AR Ramblings

A few weeks ago, I took the family down the Nantahala in some “duckies” with Endless River Adventures. While at the outfitters, I noticed a lightly used Wavesport Project for sale. I mentioned that I had been wanting to upgrade from my trusty EZ to a true playboat and the guys hooked me up with a free demo boat to take down the river. Since I was guiding mom and my sisters down the river, I didn’t get to stop and play much, but I really liked the boat. After a couple days of deliberation (and balancing the checkbook), I decided it was too good of deal to pass up.

So far, I’ve taken it for a quick run down the Pigeon, and spent a full day (upper & middle) on the Ocoee, and enjoyed every minute of it. It seems to have plenty of speed for maneuvering and river running, and is much easier for me to sink the ends and play in. I immediately had better luck with cartwheels and came extremely close to pulling off my first loop. Being a playboat, it feels a little more twitchy but has awesome secondary stability. Compared to the EZ, it felt as if I needed to paddle more aggressively in the bigger rapids and it was a little less forgiving of poor technique while rolling, but it outshined it in every other aspect. Running Alien Boof on the Ocoee (upper right) was a blast in this boat and surfing Hell Hole (below) even seemed a bit easier. I think the EZ may have to find itself a new home!

Thanks to Daniel McPeake for posting the pics, and the rest of the CCC WoR crew that I paddled with for a great time on the river.