Obama or Hillary

eckhart

Just wondering; in case you would design a new boat, which of the two names would be better:
Obama
or
Hillary ?
"Have you seen the new Obama ? How is Hillary riding in the surf ? No - I am still hanging on to that old McCain :( ...
No offense, but current canoe names are not very exciting.

Submitted by eckhart on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 9:58pm

jc9_0

The Hillary would be kinda good because you could ride any other new boat you want, and she'd still be there when you get home.
However, the Obama would be totally unlike anything anyone else had seen. Old cronies would get grumpy at the sight of you on it, but the youngsters would be your best friend.
Since I like to stir the pot, I'll take the new Obama

#1 Wed, 02/13/2008 - 10:15pm

eckhart

After doing some more research - it seems that the two boats exist already, but I can't find not much information about them.
The Obama seems to be available in white only ? The Hillary is a fresh, all new design ?

#2 Wed, 02/13/2008 - 11:04pm

1968

If you are looking for a change, then probably go with the Obama. It is a pretty new design, and somewhat untested.
I haven't ridden the Hillary, but if you go with that one, they say everyone will get one. I am not sure how she will handle in the bumps though.

#3 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 3:54am

e02060

The Obama seems to be a lot of hype and is unproven in the rough stuff. Time will tell. The Hillary seems to be popular among both men AND women, and it lacks a sexy design.
The third option, the McCain, is tough as hell, but the archaic, tired hull design is from the early 70s. Its also reportedly faster when paddled only on its right side.

#4 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 5:02am

Jim

The Obama-innovative new design; long and lean, ready to take riders everywhere speedily into the future.
The Hillary-plenty of room in the rear for all the baggage she brings w/ her. Also avilable in a tandem model for the same price.
The McCain- battle tested model that has taken enough abuse already. Leave it up in the garage rafters.

#5 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 5:25am

eckhart

The Hillary seems to have an ama that was real popular in the early 90ies;
opinion changed after it became known that the ama was being sucked to often under the surface in all sorts of conditions ?
The Obama is all carbon ? Or does it have a divinycell core, too ? The ama of the Obama looks pretty nice to me.

#6 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 1:48pm

kdkoors

I was looking to get a Kucinich. I guess the design was too radical to be marketable. The company went out of business before I could buy. Too bad, because the Kucinich came with an beautiful set of accessories.

#7 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 8:57am

e02060

I heard the Kucinich only came in pink.
..and how 'bout the Huckabee. On paper, it should have been a miserable failure due to its narrow, single-focused design, but it seems to have found a fanatical following that refuses to give it up. Evidently, it comes with a built-in salvation kit in case of emergency.

#8 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 9:06am

dacho

"da fred"- display model only, not meant for really ocean use.
then there was the mean looking "ghoul" model.. claimed that it was the only boat that could stand up to gnarly conditions...only because it floated across the channel after a big storm.. but it can't go straight, and constantly dumps it rider
of course there's the "bush v.2"...the perfect boat if you love running into every reef along the coast. it's a rental, the next guy will have to patch the hull anyways.

#9 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 9:20am

eckhart

Wow, 'da bush v.2, xl', extended model; that could be it. Every ride goose bumps guaranteed.

#10 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 1:47pm

Jibofo

You've seen the Obama ama?

#11 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 2:16pm

aquafiend65

Is the Obama sleek n fast but rudderless? It may be beyond the typical guys abilities? Seems the Hillary doesnt actually have a rudder, but a fixed skeg. Looks sleek but it cant be steared. The McCain scares the hell out of me......and Ive paddled "thier" products for years. Seems like they are going retro on us. Sadly my injury prevents me from seeing any of them as good designs that wont hurt me further.

#12 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 3:18pm

eckhart

Obama ama
google images
Obama rudderless design - that's possible; probably enough depth to hold a line.

#13 Thu, 02/14/2008 - 3:57pm

aquafiend65

Yes, it seems there is depth to hold very clean pure line, just afraid it would broach when conditions get sketchy. Still Im liking the Obama above all else.

#14 Fri, 02/15/2008 - 7:23am

tjl

Then there are the older gore and kerry designs. Look nice, but when you race them, you always lose by a chad-length to paddlers on beat-up "bush 2" boats.
For some reason, when you race on a gore, you always seem to get interference from someone on a nader trying to draft you (you can always tell a nader because it only comes in green). And when you race on a kerry, some unnamed swift boat seems to intentionally make wakes in your way.

#15 Fri, 02/15/2008 - 3:48pm

1968

We forgot to mention...the Obama...made in Hawaii!

#16 Fri, 02/15/2008 - 5:28pm

onnopaddle

Damm ... laughing too hard / tears in my eyes.
Thanks you guys for the informative / on 'topic', political posting.
I always suspected ocpaddler was my best source for information on national and world events.
Sending all my 'ainokea' friends over.
Aloha,
pog

#17 Fri, 02/15/2008 - 10:13pm

eckhart

The 'bush 2' really is 'da bomb'; a powerful machine that boat; very disappointing that you cannot get any control whatsoever on the direction its going. It's not that popular everywhere for that reason.
I hear that a 'chelsea' can be demo'ed in Hawaii relatively soon; but I am not sure that it is not a surfski.

#18 Fri, 02/15/2008 - 10:44pm