Re: [Paddlewise] Current Designs Caribou comments?

Hi Carey,

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, at 8:35:37 PM PST, you wrote:

> Anyone have first-hand experience with a CD Caribou? I'm thinking of
> buying a 2010 model in kevlar that's lightly used. Read the CD
> propaganda but I'm wondering things like how's the skeg for jambing?
> Cruise and turn well I expect. I might have to take it into some
> mangrove creeks and run with he tide from time to time. Any comments
> welcome.

My first boat, bought new back in 1997, was a CD Caribou. No skeg. I
still have this boat, and while it's no longer my only boat, or my
primary ride, I still enjoy paddling it. I've introduced paddling to
several people using this boat, and as it was for me years ago, it
continues to prove itself as a fine boat to get someone started with,
and for them to "grow into" as water texture, wind and currents, and
skills progress.

Since mine doesn't have a skeg, I can't comment on specific skeg
issues (other than the fact that I don't have to deal with skeg
issues), but I can comment on its basic water handling
characteristics...

I've paddled this Caribou in pretty much every kind of [survivable]
situation (and a few others!), from dead calm wetlands to stupid crazy
coastal/open waters, and I'm still here to type about it! That's got
to say something for this boat! :) I don't think any boat can be
called "perfect in every way", so while the Caribou has its moments
when a compromise can be felt, I'm hard pressed to find another boat
that can keep a paddler both happy and feeling confident in such a
wide variety of conditions.

In terms of "hull speed by the numbers", it's certainly not the
fastest boat. Nor is it the slowest boat around. That said, against
strong currents, winds, and waves, it has always been fast enough to
get me where I'm going. Paddling in groups with various fine boats and
good paddlers, I've never had any trouble keeping up. Often enough, I
find myself paddling backwards just to "keep up" with some people! ;)

Though not Olympic race fast, this boat really shines in a wide
variety of conditions. Living on the WA coast for the past 13 years,
and paddling nearly every day for all these years, I've had a chance
to test not only myself, but my boats as well. The Caribou always
feels comfortable; as if no matter what is thrown at us (me and the
boat), I feel confident that we'll get through it, and usually without
too much trouble. Chaotic/clapotis-like five foot wind waves with
opposing wind and currents over uneven shoals...no problem. She
dances. I may have to put some real work into it at times, but if I
do, she'll respond and do her job, and allow me to go where I need to
go.  And survive.

Catching rides on wind waves, big and small, is a joy in this boat. On
steep, short wave faces of just the right size, purling can be an
issue, but with decent trim overall, and perhaps some body english,
it's not such a big deal. I've had lots of fun in big point and shore
breaks as well, but remember, it's an almost 18' boat after all...it's
not a waveski! :) Again though, I feel pretty good about keeping it
under control in most surf launchings and landings, and confident that
even when something does go a bit sideways, we'll probably recover
from it.

As with many boats, there's some weathercocking to deal with at times
(good trim can minimize this effect, but not totally eliminate it in
all conditions). Even with this skegless boat however, I've edged,
leaned, and stroked my way up and down this coast, and still don't
feel the need for a skeg. I'm sure some days would have been a great
deal easier with a skeg, but I enjoy various aspects of boat handling
and working with the conditions, so it's all just part of the fun for
me. Never had a jammed skeg issue to deal with, either! ;) I still
don't have a boat with a skeg or rudder. Body, boat, and blade is
enough to keep me in my happy place.

You can keep this boat going straight, and when you feel like turning,
it loves to do that too. Responds very well to edges, leans, and
strokes of all sorts and combinations. On textured water, you can add
wave crest timing, working with the wind, and special strokes for
certain turns, and this boat will respond predictably.

My boat was built in Sidney, B.C., and though I haven't been at all
gentle with her, she's still going strong. It's about time to shore up
the strength where the coaming meets the deck, and perhaps a bit of
gel coat repair here and there, but with all this boat has been
through over the past 13 years (lively surf landings, rock gardens,
rough portages, etc.), I might have expected even more severe
structural failures much sooner than this.  A well built boat.

So then, with the glowing review above, why isn't the Caribou still my
primary boat? Mostly, it has to do with how various design elements
just don't work for me so well anymore because of the direction in
which my preferred paddling techniques have evolved over the years...

For instance, I now prefer a much lower deck profile, both fore and
aft. Layback rolls are certainly possible with the Caribou, but
they're much more comfortable with a lower aft deck. I prefer the fit
and profile of a lower foredeck as well. The cockpit feels just a bit
cavernous to me these days. I've preferred a much smaller cockpit
opening for years now as well. Though I've only had a tight neoprene
spray skirt pop off of the Caribou's large cockpit coaming a few times
in heavy surf, I definitely feel more confident with a much smaller
cockpit opening.

Visiting friends love to paddle the caribou (and if they want to
paddle my other boat, I'm happy to paddle the 'bou). It's a good "all
around" boat; good on different types of water, reassuring for the
novice, and happy to work with a more advanced paddler in more lively
conditions. It's not everything to everyone--not even for me,
anymore--but it's a good boat, and I'll probably keep it around until
it no longer floats.

-- 
Melissa
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