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note Get a boat with a little edge, and get a large size. New

Forum: BoaterTalk
Re: question Creek boat questions Matt99 New
Date: Dec 03 2008, 19:55 GMT
From: arrmike

arrmike

At your weight, you can paddle most of the medium boats and most of the large boats, but I'd favor the large boats if you plan to do overnighters like you say.

Some creekboats have very little edge and are mainly displacement hulls.  This makes them paddle quite a bit differently than boats with some edge or a hull that has flatter sections.  Since you regularly paddled the rx, and aren't interested in pushing class V creeking, there is  no reason to have to re-learn how to paddle a displacement boat.

Some boats to look for are the magnum80 (hard to find used), large burn, everest.  They all have some performance of a planing hulled boat.  I would also check something like the new diesel or the thunder76 to compare.  These are river-runners, but you may not need some of the overkill that a creeker provides.

I'm about your size 6'3", 195, size 14 feet.  I have self-supported out of the magnum80 and it holds a ton of gear while still staying maneuverable.  If I were never going to run waterfalls, or low volume class V, I would probably prefer the thunder though.  It has a fun surfing hull while still providing the length and volume to feel very confident on tough water.

But my most important point is to lean toward the larger size of boat.  with your height and feet, you are limited in where your seat/bulkhead is in a medium size boat.  That limits how much gear you can comfortably bring.  Err on the side of the larger boat.

Mike

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