"Paddler-proof" OC-1's

My naval associates used to joke about products that were "sailor-proof." The general conclusion that there was no such thing.

Our club is in a metropolitan harbor with more than its share of stiff currents, submerged pilings, and floating hull-cracking debris. It has also maintained a custom of communal OC-1 and 2's. In recent weeks the number of hull and rudder damage boats has risen to crisis proportions.

Carbon-hulled OC-1's are not normally built for durability or hard use.

Anyone have any suggestinos for club boats? I've given Tahitian fiberglass boats some thought, but the consensus is they are too hard to manuever among the piers, and crossing ferries and water taxis.

Suggestions anyone?

Submitted by YankeeHookele on Tue, 08/11/2009 - 10:39am



Order a Huki, and have Jude lay it up for durability. He'll make it as durable as you want.


#1 Tue, 08/11/2009 - 11:31am


Any builder will build a canoe as tough as you want. Id contact a few of your local builders and see what they may suggest. Ive seen a few canoes that were built as demo's and were super heavy but could take some blows also. Other wise you may have to get club c-lions!


#2 Tue, 08/11/2009 - 2:38pm


I don't think he has any local builders in his neck of the woods.


#3 Tue, 08/11/2009 - 3:55pm


Oh I thought he was in Hawaii for whatever reason.


#4 Tue, 08/11/2009 - 7:49pm


Id suggest clubs use rudderless canoes , it would save a lot of downtime for repairs. Usually when damage occurs , its to the rudder.


#5 Wed, 08/12/2009 - 2:12am


those double carbon prepreg Pegasus are very strong. Fuzerider has a good point about rudderless. I suppose it depends on where this club is and how responsible the paddlers will be. Our club had fiberglass OC1's and they got trashed. Check the Outrigger Zone site for a dealer near you.


#6 Wed, 08/12/2009 - 7:39am


Yankeehookele: See PM for comment on this thread


#7 Thu, 08/13/2009 - 3:58pm


Any of John Martin's Hawaiian Design canoes with regular fiberglass layup. Very strong, easy to repair, very well built and fully backed up by the builder. No automotive paint to chip. No crummy dry internal layup to come apart. No taped seams. No egg shell hulls and amas.


#8 Sat, 08/15/2009 - 6:48am


rotomoulded, polyurethane OC1s from Japan with no rudder


#9 Sat, 08/15/2009 - 11:53am


Yankee- Jean Raas in Florida has some China Pegasus double carbon prepreg -f you are interested. Maybe a good price for a volume purchase.They are fairly durable but submerged pilings can be a problem any time. Good luck.


#10 Sun, 08/16/2009 - 10:20am


Don't buy any, give them sixes to play with and if they want to paddle singles, get them to buy their own!

Then they will look after it!


#11 Tue, 08/18/2009 - 11:46am


Heh-heh, Clarkie, that was my initial thought. Too many club OC-1 and 2's around can actually undermine OC-6 training. There is no incentive to make sure in advance that you have at least six attending each practice. The default - mixture of OC-1's and 2's -- becomes the standard.

And its funny how much more careful folks are of their own gear.

However that is not my decision to make.

On the other hand without a means of gauging individual performance, it is hard to tell who in the boat is actually making it go forward quickly.

My guess is the debate could go on for years.


#12 Sat, 08/22/2009 - 7:30am


I paddled in Tahiti during 6 years, and the training there was only on V6, each week day.
Exceptionnally we used V3, when not enough paddlers was available to use a V6.
V1 was owned by individuals, and they trained outside the club hours.


#13 Sat, 08/22/2009 - 4:05pm


I agree with Huki. Tell him what you need and he'll have the layup for you! Make it durable rather than strong but all his boats are made very well. Maybe you get something done with the seams. When you get the OC1, bevel the trailing edge of the rudder so that when it hits a log or ?? the sharp trailing edge doesn't cut into the hull if the rudder shaft bends.


#14 Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:41am


Think about a fiberglass vacuum bagged Huki. Plus, he has layups with kevlar/glass you could take down river!


#15 Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:42am


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