06-14-2004, 07:33 PM
TD,
Well I bought the 'toon at costco against your recommendation but I'm really happy with it. I took it out to the gorge and I was surprised how little effort it was to row. The thing that put me over the edge was that the guy at sportmans said that I would actually sit up higher in the dual chamber cougar than a traditional 'toon.
It was REALLY windy that day but once I got the hang of it i had a pretty good time. The first half an hour or so was pretty embarrassing though. I lauched at the Lucerne marina and I was getting some pretty weird stares and a couple guys told me that it was a no wake zone and to keep it slow out of the harbor. The embarrasing part was at first I couldn't really control the 'toon because I was digging in too deep with the oars I eventually got blown into a slip and had a hard time getting out because of the wind I eventually made it out but only after a few people on their nice boats boats pointed and snickered. I didn't care though. I eventually got it down and just practiced for about 2 hours. Once I finally figured it out I was surprised how easy it was to row even in the wind... nothing like a canoe or a row boat. It was really nice and I wasn't sore at all. I can't wait to take it out on a calm day on Utah Lake I may even try that tonight.
I did learn a couple of things though don't bother taking your pole with you on a maiden voyage it just gets in the way. And while it is possible to get into a 'toon from a dock it's MUCH easier from shore. It will take me a while before I'm ready to go out on the Jordan or the Green though LOL. All I need to do it adjust a little bit of the geometry (seat and foot positioning etc.) to compensate for my big gut and I'll be OK.
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Well I bought the 'toon at costco against your recommendation but I'm really happy with it. I took it out to the gorge and I was surprised how little effort it was to row. The thing that put me over the edge was that the guy at sportmans said that I would actually sit up higher in the dual chamber cougar than a traditional 'toon.
It was REALLY windy that day but once I got the hang of it i had a pretty good time. The first half an hour or so was pretty embarrassing though. I lauched at the Lucerne marina and I was getting some pretty weird stares and a couple guys told me that it was a no wake zone and to keep it slow out of the harbor. The embarrasing part was at first I couldn't really control the 'toon because I was digging in too deep with the oars I eventually got blown into a slip and had a hard time getting out because of the wind I eventually made it out but only after a few people on their nice boats boats pointed and snickered. I didn't care though. I eventually got it down and just practiced for about 2 hours. Once I finally figured it out I was surprised how easy it was to row even in the wind... nothing like a canoe or a row boat. It was really nice and I wasn't sore at all. I can't wait to take it out on a calm day on Utah Lake I may even try that tonight.
I did learn a couple of things though don't bother taking your pole with you on a maiden voyage it just gets in the way. And while it is possible to get into a 'toon from a dock it's MUCH easier from shore. It will take me a while before I'm ready to go out on the Jordan or the Green though LOL. All I need to do it adjust a little bit of the geometry (seat and foot positioning etc.) to compensate for my big gut and I'll be OK.
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