Hey Creekers

[gannon311]

I would like to have some thoughts on creek boats.Do not know what to get looking at the hero,little hero,s.ammo,rocker,scud.Would like some input on how these boat perform on the water. thank Jeff

[jackatspa]

I dont know about the others but the rocker rocks!!!! great boat!
I love mine!

Jack h

[stormcrow]

Jeff, I got a Hero and love it. I haven't got to do any true "creeking" in it yet. Scott H put a really nice write up on the board about it awhile back. Your welcome to try mine out next time I see ya.

[Karla]

I love my Hero. It is forgiving. Easy to paddle and manuvers easily. I paddle no creeks just moving rivers with some class 2-3 whitewater.

Karla

[shelbyjohnson]

I am on my second Wave Sport Y. I have creeked a variety of the best stuff we have in Arkansas and nearby southeastern stuff. It is not the latest design and doesn't have the latest outfitting but WaveSport does still make it and it generally sells for less than the newer designs.

In this boat in no order I've notched EFLB, Beech, Shop, Bear, Bobtail, Boss Hollw, Long Devil's, and most often Richland.

I like it because of its rocker for the front. I've only had trouble once with the boat on Cain Creek a tributary of the North Chick on Walden Ridge outside of Chatanooga. Luckily with some boiled water and hair dryer we were able to fix the front end after a hard piton on a drop called Big Splat. We hadn't scouted it and I ran the wrong line. If I'd run the correct line I would have properly boofed and the boat would have done the rest. The Y is a very forgiving boat.

Hope this helps.

[RandyJ]

Haven't pushed it yet, but am loving my Hero, too. Dig around the Jackson Kayak web site; there are several user reviews there. Before the Hero, I had a Diesel 65. Was a great boat, but I didn't like how it tended to back-ender in steep drops. The newer Diesels have a peaked deck now that should shed water a lot better.

I LOVE the outfitting on the Jackson boats. Super comfortable and so easy to get fitted for you in a short amount of time. Also easily adjusted on the river, and can quickly be reconfig'd for someone who wants to take your boat for a test drive.

If I weren't in a Hero, I'd probably be in a Rocker, Dagger Nomad, or maybe a new Diesel.

Good luck.

[AmyC]

For my 1st creeker I got a jefe grande last year. I was running good ozark creeks at the first of the season (Richland,Dry,Beech,etc) and South Silver in Cali by the end of the season.It also treated me well on big water runs(Cal Salmon, Gauley etc.)Most of my homies paddle & rave about the Nomad as well though!Anyways if your really wanting a modern creeker and aspire to run class 4-5 you cant lose w/ either! P.S. I dont think I would even consider anything you listed in your original post(other than the rocker) as a real creeker! JOE C

[WoolyJR1]

I have a large Pyranha Burn that I use for creeking. This was my first boat and I am still using it. It is a very forgiving boat, it is very stable. It also has great secondary stability. The Burn is listed on Pyranha's website as a river runner/creek boat. It has a combination hull. It is flat on the the bottom with a little displacement on the sides. The edges are very forgiving. The Burn resurfaces like a dream, it comes up very stable when going off bigger drops. The boat is also super comfy for me, I had no trouble with the outfitting, all I really had to do is move the footblock and install the foam on top of it. I am also short and heavy, so I didn't need to space out the hip pads or anything else. The only drawback that I have with my Burn is that you have to have your technique down pretty good for combat rolls, it is a little slow to come up and you have to make sure you are all the way set up, it also might be me and the spare tire around my waist. But overall, it is a great boat. I have run it on Spirits, Sugar, and Little Mill with a fair amount of success considering my paddleing ability. You might want to check one out. Just my 2 cents.

J. R.

[RandyJ]

P.S. I dont think I would even consider anything you listed in your original post(other than the rocker) as a real creeker! JOE C

I'm biased, but might be worth checking out this: http://www.jacksonkayak.com/articles/ar ... =200812141

Not saying you're wrong, and admittedly Ben S says he jumped back into his Rocker when things got super-hairy. But sounds like he got more comfy with the Hero the longer he went. You've paddled some stout runs yourself, and I'd sincerely like to know what your reservations would be on the Hero. Thanks!

RJ

[RomanLA]

Do not know what to get looking at the hero,little hero,s.ammo,rocker,scud.

Depending on your needs and experience, I would probably go with a Mystic over a SCUD. The SCUD is a cool boat, but the Mystic is easier to paddle and more forgiving. They will be coming out with an expedition version of the Mystic soon too.

[AmyC]

Hey Randy,
I had read the article previously and actually met Darren McQuoid(?)while in Cali this summer and yes he was "testing" the hero w/ his team of JK boaters on south silver. While Im sure it may be fun, I must say the new "spudlike rivercreekers w/ playboat hulls niche" are not full on creekers and as you said even the best boaters go w/ more length & a displacement hull when actually in need of a creeker. Im not saying you cant run gnar in it.Actually Im guilty of firing up the Nanny cascades in a Ronin playboat myself!! But I now feel it is nice to paddle my everyday creek runs in a boat I can paddle on serious sh!t so that I am dialed in on it.Any reservations I may have about firing something up then strictly reflect my confidence in making the move and not whether my boat will do me dirty or not.Plus I dont like planing hulls unless Im trying to plane out on a wave AKA surfing! But thats just my opinion as I prefer boofs, slides, & waterfalls and a displacement hull is obviosly better for this type of boating.MY 2 CENTS = BUY A MODERN CREEKBOAT.p.s. check out darren's website Jefferson State Creeking pretty sweet stuff!Amy and I are hopefully moving out there next june!

[Fish]

Best creek boat I've ever paddled is the LL Huck. But that's just because the boat is a perfect fit for me personally - it may not be your cup of tea. I got one of the last ones they sold I think and am halfway to wearing a hole in the bottom of it - my second one. For creeking, look for displacement hull (softer landings on big drops), blunt ends, and high volume - but not so much that it swallows you up completely. That's my opinion. Other than that, just find a design you like and stick with it. I don't like switching creek boats. Get used to it and you'll know exactly how it will handle in a tight spot. Other than that, I'm not sure one creeker is that much better than any other - it's the boater that makes the difference. For example, even a Huck can't save your a** when you foolishly paddle underneath The Undercut! on Boss Hollow at max-floodstage...

- Fish