C1 detachable bench seat and ratchet thigh straps

[Glenn MacGrady]

This video shows some prototype outfitting for a C1 whitewater canoe, including a bench-type seat that pops free and ratchet-tightened thigh straps. A quick release mechanism catapults everything loose so the paddler is not entrapped by the Rube Goldberg-esque contraptions.

 

[Patrick Corry]

Wow, that canoe-shaped-object is a C1? Far cry from my experience many years ago in the Berry C1.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Wow, that canoe-shaped-object is a C1? Far cry from my experience many years ago in the Berry C1.

Yes, whitewater C1s in the Berry/Sweet days were based on slalom C1 designs, optimized for two-dimensional turning and speed. Many of the modern, short, scarab-beetle-shaped C1s are not designed for speed at all, but rather for three-dimensional aerial flips, twists, end-overs—I don't even know the terminology—primarily for "whitewater freestyle" play in surfing waves and holes.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Sure stretches the definition of canoe.

 

[Gamma1214]

Wow. 1st impressions: 1) my Unicorn Spit Merlin is no longer the fugliest canoe I've ever seen. 2) It certainly seems like the paddler would have a very secure attachment to the hull with easy escape if needed. 3) I definitely would have enjoyed playing with this type of "canoe" in my former yak days of whitewater. 4) I'm glad that I outgrew that sh!t and, finally... 5) I really like that they're using single blades.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Idunno....
I've never been able to relate to the whole playboating thing. When I rode and raced dirt bikes, I couldn't understand the mentality of the guys who weren't training to race but would ride the same 1/4 mile dirt track over and over all day - while they were right next to miles and miles of awesome trails. Can't wrap my mind around lift skiing and lift MTB.

Maybe I'm the oddball. I'll surf a wave here and there, and catch an eddy just because it's there. But the idea of spinning in circles without getting anywhere? Not for me.

It's a clever little bit of rigging though.