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 So many factors: safe one way , safe another way.. New
- Forum: BoaterTalk
Re:  Which Creeker do you feel the safest in? Sentinel New
Date: Apr 29 2008, 17:57 GMT
From: ClayW
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Safe in what way?
The lightest boat keeps me adjusting, accelerating, and portaging best, so I'm more likely to stick lines and not fall into the river unexpectedly.
High volume ended boats are less likely to 'get sucked down' by seives, logs, etc and might be less likely to 'find that hidden pin spot' that everyone else missed than a small or lower volume boat.
The heaviest boat might resist folding the most, so once I'm in a pin it's a safest at that point.
The largest cockpit is easiest to escape, so when I'm pinned or rushing to exit I like those a lot.
Sturdy outfitting so I don't get knocked out of it or have it fall apart on the inside on a hit so I'm less in control the rest of the run.
Plastic vertical 'I-beam' or better yet rotomolded pillar constructions fights deck compression and folding, but lack of a center wall aides quick escapes. I've kicked the center wall over 2x to exit a boat, if it's anchored .. safer or just sturdier? Depends on the particular experience.
So - there's structural integrity, weight, cockpit ease of exit, outfitting, and volume. ..
Then you get to grab-loop integrity for extraction, impact absorbing bulkheads for ankle safety, cockpit height and width for rib safety, front of cockpit shape (recessed or protruding) for nose and teeth on landings, etcetera etcetera...
Mega-rocker feels really 'safe' on me, but I choose the Rocker because I'm more in control and enjoy the ride better. I choose the smaller Hero or Punk rocker more than ever these days because they are lighter and shorter and even more fun.
It's safest to stay home watching TV. It's funnest running the gnar in the smallest, lightest boat you feel confident in. Choose some level in between - tons of great options out there.
Clay
PS: A truly UNSAFE boat is one you can't pull your knees together and stand up in without touching the backband or leaning back. Boats like the Y, Phat, and some Draggo boats have small cockpits that are inescapable form many people in the event of even the most benign bow-down pin situation. If you have long legs, cockpit size should be a very important factor. Minor bow-down pins and holding onto a rock in current above some hazard - these are very common experiences in low volume creeking but become major when you can't just jump out.
C
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