one I paddle with knows anything about it, and all I know I infer from the hull shape alone. Looks like a forgotten slalom hero from a different generation. Any thoughts, history, or stories?

Elunopaddle
if you see an ME on the Ocoee, say hello to ELUNO!

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:00 am

Nice boat, really forgiving, and a pleasure to paddle tandem.... I once had access to one as a loaner, which was my date boat. Something that it will do really well, is accommodate a beginner with amble stability.

jatakasawa · Post by **jatakasawa** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:30 am

The ME was the boat the go me started in WW canoeing. Eddy McGnarlz too! I bought it from a lady who swore it was for whitewater. I kind of dismissed that idea until I got out on some moving water and then things got interesting. I outfitted it and started learning how to paddle WW. Very special boat to me.

The ME was designed by Jim Henry I think. ME stands for Maximum Exposure....all out there! Nudity! Heck yeah that's probably what old Jim was thinking if the stories I heard are true.

It's a 15' 3" solo, soft-chined, highly rockered bad-arse boat that has good speed, side surfs like a champ and spins on a dime. It's been around for like 30 years and of course they don't make them anymore.

There's nothing this boat can't do. I can't say how it will do as a tandem...probably decent for two small people...but as a solo boat, it's a go getter. Have fun with it.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:38 am

jatakasawa wrote:of course they don't make them anymore.

Ah, but Kaz still makes them. It's only 36lbs! Click here: http://millbrookboats.com/ then click on "Tandem Canoes".

jatakasawa · Post by **jatakasawa** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:04 am

Kaz is a smart man. I'm surprised and glad someone is keeping the design alive!!!

Sir Adam · Post by **Sir Adam** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:22 am

John Berry designed it (Millbrook boats). For a light tandem team they are a blast. I hope to have a kevlar one some day. I used to race in on of John's old race boats his tandem partner had (we borrowed it), light and lots of fun.

Info on the millbrook page, plus in the "museum" (click on "Search Boats" in the upper left.

John is a legend, and at least as of this spring still around, though he doesn't paddle much any more.

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:25 am

The Mad River Synergy is similar to the ME in length, width, and overall rocker, but in details they are not that similar. The Synergy is quite asymmetrical, a swedeform boat. It is OK for a light tandem team, and is quite fast for a WW boat. I find my Synergy to be a better solo than tandem boat, and it is a fine solo cruiser for multiple overnighters.

I've never gotten to paddle an ME, though friends have used them on southeastern rivers. I note that some think the ME is a pretty good surfing boat. I've found the Synergy mediocre for front surfing, and deadly for side surfing. But it's a whitewater cruiser, not a playboat.

Post by **sbroam** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:58 am

The ME is a great boat but, as noted, for a light team or heavy solo. For me at 220#ish, it was might first WW boat and now years later my "take a kid" boat - until they get over 100#... Now I'm starting to look for a "take a big kid" boat. I'm definitely keeping the ME, though (as I still have two smaller youngsters).

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:47 pm

we talking same boat?

I know of tandem team that has to go at least 375lbs (without usual gear or outfitting) with no problem in a ME at all.

Post by **sbroam** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:32 pm

As my older two have gotten bigger (120+), it's definitely gotten wetter, somewhat harder to turn, noticeably slower and a little less stable. Maybe I don't tandem with full grown people enough - maybe that's normal.

Walsh · Post by **Walsh** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:52 pm

Wow - nine posts about the ME and we haven't talked about nudity yet.

Post by **sbroam** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:42 pm

I don't think I've ever paddled an ME that way...

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:58 pm

alright lets start a steaking ME regada

I had one for several years as tandem our weight was 340, my solo weight was 150.

As solo, I thought the boat was pretty dry in class two & three, but as tandem alot wetter in class 3, of course I always had my partner and I tried to hit the waves, so i guess it filled up more often, most of it was coming from the stern. My partner

Put airbags in it. Its pretty stable when wet, which I thought good.

It a great beginner boat, I really like it.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:06 pm

Eluno

This seems to be the week to get an old ME. Just picked this one up from CL for 60$. Outfitted and with floatation. It does need to have the gunwales replaced but the price was right for me.
Just cleaned it up today and the hull is in really good condition with no deep gouges. I am going to re out fit it as a solo for tripping.

elunopaddle · Post by **elunopaddle** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:56 am

Geeeeeeeeeeeez, I don't even wash my new car, but what did you do to clean up that canoe?! Whenever I need to sell a boat I hit it with the garden hose and snap a pic before the "new" shine disappears, but this, this make Miagi berry proud.

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Mad River ME, any history, thoughts...

Mad River ME, any history, thoughts...

The Ol' ME

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