Ya want an expedtion boat? « WaterTribe Forums

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Ya want an expedtion boat?

(30 posts) (12 voices)

Started 1 year ago by whitecaps
Latest reply from CrazyRussian

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No shorts allowed. Nope not me.

whitecaps
Member

Expedtion boat. A lot of the boats I seen lately on the beach I have never ever seen on any canping trips! Anywhere I have been. Must not get around much. The Watertribe has made some day sailing boats become ledgens.

Some of the fast boats have never done and never will do a fun camping trip. Let alone a real expedtion.

I have seen more Gruman canoes do the Wilderness Waterway than most any other boat on the beach.

Ben and Emily are the only ones I seen yet take a big real expedtion boat thru the EC all the way. (congrats from me)

Kayaks yea they work. If you are under 5 ft 10 165 and want go mim. stuff all your gear in 10 liter or smaller bags.

Why I paddle a Kruger. Hell it just feels good. Yea I haul a full size chair, wine, tarp, and alot of other goodies.

I have yet to find any paddling trip and a lot of sailing trips I cannot go on. Oh yea I can sail this boat pretty good.

Speed, well so far I have been able to hang with any Kayak groups I have gone with if they are going to camp.

Stable, well it’s kind of neat to sit in 3 foot whitecaps and call home and say all is well no matter what direction the seas are coming from with the paddle under the bungie on the front deck.

I use my boat to see new places and camp. I have gone all the way around Florida and most places in this state you can paddle. I have gone across the state of Missouri and the state Michigan from Detroit to Chicago. Done some small whitewater on the Buffalo River.

I have dragged and pulled this boat across and thru so many shells, rocks, concrete, and jumped so many logs , a lot with barnacles.

My boat has been over 10 miles off shore and been thru the Nightmare at low tide.

The main thing is I go on constant fun trips all the time and never know whom will ask me next on whatever trip and I know my boat will make the trip with no break downs and I can haul a full expedition load for however many days anywhere.

Same rudder cables same everything except bungee cords. Give me a break in Florida sunshine.

Do some research and see how many Krugers have finished.

Tell me what your boat has done!

toby

Posted 1 year ago #
Feks
Member

For me its the oposit, I like a boat I can portage by my self, with all my kit in one go, my favorit is the skin on frame F1 designd by Brian at Cape Falcon Kayaks . fully riged with a sail and all safty kit its 18kg, with a minamalist aproch to what kit I take its an easy cary , the lite boat travels faster on the water , which means less energy to do the distance. I can fit enough kit in it for 5 nights and still have room, and its only 14ft 8 .

In the end it all boils down to what you need to be at home with, I look at what I have in my kit , and how often I yous what I have to deside wether I need to cary it . I aply this to all but my safty gear . its suprising what we cary that we never seam to need.

Posted 1 year ago #
spidennis
Member

I'll have to take a closer look at a Kruger sometime but for what I'm doing a fully enclosed cockpit is a must thing in some of the coastal waters I'm paddling in. Presently my Current Designs Extreme fits the bill and it's slated for some long, long trips!

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

I'm still partial to my Sea Pearl and if I could find someone who could tolerate me for 6 days I'd give the WW a go. Would be no Gator tooth since I'm told Broad creek is a no go. I like a boat I can sleep in and it is basically a large sailing canoe. Dave

Posted 1 year ago #
GatorBaitsMate
Member

So you have been through the "nightmare" at low tide:

Did you enjoy wallowing in the mud to get the boat over that log about a half mile from the southern end?

We made the mistake this past March of checking the tides and even though it was an outgoing tide, it was a "High-Low tide" so we went for it. -Believe me it was no fun in the mud trying to get our 23 foot long, 100 pound expedition kayak over that log.

Jack L

Posted 1 year ago #
LeatherLungs
Member

GatorBaitsMate wrote:

So you have been through the "nightmare" at low tide:

Did you enjoy wallowing in the mud to get the boat over that log about a half mile from the southern end?

Jack,

I can't seem to find it, but there's a great video on You Tube somewhere where Whitecaps & Jarhead take Krugers through the Nightmare at low tide and manage to get over a log (same one?) and I believe they stayed in their boats!

I like my dory for expeditions, but obstacles like the Nightmare & portages are out of the question. I keep looking in to kayaks and Krugers, etc., but can't get past the idea of paddling that long. The idea of looking forward appeals to me, but when rowing I use my whole body and can last all day. The dory's a good sailor too, as long as I don't ask her to point too high.

Neil

Posted 1 year ago #
Uthred
Member

LeatherLungs wrote:

I keep looking in to kayaks and Krugers, etc., but can't get past the idea of paddling that long. The idea of looking forward appeals to me, but when rowing I use my whole body and can last all day.

Just wanted to make a point on the paddling all day in a Kruger. It is not like a regular kayak. I have a Current Designs Pices ( older model just shy of 18 feet, 24 inch beam large volume ). This kayak is very stable, and not too slow. I love it, I can paddle it at least 1.5 knots faster in 1 hour than I can the Kruger with the same amount of effort.

However...

It is NO WHERE near as comfortable, it is not "high and dry", there is no rest from switching paddling hands, it is tiring. After about 25 miles I feel like I have been hit by a truck and that is in nice weather. I am in good shape and no slacker when it comes to physical challenges. In the Kruger I can paddle 25 miles with NO ill effects in any weather condition. I average paddling about 3 - 3.5 MPH as opposed to 4 MPH over 25 miles in the CD. The difference is, I could probably do another 25 miles in the Kruger. When I did the WW last year with my friend, he took my Current Designs - I did notice the Kruger is much less windward friendly and I could not keep up to him in a very strong headwind though in every other condition I could keep up with him for the most part. At the end of the day I could have kept going easily and he was pretty beat up.

Your welcome to try mine anytime.

Posted 1 year ago #
LeatherLungs
Member

Uthred wrote:

Your welcome to try mine anytime.

Thanks U. where do you live?

Posted 1 year ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

LeatherLungs - I am thinking of the Gig Harbor Melonseed (http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/Cedar-Key-Florida/Cedar-Key-Small-Boat-Show/22822947_vnHvWs#!i=1831542817&k=THM4GQQ&lb=1&s=L) as a possible solo EC boat. It has sliding seat rowing, but I am trying to figure out what to do with the pars when rowing against the wind. What do you do?

Posted 1 year ago #
Sundance
Member

A question for DaveonCudjoe. A Seapearl doing the WW is an interesting idea and could no doubt do it all but the Nightmare. How would you portage to the saltwater side at Flamingo?

Jim

Posted 1 year ago #
LeatherLungs
Member

Ridgerunner wrote:

I am trying to figure out what to do with the pars when rowing against the wind. What do you do?

RidgeRunner,

That looks like a nice boat. Is that the exact boat you're looking at or one like it? How many sf is the sail area? I was thinking of increasing mine (currently 64 sf)

I lay the spars down next to me in the boat and wrap the sail to the them with bungee type sail ties. One fwd of the mast & two aft keeps everything secure, even in EC2012 conditions! The mast unsteps and fits in there too, for those low bridges. Don't know if that system would get in the way of your slider, but it works well with my fixed seat config.

Root posted a video on you tube of my arrival in Key Largo that gives you a good view:

LeatherLungs - Key Largo

. . . hope that helps.

LL

Posted 1 year ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

Yes, Leatherlungs, that is our boat at the Cedar Key Small Boat Meet. My wife and I had some great sails down there. I downsized from a Norseboat because this one rowed better and was much easier to set up bor day sailing.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

Oh, and thanks for the viedo views. I looked at the page and saw the banjo video. I, too, am learning to play a clawhammer banjo! Must be lug rig sailors ;~)

Posted 1 year ago #
LeatherLungs
Member

RR

Check your email.

LL

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Jim,

RidgeRunner assures me that a Sea Pearl can't make it through the Broad Creek, I probably would not do the Nightmare eather. The portage would not be easy but a couple of wheels and my winch on the bow should allow the transition since most of it is paved. Dave

Posted 1 year ago #
Uthred
Member

LeatherLungs wrote:

Uthred wrote:

Your welcome to try mine anytime.

Thanks U. where do you live?

I am in Southern Ontario - about 1.5 hours up from Buffalo. I have some down time in the fall I might make a trip to the east coast.

Posted 1 year ago #
LeatherLungs
Member

Uthred wrote:

I am in Southern Ontario - about 1.5 hours up from Buffalo. I have some down time in the fall I might make a trip to the east coast.

Let me know ( calurphy at yahoo dot com ). A fellow CLC Dory builder/sailor/rower from Ottawa and I are hooking up around then, too. He may come to the Jersey Shore (Barnegat Bay) for a while before we head to the NCC2012 in September.

He and I did a week on Parry Sound (Killbear Park) last Fall - beautiful area.

Posted 1 year ago #
whitecaps
Member

Wow! Believe it or not this thread was sarcastictly meant just to get a rise.

I am dumbfounded.

Ani't it great how we each precieve our own world. Pay attention boys and girls. There is a ton of smart advice on this forum ya just got to be smart enough to take advantage of it and make it work for you only.

Dave on Cudjoe. A SeaPearl is my fav class 4. Yea I can see it making Broad Creek with some prior scouting. (ya gonna swim. Ya gonna scratch or wood stain the boat.) Nightmare gets kind of tight even at hi tide. Ya need a parterner and are willing to finnish even after the dead line I could be interested in taking a Sea pearl through the WW. E-Mail me Dave.

toby

Posted 1 year ago #
BustedRudder
Member

I thought the world might have gone mad after reading this thread. Had to check the rosters for the next NCC and EC to make sure the kruger borg hadn't assimilated all the kayakers out there. Looks like we are alive and well.

True, I don't have room for a 5 gallon bucket of wine in either forward or aft hatches, and I can't fit a scattergun in the cockpit, but I can easily lift the boat over my head to rack it on my vehicle for workouts in the morning.

Yes I may be a minimalist. Packing a kayak for an EC is an excercise in frugality. Do I pack a chainsaw or a pocket knife? A cord of wood or a few sticks of lighter pine? These are tough choices for Americans inclined to supersizing.

There may come a day I can no longer fit into a kayak and migrate to an "expedition canoe" like a hermit crab finding that roomier shell. It will be a sad day for me. Kayaks are cool. They are faster into the wind, off the wind, and even if rolled your gear is dry. Besides they just look good... container ship / frigate.

My kayak finished the last EC. It's bottom looks a lot like Toby now. I'm not bothered by dragging it and when fiberglass starts to show I will give it an epoxy/graphite face lift. No big deal.

The big question is, will chief show up at the NCC with a kayak? If that were to happen, could others be saved?

See you on the beach!

Posted 1 year ago #
OneEyedJake
Member

"It's bottom looks a lot like Toby now. " ??

......uh-oh....

You did mean smooth and good-looking didn't you, Bob?

Posted 1 year ago #
Feks
Member

BustedRudder wrote:

I thought the world might have gone mad after reading this thread. Had to check the rosters for the next NCC and EC to make sure the kruger borg hadn't assimilated all the kayakers out there. Looks like we are alive and well.

True, I don't have room for a 5 gallon bucket of wine in either forward or aft hatches, and I can't fit a scattergun in the cockpit, but I can easily lift the boat over my head to rack it on my vehicle for workouts in the morning.

Yes I may be a minimalist. Packing a kayak for an EC is an excercise in frugality. Do I pack a chainsaw or a pocket knife? A cord of wood or a few sticks of lighter pine? These are tough choices for Americans inclined to supersizing.

There may come a day I can no longer fit into a kayak and migrate to an "expedition canoe" like a hermit crab finding that roomier shell. It will be a sad day for me. Kayaks are cool. They are faster into the wind, off the wind, and even if rolled your gear is dry. Besides they just look good... container ship / frigate.

My kayak finished the last EC. It's bottom looks a lot like Toby now. I'm not bothered by dragging it and when fiberglass starts to show I will give it an epoxy/graphite face lift. No big deal.

The big question is, will chief show up at the NCC with a kayak? If that were to happen, could others be saved?

See you on the beach!

Can sumone define Minamalist for me ? what wold hapen if we all looked at what we cary , then thort about what we realy youse , and what we have never yoused , take what we have never youse of the list , look at everything els and deside what we can cary that dose moltipal jobs on the list , then deside if thers enything ther that we can live without , and see what kind of a lode we are left with . this proses shold not include our safty gear , as we al hope we never need to youse it . I look at a load of about 25kg with room for about 20l of water , this still all fits into a 14ft skin on frame kayak thats only 15kg , and thats fited with a sail , spear paddle tow line and electric pump . at a pinch I can prtage the hole kit in one .

Posted 1 year ago #
spidennis
Member

Feks, that's easy, it all depends on the size of your boat!
..... and whether or not you got to carry it on your back of course!

Posted 1 year ago #
Feks
Member

Thats my kind of traveling !!!!! but I tend to youse a skin on frame sea kayak

Posted 1 year ago #
whitecaps
Member

Posted 1 year ago #
whitecaps
Member

In defense Yaks have done some remarkable stuff. I take my hat off to them.

Ya ever double blade up a shallow rock river? Ya ever set up camp in sleet when you are cold and shirving. I want my gear right now and I want to be warm quick!

As of now the only two boats that I see that I would use for a real take me there boat is Kruger and a Sea Pearl.

Ya gotta remember I want to have some comfort and look see what is going around me. You want to set a record look elsewhere. (maybe)

Kruger adventures are a no brainer. Sea Pearl adventures check out http://www.seapearlboats.org/

Whats your definition of an expedtion?

toby

Posted 1 year ago #
Feks
Member

Whitecaps, which krugers are thay? I now thers a hole bunch of diferant designs . as for sails I woldent bother with my CZ 70 or 80 I wold recomend going strait for the CZ100 , with a standard mast mount , and if you wher after a mizen , id consider the 80 with a sloted mast.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

Matt has done well with his designs, including going up the shallow St. Marys with a yuloh . . . but then, he's the Wizard.

Posted 1 year ago #
CrazyRussian
Member

I can get everywhere sea perl can. And I can do it without partner. Rocky river isn't much a problem either, as long as it is downstream.
It is true that I didn't do any expedition travel last few years - having big sailboat I live on makes me lazy, however my inflatable catamaran traveled a lot in a past. It has been in places where no Kruger has been yet. :) and I used public transportation to get there.
I know guys doing some expeditions recently on my type of boats. Hey, we also have been in white staff krugers so proud about :)
http://www.inflatable-catamarans.com/includes/photo_viewer.php?photosPath=img/greenland/2011/&title=Greenland-2011%20on%20Ducky-19

Posted 12 months ago #
Feks
Member

CrazyRussian wrote:

I can get everywhere sea perl can. And I can do it without partner. Rocky river isn't much a problem either, as long as it is downstream.
It is true that I didn't do any expedition travel last few years - having big sailboat I live on makes me lazy, however my inflatable catamaran traveled a lot in a past. It has been in places where no Kruger has been yet. :) and I used public transportation to get there.
I know guys doing some expeditions recently on my type of boats. Hey, we also have been in white staff krugers so proud about :)
http://www.inflatable-catamarans.com/includes/photo_viewer.php?photosPath=img/greenland/2011/&title=Greenland-2011%20on%20Ducky-19

just looked at the links to pictures , what is the cat you youse ? I realy like the look of it !

Posted 12 months ago #
CrazyRussian
Member

Hi, Feks. My boat is much older from Soviet times. These are modern catamarans, same idea. In my opinion, they are ideal expedition boats - high load capacity, relatively light, albeit not as light you may think, decent sailing performance, they are not as fast as fiberglass brothers, but still fast, will match best class 4 monohulls. And you can keep the boat under a bed between expeditions, and fit it INTO rental car at the end of one.
Price tag isn't a shocker too. Ducky line of the inflatable catamarans from Ukraine has been around for about ten years, I have not heard any negative comments about them. Manufacturer sell boats to western countries, have decent customer service, their 17 and 19 models are EC ready, in my opinion. I'm not sponsored by the manufacturer and I don't represent any interests here, just voicing my opinion.
http://ducky.com.ua/index.php?lang=en

Posted 12 months ago #

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