Boat(s) of the week --- MASSIVE AIR & DEPARTURE

[Craig Smerda]

Since Ian has been hanging around the board lately...

https://www.cboats.net/c_db/list.php?ty ... 9&name=Air" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.cboats.net/c_db/list.php?ty ... =Departure" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Adam must be out boating.

[canotrouge]

Cool boats... What happen to them??

[Mikey B]

I remember them from the canoe books and thinking they looked awesome...but never got to see or more importantly paddle one
Cool designs though for sure

[Sir Adam]

Murky will still make one if you want one:)

I'd hoped to order one last year, but ended up helping a friend out instead.

I've not paddled one, but great looking, light weight boats.

I've heard more "performance" oriented (less stability than, say, a L'Edge...)... but given Ian's other designs this is no surprise:)

[thomsonbytheriver]

Designed for the days of big canoe enders, cartwheels, split wheels and loops, the Air is the quintessential 'hole boat'. The Departure 2, seen in the post, is a sweet wave cruiser capable of stern squirts. Some interesting facts- The Departure 1 and the Air pushed the limits of OC1 design at the time and pressed forward design specifications for competition. They 'opened' the debate as to 'what is a canoe'? The Departure 1 was first revealed at the 1995 Rodeo Worls in Augsburg. Corran Addison paddled it in the competition. It was carbon / carbon/kevlar with cherry decks and weighed about as much as a paddle. I didn't paddle it because believe it or not, I was on team Canada for kayak that year. The Air was a popular boat at the subsequent Ottawa worlds- the only one that came out of the mold at its finished size. It competed against cut down Ocoees and Vipers. One of the American paddlers, and his name escapes me- sorry, got trophy move points for doing a loop- a big deal back then. As Adam said, the boats can still be purchased from Murky Water. If you want a fast fun open boat, Ed is the finest boat builder on the planet.

[the great gonzo]

A couple years ago Sparky and myself went for a quick visit at Ed's shop to drop off an old squirt boat that needed some work and to get some minicell foam for outfitting...I think we left the place about 5 hours later. I am sure the area around the Air/Departure mold is still covered with my drool ... the Departure in particular has to be one of the coolest boats ever on the planet, ever. I would love to try one out some day.
Ian, what are the differences between the Departure 1 and the Departure 2?

TGG!

[thomsonbytheriver]

The Departure 1 was about 10" deep amidships whereas the Departure 2 has that crazy gunwale line. The D1 had huge tumblehome whereas the high sides of the D2 had only about an inch of tumblehome, (drier). The D2 had a lower volume stern and long flat decks. The D1 had 6" decks. The D1 had a comparatively straight gunwale line. The D2 was so curvy it stretched the bendability of the sassafrass I used for the gunwales. It was a real head turner; perhaps it was what Salvador Dali might have 'dreamed' up if he were to have designed a boat. It was fun to paddle- a quick little cruiser of a boat.

I'll see if I can come up with a pictuer of the D1 some time.

[the great gonzo]

Thanks for explaining the differences Ian. I have never seen a D1, but a Departure 2. An Open boat that can stern squirt is just too cool!

TGG!

[Lennart]

any other specs of the dep ? length for example?