Pocket Canyon is it right for me?

[themadindian]

For the past year or so I've been agonizing over what canoe to get for river tripping with my dog, whitewater use and freestyle classes. I had settled on the Pocket Canyon as it seems like a strong possibility, the issue is I have yet to be able to paddle one.

Along this journey I've been told by others to try an SRT, a Phoenix and a Wildfire. I've been able to paddle the Phoenix and the Wildfire and I found I liked the Phoenix the most because it felt very similar to my Shearwater. I worry the rocker isn't enough at 2.5" to do much else than class 2 with my current skill level or even as my skill improves maybe that's it for the Phoenix as I've seen others here mention and so I'm back to the Pocket Canyon.

What is really driving me to this is I'm tired of beating up my Shearwater in creeks and on the Delaware even though it does well minor mistakes result in spider cracks with the kevlar fusion and while my Esquif Adirondack does okay in slow moving creeks, I really struggle with it on the Delaware or fast moving creeks and finally the Pine Barrens freestyle event is coming up next month so it would be nice to have something better suited not that I haven't made the other two work in previous years

I found a new Pocket Canyon in the color I want with skidplates and loops for airbags about 3 hours away but I won't be able to paddle it prior to purchase. Does anyone have any experience with the Pocket Canyon that could provide insight on how it compares to either of my canoes or the Phoenix?

 

[recped]

I have a regular partner that uses a Pocket Canyon.

"for river tripping with my dog, whitewater use and freestyle classes."

Yes to river tripping, dog and whitewater, I think it would be horrible for "freestyle".

I am 5'8" the Pocket Canyon is too wide (34.5") for my liking, I prefer a boat that is 30" wide at the gunnels. When I follow my partner who is shorter than I am I can easily see that he can't (or won't?) get his paddle into the proper vertical position and therefore is often doing unintended sweep strokes.

I currently paddle a Mohawk XL14 that has 3" of rocker, I use it for river tripping up to class III/IV, I find that is sufficient for a heavily loaded tripping boat. For big water day tripping I use my Probe 12II which has 4.75" of rocker but it's only good for a short trips and no doggies, the Canyon on the other hand can carry a ton of gear.

I've never paddled any of the other three boats you mention so I can't comment

 

[themadindian]

I'm a pretty big guy at 6'4+ and 230ish pounds so I for instance have no issues with a vertical paddle in say a pathfinder solo paddling backwards so I think I should be okay width wise

 

[themadindian]

After a good exchange on Facebook I decided to go with the Pocket Canyon and it's been great so far. I've had it on the water 3 of the 4 days I've owned it, 2 lakes and a creek. I've never been in a canoe so stable that turns so easily, it's going to spoil the dog and I as he can move freely about and abruptly too. At first he didn't like not being by me but now I think he enjoys the extra room when I paddle from the bow seat. I look forward to more time with this canoe

 

[Alan Gage]

Congrats. The boat and the dog both look great.

The interior finish looks pretty unique. It's hard to see exactly what's going on. Is that factory or am I looking at an optical illusion or dirt?

Alan

 

[themadindian]

Custom factory color, blue camo, costs extra. I also got it with factory installed skid plates

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Congrats on the new canoe, TMI. It's lovely.

"for river tripping with my dog, whitewater use and freestyle classes."

Yes to river tripping, dog and whitewater, I think it would be horrible for "freestyle".

I haven't paddled or even seen the canoe, but from the specs and video reviews it's obviously aimed at whitewater, river tripping and high capacity for its length. As a flat water canoe for lake tripping it will take a lot more correction attention than a dedicated flat water design, especially in wind. Your Shearwater may remain a more efficient lake canoe.

As for freestyle, a lot of the focus in that discipline is learning how to make a touring canoe turn easily with combinations of heeling, pitching the canoe forward, and even high kneeling. You won't have to do any of that to make the Pocket Canyon turn. It should be really fun in the Pine Barrens.

I like lively canoes, and you're likely to enjoy this canoe for decades.

 

[themadindian]

I was out playing last night and I was able to do axles and get 180, couldn't get posts right, thanks to the dog countering me couldn't get onside slips consistently although offside I was fine. I'll go out this weekend without the dog and see how things go.