Royalex / T-Formex vs. Tough Composites

[NikonF5user]

Just finished watching the latest Northern Scavenger video on YouTube. This trip was done along with Jon from Lost Lakes - who had a pin during the trip. He was paddling a Nova Craft Pal in Tuff Stuff layup, which from what I can tell uses basalt innegra (much like Northstar's IXP and Swift's Expedition Kevlar). The boat was retrieved and was able to be paddled away but with significant damage. Interestingly Noah (from Northern Scavenger) was paddling an Esquif T-Formex boat. Jon mentions at one point that he felt the T-Formex has an advantage in that it slips more easily over rocks, suggesting that the gel coat actually grips rocks a bit. He left the trip feeling he should have been paddling a T-Formex boat, but I left the video thinking that his boat did amazingly well for suffering such a pin, and it has me wondering whether composites, particularly basalt innegra composites, are THE way to go in whitewater and on such rugged backcountry trips.

This also made me wonder what experiences everyone has had with Royalex vs. composites on backcountry trips? How many of you have been (or have been with someone who has) pinned and was able to get away with your boat? Royalex is famous of course for popping back into shape, but Jon's Tuff Stuff boat basically did so as well. Would love to hear thoughts / ideas / experiences...

P.S. I am sure this must have been a discussion on the board at some point - but I couldn't find one! Hence the new discussion.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I only have two canoes with gelcoat, and I haven't done much scraping with them. So I can't say whether they will slide off a rock as easy as royalex. But what I do know is an outer layer of glass slides off just as well as rx or better, and with much less damage. My Millbrook Coho has a million surface scratches on the bottom, but nothing as significant as what I've seen from one trip down a bony river with rx. Don't know how T-formex or Tuff Stuff compare. I have only pinned a swamped boat once, and not seriously enough to wrap it. Guess I'm not much help.

 

[Alan Gage]

I have no personal experience with tuff stuff but was impressed and entertained by this video when it came out

 

[dutchlennart]

We will never know. It could be that a t formex boat on the same spot would completely wrapped around. and could not be recovered with just to man with 2 ropes.
I guees they brought some pullies and more ropes with them (i would). the stickiness of materials on rocks is also not researches in any scientifieic way ad far as I know. If there is I would love to read it.