beginner ww boat

[zappaddles]

Looking for a good advanced beginner ww boat as a gift. As the recepient is young, smart, atheletic, has incredible balance (former gymnast) and already paddles an Explorer I believe the learning curve will be very short for him so I don't want to start him off in a true beginners boat. I have a line on a Probe 12 at a reasonable price. Any thoughts on that boat or any other potential boat(s) is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Vince Zappia
Suwanee Ga.

[ezwater]

Esquif Spark.

Although if he will want to cruise flattish stuff just for scenery, the Probe 12 will be OK.

[Sir Adam]

Are you thinking an open canoe (OC1) or decked (C1)?

Then you need to think about what type of paddling he may be doing - river running / cruising, hole moves, surfing, creeking, etc....

Lots of boats out there, lots of great options.

[zappaddles]

Typical SE US river running up to low level class 3 (for now) is what he''ll be running. I'm a class three low level class 4 boater and assume I'll be the one he goes with (for now).

[Sir Adam]

If you're thinking decked, look for a used slalom boat, Dagger Atom, or Viper.

Though a Sith would be an awesome first C1 (would definitely spoil him).

I think there is one for sale used in the SE too...

[dafriend]

Esquif Spark or Viper11
Probe 12 wouldn't be bad but expect a young, athletic person to soon grow out of it.

A sweet c-1 (makes/models already mentioned) would remain interesting for a good long while.

[philcanoe]

maybe look for loaners, to help let him decide what's comfortable...

Is there a canoe shop around to rent? Or maybe even a club like Carolina Canoe Club or the Georgia Canoe Assoc. where you may find others willing to let him try out a boat? With great balance, he might step right into a little roto-molded boat, or with little learning curve? Their size would certainly be benefical, if not wwanting a C1.

[zappaddles]

He's about 5'8" and 160 or so lbs. Definitely want an open boat.

[djutzi]

Somewhat dependent on how much of a beating the boat will take, but Esquif Zephyr or Detonator come to mind.

[SkeeterGuy86]

if you can find one ... my first solo boat that i learned on was a Dagger Ocoee ... they are really fun boats and are stable as all heck

[zappaddles]

I thought the Ocoee was a more advanced boat. What do you paddle now? An Ocoee would likely be out of my price range.

[Todhunter]

As a beginner, my personal opinion is that I wish I had started out in an advanced hull. It's not that I don't like my Encore, because it is a great boat, and I do love it, but after 5 trips in it, I was ready to step it up and now have 2 boats. The Encore will be good for taking beginners along with, and still getting in for the occasional trip. It is fast, long, and made of that good old Royalex.

[SkeeterGuy86]

i paddle any openboat i can get my hands on lol ... my main boat is a Savage Skeeter at the moment ... but i have found the Ocoee to be a forgiving boat

[ELGOTTO]

I agree with SG86. The Ocoee would be good for a beginning paddler because the boat has great initial stability. The hard chine would give a lot of beginning paddlers a rude awakening but if he can control the tilt with his balance he will love paddling the Ocoee. Also the Outrage would be good. It doesn't have great initial stability but he would get used to that really quick.

[Longboatin]

for a kid why not check out a flashback or fantasy. I think I saw a fantasy up on craigslist.
put some time in one a those, he be darn good in anything after.