WOW! I had the chance to test paddle a newly released hull design for OC6 at Lili'uokalani.
Within 3 stokes of leaving the shore you could feel that this canoe handled very differently and more smoothly than either a Mirage or Bradley. The canoe sat high in the water, cut thru the waves, surfed every ripple. There was no "squirrely" feel to the steering in side on chop or when surfing the top of the wave face. It flew on the downwind run and sliced through the bumps on the upwind.
I had never felt so pumped up and excited about a new design as I was after a paddle in this canoe. Other teams from Austrailia, Californina, Arizona, Oahu and Oregon were there giving her a spin and everyone agreed that this canoe felt like no other they had ever paddled.
Will be interesting to see how this new design called the "O'o" shakes things up a bit!
Submitted by wahineonwaves on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 4:39am
You wouldn't happen to be related to Fuzerider would you?
Anyway, it's been scientifically established through considerable bs on this forum that any canoe without chines is junk. You might want to rethink your design.
#1 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:13am
Maybe it DOES have chines!
#2 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:18am
What is the new design? Any Pictures, who made it?
#3 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:52am
Call out to Brother Bill Rosehill in Kona....
Hey Bill, fill in the details. What is this new boat being talked about at the Kona race? FAct or fiction?? If fact, who is putting this new dream machine out??
Waiting on you Bill......
#4 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:32am
Second all the questions that toa moana asked.
#5 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 2:08pm
Sorry for the late reply...I was out polishing my chines...
As for the OC6... The label on the hull was Kona Kanoes Hawaii and I hear it was crafted locally on the Big Island in Kona.
I will dig through my pics tomorrow and see if I can come up with something to post. Will also comment a bit more on the design details that I noticed.
#6 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 5:55pm
Howzit Gang!
It's my canoe. It is my 1991 koa design, improved on in another 1998 koa version, molded and now in fiberglass form. I didn't get a chance to take pictures of it but many who took it out did. Perhaps one of them would post a pix.
Daniel Sanford of Alapahoe CC on Oahu has raced it twice. Cy Kalama of New Hope took it for a run. Anyone familiar with these guys or their crew members on Oahu can seek their opinions.
It is named after an extinct Hawaiian forest bird, the 'O'o. Because my designs come from nature, some design characteristics in my hull are extinct. However, I feel I am bringing design criteria lost over time, back from extinction hence the name, 'O'o.
It's best that anyone who has been in it and experienced it first-hand, share that experience with you. It's meaningless coming from me.
I'm happy to answer any questions without getting in to specifics.
#7 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:30pm
Would weight be a nice question, not too specific.
The other question i would like to ask is the extinct part of the design above or below the waterline?
Thanks Bill.
Cheers Rambo
#8 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:42pm
Howzit Rambo,
It weighs 405lbs. Several who took it out asked the same question when they came back. They thought I was kidding when I told them the weight. They said it felt like it was 300lbs.
The extinct part is below the waterline. Good question, Rambo!
#9 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 6:53pm
Oh, Rambo,
The "Down Under Ducks", I believe they are from Sydney, took it out for a spin and came back very impressed. Their organizer is Robyn Canner. You can get insight from them if you know them or know how to reach them.
Aloha
#10 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:01pm
Cool thanks Bill. With the 405lbs, was it designed to come out that weight or was glass just added to bring it up.
I guess i'm asking will it race in division in the Molokai Hoe.
Sorry last question
Rambo
#11 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:06pm
So then is the boat "legal" to race? The suspense is killin' me, what is so great about this canoe.
Bill - what are the rough dimensions, LOA, Waterline, width, cockpit length, bottom curvature?
#12 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:12pm
Glass was added to bring it up to that weight.
The racing canvas is being sewn as we speak. I hope it will be in both Na Wahine and Moloka'i Hoe. Know any crew(s) who aren't afraid to experience something different?
Bill
#13 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:15pm
For those that missed Bills other Stripper canoes here they are again.
#14 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:18pm
Toa Moana,
The hull hasn't been waterlined yet. It shouldn't have a problem passing the specs. It is a replica of a koa canoe which has passed the specs.
It's all of 45' in length. Big strokers who have problems fitting in the number 1 seat will be much more comfortable. It is calabashed - rounder than others. It is a steerspersons dream. Your crew will have six paddlers rather than five.
#15 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:25pm
Here are a few quick pics of the hull that I took. I have a video running the length of the canoe but cannot figure out how to link that to this site...any help?
#16 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:11pm
wahineonwaves, what format is the video in and what size? Or have you already uploaded it somewhere.
Rambo
#17 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:18pm
Pardon the question - does anyone think that the existing OC 6 have a particularly good design ?
My understanding was that their designs are compromised due to rules and restrictions.
#18 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:35pm
eckhart, you're kidding right? Please say you are.
#19 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:41pm
I am afraid - not kidding. Maybe I should rephrase:
Is the current OC 6 design felt to be optimized for racing or is it felt to be restricted due to rules and regulations ?
Let me check on how much humor is left:
don't these racing boats - under water - look like as if we can't make up our mind whether we want to go fishing or we want to go racing ?
I'd go with fishing - that is what the original boats were made for, weren't they ?
Don't get me wrong here, I like canoes quite a bit. My remark has no relationship whatsoever to any koa boat, most certainly not. Those are something entirely different, an expression of culture and more.
Just fiberglass boats that are made for racing. I may be entirely off, but under water they look fairly plump(?) .
#20 Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:11pm
Video...properties tab says QuickTimeMovie, 10MB? Beyond that, you are speaking to a non-techie. It is just a short clip from my digital cam. Any ideas about the upload/link?
#21 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 3:18am
aloha Wahine,
i would get an account in Youtube (its easy)
and to upload your archive (video) it's as simple as to follow the steps...
once you get it there you can link it easy...
good luck,
we all want to take a look at this beautifull canoe
Mahalo nui1
#22 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 7:40am
Billy Boy....I had a hunch you were behind this machine in Kona...that is why I called you out.
Very nice....it screams FAST. Did you have a chance to trial run it on a Keokeo run in rough water??
Interesting comment about the calabash, and going wider. That is exactly what Karel did with his new Mirage. It is much wider than the old one, yet Karel swears by its new speed.
Good luck with the channel race and I hope some souls step forward to try it in the Men's and Women's race. Will be watching for it....hope you meet the spec's first.
Also...your canoes are nice, but I gotta admit that your rigging sucks!! Have you tried the Bixler set up on your boat?? Just curious.
Jaws Out.
#23 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 9:45am
Billy Boy....one more comment...
As compared to the Opae, how is this boat different??
#24 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 9:47am
I've seen Bill's canoes (the ones in Rambo's pics) on the beach. They are true works of art.
#25 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 9:50am
RatchetJaws,
She hasn't been to Keokea specifically, however, she has been in rough water when we've had strong north or south winds and swells. She is an all around canoe and picks up bumps with ease, stays on them longer with less crew effort. It's all in the design....placing the right ingredients, in the right amount, in the right place(s).
I am presently working on an ama mold which, when completed, the ama will work in harmony with the hull. My designs, whether hull or ama, are designed for ultimate efficiency. The ama won't look like what is commonly used today. I encourage all to stay with the equipment you now have if it meets your needs and you are happy.
The 'Opae is a Tahitian (but really Polynesian) hull, under Hawaiian manus. The 'O'o is an HCRA hull thus, these two canoes are a world apart in design yet, both are said to be very fast by those who have paddled them.
#26 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 3:25pm
Well, lets see if this YouTube link works...
This is just a quick pass over the O'o hull but shows more detail than the still pictures. Let me know if it works for ya!
#27 Fri, 09/05/2008 - 6:21pm
Mahalo Billy....Mahalo Wahine....nice little look see of the new boat.
Yeah Bill, those knife ama's...great for flat water, but sucks in the surf, they tend to track and really grab the water. It grabs and pulls the boat. Ama systems like the Mirage and Bradley work well. The ama tends to sit on top of the water with not much grab. I like the Bixler better than the Puffy because it is less bouyant and a little more forgiving.
Good luck with this boat. One more question...why no splash guard up front?
Jaws Out.
#28 Sat, 09/06/2008 - 6:53am
Jaws,
Sarcastically, I would tell you there's no need for a splash guard if the front manu doesn't get buried while surfing. But seriously, while the hull is in fact designed such that the bow of the canoe will not pearl like others, a splash guard will indeed be installed soon. When this hull is used for sailing, the sailors will find they won't have to pull #1 out of their seat to prevent them from drowning.
I've been using this "knife" ama for years in all conditions and I pass other canoes surfing with it while those other canoes are running with the amas you refer to. I don't seem to have a problem with it "grabbing". Perhaps the way your rigging is set up may be the cause of your problems. Notwithstanding, if you are happy with what you are using, please continue with it. My new ama will retain the "knife" to a certain degree, as it serves a specific function in efficiency.
#29 Sun, 09/07/2008 - 6:40am
Hi again Bill, would love your thoughts on this Ama and Canoe.
Obviously from a photo it's difficult to be accurate, but first impressions??
Thanks for making yourself available for us to pick your brain.
Cheers Rambo
#30 Sat, 09/06/2008 - 6:50pm
Howzit Rambo!
First impressions: re the ama; W/o being able to see it out of the water.....potentially average in calm, relatively flat conditions. Problematic in windy and big seas.
As for the canoe, I can not make an intelligent assessment w/o seeing it out of the water. What we see in the photo will not tell us whether it is fast, slow, good, bad, or indifferent.
Cheers
Bill
#31 Sat, 09/06/2008 - 8:19pm
Howzit Rambo!
First impressions: re the ama; W/o being able to see it out of the water.....potentially average in calm, relatively flat conditions. Problematic in windy and big seas.
As for the canoe, I can not make an intelligent assessment w/o seeing it out of the water. What we see in the photo will not tell us whether it is fast, slow, good, bad, or indifferent.
Cheers
Bill
#32 Sat, 09/06/2008 - 8:19pm
I can't add much to the discussion of specs, but as a paddler of 20 years I must say that this is the smoothest, liveliest canoe I've had the pleasure of paddling.
We brought 2 crews of wahine from Oregon (Mountain Home CC) to race Lilio' and we really lucked out by being able to paddle the O'o. No doubt it brought us up several spots in the finish. If we were doing Molokai this year, we would jump at the chance to use this baby again. I feel that we only got a hint of what she can do in waves. Of course, once the word gets out about these boats, we probably won't be able to get our hands on one.
Mahalo, Bill for the experience and for being willing to try something new.
#33 Sun, 09/07/2008 - 9:25am
Had the chance to paddle "O'o" at Lilio and what a sensational canoe. The crew paddled her into wind then stopped to see how well she ran and she just kept going and going. The canoe is high off the water but comfortable extremely bouyant, light, solid, and secure. It powers through the water with ease and I prefer this to the Mirage or Bradley.
Would love to race this canoe in big water. Im sure it would perform fabulously.
Bill knows how much I enjoy this canoe.
Well done.
Robbie
#34 Sun, 09/07/2008 - 1:08pm