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Otter Boy
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  Quote Otter Boy Replybullet Topic: Otterboy's Creek Boat Diaries
    Posted: 13 Jan 2008 at 10:57pm

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.

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water wacko
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  Quote water wacko Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 6:28am
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
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  Quote STLboater Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:14am
i always thought the scary fart was the shart
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ashleygoesdisco
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  Quote ashleygoesdisco Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:26am
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
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  Quote Otter Boy Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 10:43am
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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  Quote arnobarno Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 11:07am
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.
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  Quote Otter Boy Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 11:55am

Thanks, Arn. That's what I needed to know.

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  Quote STLboater Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 12:04pm
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.. 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. and picked up some accessory cord 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 www.bluewaterropes.com .. 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/viewtopic.php?t=2074
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  Quote Adrian Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 12:45pm
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.





Edited by Adrian - 14 Jan 2008 at 12:46pm
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  Quote STLboater Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:05pm
what year jackson boat do you have?  They have used differnt mm and quality rope in differnt years
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  Quote ashleygoesdisco Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:08pm
I've seen alot of people with knots in their strings... So they don't slip... good idea. 
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  Quote Sisu Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 1:33pm

Any opinions out there on the Wavesport Habitat?

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  Quote Guests Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 2:29pm
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.
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  Quote oukr9965 Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 3:07pm

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.

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  Quote fiddleyak Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 3:56pm
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.
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  Quote water wacko Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 4:25pm
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
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  Quote Adrian Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 5:03pm
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.


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water wacko
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  Quote water wacko Replybullet Posted: 14 Jan 2008 at 5:21pm
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
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  Quote Otter Boy Replybullet Posted: 19 Jan 2008 at 11:21pm

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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