Otterboy's Creek Boat Diaries
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6165
Printed Date: 12 Oct 2025 at 6:11pm
Topic: Otterboy's Creek Boat Diaries
Posted By: Otter Boy
Subject: Otterboy's Creek Boat Diaries
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2008 at 10:57pm
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My beloved CFS is not long for this world, so I'm trying out new creak boats. This weekend I tried the Jackson Rocker and the Pyranha Burn. Rocker Main Skykomish - 3200 cfs. I really liked this boat. The outfitting is great. It's a bit weird, but it's easier to adjust. I'm a bit concerned about the string slipping out while under stress, but that may be more paranoia than anything else. The Rocker handles great. It has a full displacement hull, so it takes a bit of getting used to. I found the displacement hull to be a bit more tippy, but with good secondary stability. It’s not an issue if you’re leaing forward and paddling hard. That boat handles like a dream. It carved into the waves like it was reading my mind. It boofs really well, although I'm not exaclty sure I know how to boof. Isn't that where you make a scary face and fart to help get over a strong eddy line? On the downside, I found it a bit short, I think it would be more likely to ender out on big drops. If I go this direction I'll get the Megarocker. |
Replies:
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 6:28am
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Bryon, I think the scary fart is called the pfft. ------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman |
Posted By: STLboater
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:14am
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i always thought the scary fart was the shart
------------- Kayak Academy Whitewater Instructor |
Posted By: ashleygoesdisco
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:26am
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Bryon- When I got my first Jackson, I rigged up a ratchet system with the strings. My dad bolted ratchets to the inside of the boat and tied the strings through the ends. It worked pretty darn well.
------------- Ashley Duffus Well behaved women rarely make history. www.naiyadays.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Otter Boy
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:43am
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Thanks, Ashley. My main worry with the string system is that it breaks loose. Did you develop that ratchet system to avoid that problem? I actually like the ability to adjust the strings, so as long as they hold under pressure I'm sure it will be fine. Does anyone with a Jackson have feedback on this?
- OB
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Posted By: arnobarno
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 11:07am
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Bryon, Neither Deborah or I have had any problems with the strings but I know that Adrian (who has the same 2007 model 4Fun) had quite a few problems with strings breaking. I also noticed that Jackson changed the strings in their 2008 boats back to the 2006 type of string (you can see that info on their website) because of issues with the strings. arn ------------- arn9schaeffer@gmail.com (remove 9 for my real email address) |
Posted By: Otter Boy
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 11:55am
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Thanks, Arn. That's what I needed to know. |
Posted By: STLboater
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 12:04pm
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taken from a local paddling forum about changing the ropes on jacksons to better rope. I paddle a star in MO, it might be an 05. I dont usually have problems with the ropes slipping, but I have had it happen mid rapid or mid surf, which is fairly unpleasant. Hope this helps... "each winter we inspect our boats more than usual only to find you guessed it, the string is on its way out! ready to break in a rapid.. ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif"){kind=icon} so at first I tryed just some nylon cord. but I saw how it was not heavy enough..so we went to R.E.I. ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif"){kind=icon} and picked up some accessory cord ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_idea.gif"){kind=icon}
also called utility cord.. 5mm with a 1250lb. tensil strength at 19
grams per meter weight.. much stiffer and heavier and could immediatly
see this was the real stuff.. also got 4mm 900lb 15gram per meter
cord.. both made by ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_arrow.gif"){kind=icon} www.bluewaterropes.com ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif"){kind=icon}
.. got 30 feet of both spending less than$20... 40 inches does one
string.. so you need 80 inches to do one boat... it is possible on some
boats that 36 inches works and might be safer.. but it dont take a
rocket scientist to figure the string length..my allstar and superstar
had 5mm cord but tina's 07 star has 4mm. both seam to work, although
her 05 fun looks to have 6mm cord..these days I think 6mm is too much..
4 and 5 mm cord is our choice for 08'.. just remember R.E.I. and
bluewate ropes well that is what we discovered.. happy new year to all!!! ![]("http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif"){kind=icon} "http://teamdirtclod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2074 ------------- Kayak Academy Whitewater Instructor |
Posted By: Adrian
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 12:45pm
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As Arn, says I have had a lot of the strings break. At SRK they said Jackson knew about the problems and that it was mainly taller people that had this problem - the advice was to drill a guide hole further forward - thus invalidating the warranty. I've also had a lot of problems with the strings slipping in the cleats. Its got to the stage I no longer trust the cleats and tie a knot in the strings to make sure they don't slip, time consuming and annoying each time I get in the boat. I've not heard anyone else having similar problems around here. ------------- Adrian (20six) 34nine 6two51 |
Posted By: STLboater
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:05pm
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what year jackson boat do you have? They have used differnt mm and quality rope in differnt years
------------- Kayak Academy Whitewater Instructor |
Posted By: ashleygoesdisco
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:08pm
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I've seen alot of people with knots in their strings... So they don't slip... good idea.
------------- Ashley Duffus Well behaved women rarely make history. www.naiyadays.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Sisu
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:33pm
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Any opinions out there on the Wavesport Habitat? |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 2:29pm
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I went through 3 sets of ropes in 6 months while paddling for Jackson. What I would find is that after 10-12 uses, the ropes stop holding in the cleats. My brother had problems as well where his actually ripped through the side wall. ------------- |
Posted By: oukr9965
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 3:07pm
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I guess I'm fortunate, but I haven't had any problems with my Jackson SuperStar. It's an 07. I'll look into carrying some extra line with me though. Good luck. |
Posted By: fiddleyak
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 3:56pm
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My 2007 Jackson Rocker backband slips pretty often. I find that if I pull it really tight, then push with my back against the backband, it pulls the string against the cleats and holds decently. It's never totally failed but it never is quite as tight as I'd like. Habitat 80: I paddled this all summer and it's my pick for the best creekboat design ever. However, I now paddle the Rocker because it has a better warranty, plus the bulkhead that shifts forward on a piton is an essential safety feature. I don't think I will buy a different creekboat design unless it contains this feature. |
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 4:25pm
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Bryon, I was going to mention the bulkhead/drawstring option also. While I haven't had a chance to test it I have red at least two stories of people who have pitoned from 20 feet up straight onto a rock and got a sore ankle out of it, but they could still walk out with their boat. Do a search on the Jackson website for it. They were both write-ups on the site. As far as the back band, I'm on my 4th All-Star with pretty routine use and eventually they all break, but the repair is very cheap and easy. SRK has a slightly thicker rope than the Jackson rope and it's much burlier. Plus it's about $0.39 a foot. I've never had a problem with slippage. in the Rocker, Fun, or All-Star. As a side note, I do think the Habitat is a great design, but I'm not crazy about the outfitting. ------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman |
Posted By: Adrian
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 5:03pm
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STLBoater: I have a 2007 jackson 4 fun. I am hoping SRK will give me some of the new ropes from this years model to try out. Saw Jacksons web page where he admitted the new ropes had problems. Also I have a rip developing where the rope is tied off. ------------- Adrian (20six) 34nine 6two51 |
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 5:21pm
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If you guys are having problems with the rope I can give you advice on how to fix it, but I have to see it. It's the geometry of the angle the rope is in. If you've ever taken a rescue class, think Vector pull. ------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman |
Posted By: Otter Boy
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2008 at 11:21pm
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Mystic Skykomish: 2000 cfs I took a Mystic out today (thanks Tobin). Good boat, I have nothing bad to say about it. It did what I wanted it to do. I did manage to bash a few rocks because it's a lot faster than my CFS and I tended to drive for an eddy too early.
All in all I like the Rocker. I think I'll order one from SRC. The 2008 boats should be here in Februrary.
- OB
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