who's out there

[jonl]

Having been anti this forum, I'll give it a try and see what happens. I'm interested to know what open boat paddlers there are out there and what sort of rivers and boats they are paddling.

I paddle a Pyranha Prelude, and occasionally a superfly and a home made wooden boat (Alan Bridges design). I'm quite happy in grade iii/iv water and have been paddling over much of the UK as well as French/Austrian alps, Norway, British Columbia and quite extensively in the Massif Central.
Having lived in London for most of my life I am now based in Cambridge.

The reason for asking this question is that my experiences are mainly with kayakers, and was surprised when I met someone in the Lakes last week who had paddled his Skeeter on the upper Tarn. This is probably one of the best rivers I have ever paddled, and I was surprised that any other open boaters had paddled it.

[mharrall]

I kayak most of the time, but I'm sometimes seen in an Old Town Penobscot 16 along with the wife and two dogs.

Martin

[choire]

we are all out there!!

its just that Scotland can swallow a lot of open boats so that it still looks empty.

We paddle everything from Preludes to 17' tourers. Not seen too many smaller than a Prelude though. Small boats certainly open your options when the rain is hammering down, and access up here is not an issue which helps.

[grinner ( not logged in)]

hi
I used to paddle a very very old coleman
but now somene is lending me a spanishfly
but I have paddled a oldtown pack
a minuet
and this old dagger canoe
and I av only paddled a riot teckno C1 once

I paddle at home peirre pont on the little lake by the white water course

[greytowel]

Hi there Grinner
Seen your post on Cboats ,Did you have any luck outfitting the Spanishfly
Greytowel
( SCOTTISH OPEN BOATER )

[Adrian Cooper]

Hi Jon. Seen you post on the Yahoo Group occasionally.

I paddle a Dagger Legend on water usually up to grade 3 with occasional drops more difficult (Henllan, Cenarth falls, Bala Mill etc). Have converted from kayak so experience is more limited. Have paddled in Wales, NW, SW and the more difficult rivers in Slime's Massif Central book.

I have a number of friends who will paddle this type of water in trad of spec boats.

Adrian

[DaveM]

Hi, I paddle most sorts of Canadians, some have even been OCs.

I prefer light decked canoes, and over the previous 30+ years have competed in C1 & C2 slalom, sprint (high kneeling ICF type), WW racing, but also paddle a Coleman 13 with more rocker (good boat).

I'm formly rooted in the 21st century so have more in common with racers than BCU open canoe, but whatever floats your boat is fine by me.

Dave.

PS Mark, can this be a Canoe or Canadian site? I'd like to get the rodeo and racing paddlers in as well, not just OC

[Mark R]

PS Mark, can this be a Canoe or Canadian site? I'd like to get the rodeo and racing paddlers in as well, not just OC

Okay now????

[mharrall]

OK now that you've done that I feel more comfortable with admitting that I used to do C1 slalom and I once had a go in a marathon/sprint racing C1, absolutely the most unstable boat ever without question.

Martin

[grinner ( not logged in)]

Hi there Grinner
Seen your post on Cboats ,Did you have any luck outfitting the Spanishfly
Greytowel
( SCOTTISH OPEN BOATER )

hi
sorry I forgot about this post
I cant outfit it becuase it int mine
I did think about putting somethings init like some old foam but not to stick it int
but I have been usin floats when I was in the pool and they sometimes work and sometimes they let me slide out
but I wont to buy my own boat when I have the money
thanks for your reply greytowel

[High brace]

I paddle a C1 slalom boat - (only thing around that I can paddlke alone on whitewater)

I'm only 16 - part of a racing canoe club, raced a high kneeler, really unstable in the winter series, keeep coming third out of three - not that fast. have paddled C2's with mates on grade 1 & 2 whitewater - think it was a coleman 16'.

I was gonna get a Drakkar wheelboy - but when I found out it was £700 and only a prototype - it was too much.

Have recently found in an old shed a plastic whitewater C1 - looks like an old dagger conversion but haven't paddled it before kinda <o> shaped with flat bottom hull and hardly any rocker - since I live in london I have to travel well far too any whitewater - guess Hurleys closest?

[Jasmine W]

Hi,

Been thinking of admitting my lurker status on this forum for a while. Guess I'd best say hi! Flit to & fro from canoe to kayak but usually just lurk!

Paddle a mad river intrigue when I'm in my 'half paddle' boat. Paddle anything from flat water to grade 3/4 but not had the pleasure of branching out much to anything outside of the usual disciplines ............... yet!

Jaz

[Jerry Murland]

Been dabbling with open boats for a while, I must confess I have 3 of them but I use the 'fleet' for my sideline which is guiding the aged and elderly down the odd river. just about to buy a decent boat for myself, would appreciate any suggestions, It needs to manage grade 3 and be ok for touring. Always looking for boaters to paddle with particularly as I have just taken early retirement, so I can play most days now!

[Adrian Cooper]

Jerry

I can't remember whether you post on the Yahoo Groups site. I have been paddling with people from there for three years or so and have a really good time. We have run the Teifi Tour and a trip to Cumbria to paddle the Lune and Eden. They are also up for the Upper Wye (above Rhyader) and the Usk, and in the summer they can be seen on the Trweryn, upper and lower. Last year I ran a trip with a couple of them to the Massif Central.

Sign up to see if they have anything you are interested in.

As to boats, since the Legend has stopped being made, you need to have a hard look elsewhere. Try the Mad River Freedom, have heard rave reviews. Bell Canoes are promoting their Yellowstone as an alternative although I think it may be assymetric so tread with caution. Novacrat have a few boats on offer but I get the impression the Royalex is thin (I may be wrong).

Happy retail therapy.

Adrian