Thoughts on the Mad River ME?

d_rat · Post by **d_rat** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:41 am

I'm thinking of buying a used Mad River ME, and I'm not finding a whole lot of feedback on its tandem whitewater performance. Had my eye out for a Caption and found a good deal on an ME instead.

Our intent is to paddle tandem ww, focusing on class II-III, smaller rivers and streams, a bit sportier than my bluehole starburst. We're a relatively light tandem pair (155# stern, 135# bow).

I'd appreciate any thoughts.

TonyB · Post by **TonyB** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:55 am

Get it!I paddle one solo, moved on to sportier solo and after paddling a friend's tandem (me 230 stern with a smaller bow paddler) on class 2 stream and im gonna put a couple of kneeling thwarts so I can tandem.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:04 am

I get it just for the rarity of the thing

Bill M · Post by **Bill M** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:27 am

Get it. Youi'll be paddling a classic that holds up to the test of time. It is also a great big water solo boat. Back in the day it was a common sight on the upper Gauley. It will serve you well for what ou want.
Bill

Post by **sbroam** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:49 am

I use it with my kids all the time - just took the 6yo on his presonal first descent of the Nantahala. Paddled one solo back when I was starting out.

Dale Barton · Post by **Dale Barton** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:51 am

Go for it. My daughter and I used to slolam race an ME, paddled the Middle Fork Salmon tandem, and i soloed the Grand Canyon in on in 1988. A little wet for big water, but good for everthing else.

d_rat · Post by **d_rat** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:19 am

And lots of it, on a Sunday evening. One of the few things I had read was that the ME was fairly wet as a tandem, so it's nice to hear that isn't the over-riding concern.

Given that I grew up paddling in the 80s, and haven't done enough since, I like the idea of the throwback, so long as it's a solid design.

I pick it up in a week and a bit, and my wife and I will be heading to CT (Hartford area) for the weekend. We're hoping to scope a spot (thinking the Farmington) and get it right out on the river.

Post by **sbroam** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:36 am

The heavier the team, the wetter the ride - it can be kept pretty dry, though, with the right technique (I hit waves a little different, you'll figure out the angles that work best). I shortened the thwarts and made it deeper (though lost some rocker). Nice and fast, plenty stable.

marclamenace · Post by **marclamenace** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:52 pm

Go for it. I love my ME. For learning with kids it is an ideal boat. For an adult tandem I say add a small electric pump when you have a chance and you won't ever find it wet.

For a solo expedition boat I can't beleive how much gear that boat can take. 3 big barrels in there without even using the space under the bags!

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/marcgauthie ... 9922662194[/img]

Post by **sbroam** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:41 pm

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0A ... directlink

d_rat · Post by **d_rat** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:52 pm

Nice panorama, I think he's having fun!

D-Caption · Post by **D-Caption** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:40 am

I know where there is one for sale and I think it is outfitted. A friend of mine ownes it. D-Caption thanks

pblanc · Post by **pblanc** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:36 pm

Some interesting history behind the ME and some of the other Millbrook/MRC designs in this 1996 pdf document (Paddle Splashes newsletter from the AMC).

There is a short article on page 5 by Don Getzin: http://www.amc-ny.org/recreational-acti ... 03_may.pdf

In this AMC news letter Don gives some advice for outfitting the ME on page 6: http://www.amc-ny.org/recreational-acti ... 02_mar.pdf

[edit - fixed those links for you, your helpful admin]

Post by **sbroam** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:19 pm

Thanks for sharing that! I had always heard ME stood for "Maximum Excitement" - I like the version above better

d_rat · Post by **d_rat** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:36 pm

Thanks for the links - I pick up my 'new' ME tomorrow (my thanks to you guys for convincing me to go for it), and I'm curious to see how the thwart lengths compare.

As for 'Maximum Exposure' - is there a comparable naked paddling day to the AT's nude hiking day? That'd be a good inaguration for a new boat!

C-Forum

Thoughts on the Mad River ME?

Thoughts on the Mad River ME?

M.E.

thanks for the advice

ME

History of the ME