Advice time: Please help a big guy make a good boat choice.

Virgil3 · Post by **Virgil3** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:28 am

So, grew up learning to canoe in an OCA.

Then I convinced my younger brother to help me buy and ME. It was a very nice step up… 20 years ago.

Currently, I have access to the ME and I have a Dimension that I paddle tandem on stuff my wife will paddle with me and solo when she will not.

Both of these boats have descent speed, and I can make them go where I want them to go. Of course, there are draw backs.
The ME is a little wet, and the dimension while dryer is a little big for everyday solo use.

So, I am looking for a boat that had nice full ends and/or a decent amount of rocker to help with the water coming into the boat. Obviously, I will need some help correcting for my line choice from time to time.

I would also like a boat with some workable acceleration and speed.

Also, nice surfing characteristics are a real plus.

Finally, I am looking for a boat that will not drive me crazy on class II stuff that has a few pools.

I have a few boats in mind, but I have not been in that many of the new boats.

Sell me on your favorite boat, or lie to me so that you can watch me swim.

Thanks for your help.

TNbound · Post by **TNbound** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:41 am

Check out some Millbrook boats! All shapes and sizes (including a cool looking brandy new one) and generally more speed than you can shake a stick at. The only boat I've ever paddled from Kaz is a Howler, but it was a blast.

Of course, if you want to swim lots, I suggest a Prelude.

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:53 am

Maybe you should continue treasuring your ME. I often paddle a MR Synergy, which despite some asymmetry and swedeform is dimensionally very similar to an ME. It is an excellent cruising boat on the flattish stuff, and deals with class 3 maneuvers well enough. Yes, it is a little wet, but that just helps you paddle smart.

Another possibility is to solo a Caption. They are drier than Synergies and MEs and quite maneuverable.

I haven't paddled a Prodigy X, and Bell has been dormant recently. My trial of an Outrage X showed that it was a little less dry than my Synergy.

You're lucky to have a Dimension.

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:39 am

Full ends, speed, etc... yeah, Outrage (12') or Outrage X (13') came to mind. Or similar boats like Rival or Probe 12. Or even a Blast as a solo. Or older solo boats like H2Pro, among others.

Pat.

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:55 am

So, how big a guy are we talking about ....

Sir Adam · Post by **Sir Adam** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:22 pm

Millbrook... or Esquif Spark....

Shep · Post by **Shep** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:43 pm

Tor the record, I expected to HATE my Taureau on long pool-rapid rivers, and I did... But only for the first three times I paddled something like that. after some river time, my strokes were well-placed enough to generally keep me going in a straight line. Yeah, I'm sure I am more tired at the end of the day than if I were in a longer boat, but without a side-by-side comparison, I don't notice.

This isn't a WW/tripping boat. Get a boat for it's performance in whitewater, and don't worry about the flatwater... you'll have more fun in the rapids and forget about it in the pools.

Shep

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:55 pm

a few to look at that come to mind...

Esquif Nitro or Vertige
Mad River Outrage or Outrage X
Wenonah Recon
Mohawk Probe

where are you located?

http://www.cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic. ... ight=nitro

Walsh · Post by **Walsh** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:10 pm

Mad River (or Dagger if you can find one) Caption? Seems like a logical step forward from the Dimension . . .

milkman · Post by **milkman** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:16 pm

You seem like an old school-kind of guy. I think I'd second Craig's suggestion to check out the Wenonah Recon. It looks a lot like the old Dagger Genesis--a great canoe for the bigger guy. See: http://wenonah.com/products/template/pr ... ca245dc860 You could be the first on your block with it.

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:17 pm

wait a minute here... do you want a tandem boat you can also paddle solo... or a solo boat???

if it's going to be a tandem boat... (use a triple saddle and put the thwarts in all the right places!!!)

Esquif Vertige X or possibly a Blast
Dagger or Mad River Caption
Mohawk XL Series

eddyhops · Post by **eddyhops** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:13 pm

philcanoe wrote:So, how big a guy are we talking about ....

x2

Bob Wiggins · Post by **Bob Wiggins** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:47 pm

a probe (12 for solo/14 for tandem/solo) would be a great boat for what you want- reasonably fasts, very dry, and easy to get where you want it, forgiving in case you dont.

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:41 pm

I've found the Viper 12 to be much drier than the Probe 12.

Virgil3 · Post by **Virgil3** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:29 pm

First- weight - about 250
Second - I have a very nice tandem boat, so this will be for solo only.

Thanks for all of the responses.

C-Forum

Advice time: Please help a big guy make a good boat choice.

Advice time: Please help a big guy make a good boat choice.

To answer a few questions.