Hi gang, 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. Carey *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Melissa in her Caribou comments said, "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)." I only rented a Caribou (no skeg) once and paddled it for about 2 hours. It was blowing 25 to 35, but on protected water. I found that in that wind it was one of the most difficult boats to control direction in that I have ever paddled. I hated it and would never buy one. Many people love it, however. Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Jerry, On Friday, February 19, 2010, at 9:50:36 AM PST, you wrote: > I hated it and would never buy one. Many people love it, however. Well, there you go. Pretty much sums up the "different strokes for different folks" thing (literally!). :) I didn't exactly fall in love with the QCC 700 I paddled *once* in some pretty strong winds and lively waves and current either, but many people love that boat too. Had I paddled it more, or in different conditions, or with different goals in mind, etc., I might have liked it more. Or not. Regardless, I feel comfortable saying the following about the Caribou--from both years of personal experience and by observing those I've introduced to paddling using it: It's a fine boat for learning the basics--and beyond--of boat control with just body, boat, blade, and working with the conditions at hand. If you can handle the Caribou in all sorts of conditions, even without a skeg, you've probably got a pretty decent foundation of paddling skills that will serve you well in any other boat. The same can be said for many other boats, no doubt. To each our own (which usually ends up meaning "a fleet" :)). -- Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
A little aside ... A fellow student, when I went to design school here in Gothenburg, Sweden, designed and then started the manufacture of the Caribou, at Marstrands kajaker, which was a big, roomy kayak, which for many years did well, but then came others produced in ex-Soviet Union, and now I think the production is all gone. Is there a relationship between the CD Caribou and the MK Caribou - does look quite similar to me :-)! ?! All the best, Tord PS A foot of fresh snow is expected overnight! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Tord, On Friday, February 19, 2010, at 11:04:16 AM PST, you wrote: > Is there a relationship between the CD Caribou and the MK Caribou - > does look quite similar to me :-)! ?! I don't think there's a specific relationship beyond sharing a name. The CD Caribou is based on Barry Buchanan's plywood S&G design from many years ago. To my eyes, the two Caribous are different enough to show no real family resemblance; beyond both being kayaks. -- Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Carey Parks said> > Anyone have first-hand experience with a CD Caribou? I'm thinking of > buying > a 2010 model in kevlar that's lightly used. I'm going to hate myself for taking the bait but here goes. My first kayak was the hard chined Arctic Tern, it had high initial stability and zero secondary. In other words you could hang out there on edge until you crossed the line then it would simply turn turtle. The Tern would also carve turns like an Olympic skier on a slalom course. OK that's back ground. The hard chined CD Caribou I paddled (about 5 years ago) had low initial stability which came as a sudden and wet surprise. I also found it hard to turn. It was faster, possibly due to being slightly narrower. But I'm usually never in a rush so that advantage was wasted on me. I got out of the boat wondering how CD could mess up such a simple design. Anyone I know who has purchased this boat has moved on to others shortly there after, this may explain why the one you've found is new and lightly used. These are my humble opinions. I may be in a minority and I may have just opened up a can of worms. In which case grab some poles and lets go fishing. You might also want to contact Matt Boze, he'll likely have a book or detailed notes on the Caribou. Gordin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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