Comment

Comment by lhedrick on May 17, 2011 at 8:10pm

As Dave stated, more or less changes the way a boat moves.  

 

I don't think you can expect a concrete answer to show up here.  People all like different behaviors.  I for one want a boat which will spin when I pull one oar.  I don't really like having to work to get the boat to take a ferry angle but,  a boat which wants to spin when hit by a lateral wave can really catch you off guard.

 

You will really need to get out with friends and see what you like.  This just isn't one boat fits all.  I have a preference for the Mckenzie hull.   The long narrow flat bottom Briggs dories are the favorite of most big water boaters but they are not for me.  It could be that the Briggs boat is not what I started with and so I just can't get used to the way it moves.  I can't really imagine running a river like the Middle Fork with a boat which was designed for the pool and drop straight line runs of the Grand Canyon.

 

There were times though while running a 14 footer with a reasonable amount of rocker in the Grand when I got worked a bit trying to keep the boat from rotating when that was not what I wanted.  Drop the oars in for a second push/pull a bit and keep it on line.  

 

You just need to get out there and try a few boats.

Comment by Dave Z on May 17, 2011 at 7:03pm

rocker matters.  say, two boats, both 16x48 (length in feet x bottom width in inches).  One with very pronounced rocker, one with a bigh ole flat spot in the very middle of the boat.

 

More rocker

positives:  turns quick, better for technical water, pretty as hell (this does matter)

Negatives: less bottom contact (surface area) on the river, so will draft more. (can't run skinny water).  Most traditional boats with tons of rocker fish poorly with 3 people in them.  (1 rower,m one in front one in back)

 

Less rocker:

positives:  typically ride higher in the water due to more surface area on the river

can be better balanced to fish fore and aft. more carrying capacity.

negatives:  not great for technical water, better suited for slow/flat water

 

 

The pros here probably have more comments....im just a garage shop hack who is allowed to use power tools.