100 Down The Boo
Published June 7, 2011 | 
Up a lazy river by the old mill stream
That lazy, hazy river where we both can dream
Linger in the shade of an old oak tree
Throw away your troubles, dream a dream with me
- louis armstrong
Thermometers around here were just hitting 100f as I launched out for my second run down the Baraboo river in 2 days. This time I hauled out my Pyranha. I wanted to do this quickly so that I could get some sense of the differences between this boat and my new/0ld Perception Mirage. Yeah, it’s obvious that they are totally different kayaks..but unless you actually do the butt-in-boat time it’s all theory. What surprised me was that the much shorter Pyranha actually seems easier to keep on a line than 13 foot Mirage. Of course while surfing and playing in a small hole there was no comparison. The playboat actually listens to commands! Continue reading
Pinks & Pods
Published March 18, 2010 | 
You could be my flamingo
‘Coz pink is the new kinda lingo
Pink like a deco umbrella
It’s kink – but you don’t ever tell her
- aerosmith
Check out this pink Pyranah Fusion kayak. I think the fusion, which is a bit of an old school boat brought up to date, is one of the few more distinctly “new” boats to come around in some time. I need a respectable, non-playboat-river runner and the fusion might be the perfect beast. Luckily for most they come in other others. As for me, I’ve been pining for a pink “Hello Kitty” Special. Notice the little black deck thingy. That’s the $60 optional pod. Looks a little like a black plastic counter cookie jar. 
Continue reading
no, but, wait
Published March 16, 2009 | 
How can it be “old school” when old school is so old school that I don’t remember old school. I mean I’ve only seen a Dancer nailed to a wall. But I’m told the new Fusion from Pyranha is basically an old school boat with some modern embelishments. What it is is a river kayak handle up to class 3 white water and still carry some kit. Now, I have to say, I do like this boat. I mean, not THIS boat exactly. I’ve yet to paddle the new Fusion (and yellow’s not my bag either). In fact the one at Canoecopia was the first to land over here, but I love the concept. I can image there are plenty of us out there that would enjoy a tough little river boat that’s a bit more predictable than a playboat. Now we just have to get a few together for a test paddle.
Fish Teeth
Published November 14, 2005 | found a book on how to be invisible
Take a pinch of keyhole
And fold yourself up
You cut along the dotted line
You think inside out
And you’re invisible – k. bush
We got a new toy! It’s a Piranha I:3 222. We had been looking for a play boat for some time but I was having a hard time wading through all the options let alone coming up with the $1000+ bucks they cost these days. In talks with a friend I had decided on a used boat. I had also decided that my friend could pick the boat since he knows white water and I know nothing. Lesson #107, “if you know nothing about it, trust someone who does”. Well, we talked about a couple boats but I could not find one on the used market or get a response when I did email someone about a boat they had to sell. Then suddenly I had an opportunity to get a Piranha. I had to take it. Suffice to say we’ve been out all weekend playing with our new toy.
The one thing I really didn’t like about most whitewater boats that I had been in is how they rolled. WW boats seem to have only two positions, up and down. I remember trying a “Hoss” a couple times and having a really tough time just getting it over. Then when I was over I had to really snap that dog back up. This is nothing like a sea boat that comes up in a nice smooth roll. When talking to friends I was getting the feeling that this was just a play boat thing and I would have to get used to it. What a shock it was when I put the I:3 over easily and it rolled up smoothly. In fact it felt very similar to my sea boat in that aspect. I got really lucky there.
Yesterday we had a little wind and some baby waves on the local lake. As I rode in on the little 8 inch waves, I noticed how easy it was to get the nose to sink just by leaning forward. After some trial and error I found that with a little momentum from the waves I could push my feet down and lift my thighs against the braces and really dive the nose until I’d stall, lose my balance, and fall over sideways in a big splash. Wow! In real waves this is going to be a blast!
I’m not a white water dude and don’t really want to be. I just wanted a boat I could use for pools and rolling practice, and for those rare occasions when I had a surf to play in. It looks like the Piranha will be a perfect choice. What a great thing it is to just throw the boat in the back of the jeep and be off. No strapping, no 10 tones of gear, just “body, boat, blade” in it’s purest form. Oh, and the best part?? It’s red.
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