:::RHMT::: Real Home Made Turbo

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Adam Hopkins on June 12, 2009, 01:03:21 PM

Title: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on June 12, 2009, 01:03:21 PM
OK it all started when my buddy asked me to go camping/kayaking with him and about 30 other people on Memorial day weekend. We rented kayaks and stuffed coolers with sandwiches and *30 beers on board and went down river fishing and other non sense.

* This mark is to notify you of a extremely cheap beer I stumbled across. Its called "Beer  30" and it cost 15 dollars for 30 beers. They come in cubes of 30 and are in a purple can. Taste ok but as mentioned before it is cheap as fuck and will get the job done

Well I had such a great time kayaking that I decided that I wanted one. I went to craigslist and bought-then sold, bought-then sold, kayaks untill I had enough money to buy a decent river boat for me and my girl.

The rivers around here are fun and all but now I want to try some white water stuff.

Why I came here is to ask if any of you kayak and what would be a good White water kayak for a person of my size (6'4 230 lbs).

This is the type of stuff I am interested in trying to do:
Hell Hole on the Ocoee River (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSXjPG7tY9Y#noexternalembed-lq-lq2-hq-vhq)

I could surf, boogie board, ride bikes, motorcycles, and every thing else pretty good. I figured I would give it a shot and see how I did.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Robb on June 12, 2009, 01:41:10 PM
Ive been once. Jesus christ that was quite possibly the most physically challenging thing Ive ever done.  Adam, you ever been to Nanahala? Its just south of Deal's Gap.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: t_cel_t on June 12, 2009, 02:10:01 PM
$.50/can is not cheap
mountain creek is $1.26 for a sixer, $.21/can
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: 92CXyD on June 12, 2009, 03:06:50 PM
I do not Kayake b/c the movie "Deliverence" and that whole I can not swim thing. ;D

In Casper, Wyo we have a little rapids course put in through town. Looks interesting.
 (https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.platteriverparkway.org%2Fmap%2Fmap-full.jpg&hash=5648e33dbb4c98b511d5a6871cb99634d26905e6)

But probably not that challenging for most. ;D

Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on June 12, 2009, 05:34:32 PM
Ive been once. Jesus christ that was quite possibly the most physically challenging thing Ive ever done.  Adam, you ever been to Nanahala? Its just south of Deal's Gap.

Not yet, I am looking to try that. Like I mentioned before I have a river boat meant for fishing and drinking beer, I just want to go push my luck against mother nature. How extreme is the river?

I just went to the local college campus where they rent these things. I believe I am going to go with a Jackson fun, or a jackson super fun. Both boats have ample room for by big ass and will seat me comfortably while I attempt to drown myself. Now I just have to find someone that just encountered a severe drug addiction so I can pick one up for "crackhead prices".

$.50/can is not cheap
mountain creek is $1.26 for a sixer, $.21/can

You are one cheap bastard. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. You almost get $.21  back when you recycle the can.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: fysh on June 12, 2009, 05:42:56 PM
Ocoee will rape you, start with the Nantahala
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Zarcorp on June 12, 2009, 08:35:52 PM
Is this Ocoee in Ocoee FL?
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on June 12, 2009, 09:50:52 PM
Nantahala ain't no sippin' tea, it has some killer rapids.  Literally.  Seek out a guide or a diehard paddler friend before you attempt.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on June 12, 2009, 10:39:01 PM
Nantahala ain't no sippin' tea, it has some killer rapids.  Literally.  Seek out a guide or a diehard paddler friend before you attempt.

Im glad your looking out for my well being, Some of these local college kids go quite a bunch. I am hoping to tag along with them when I score a new kayak. I also plan on going to a roll clinic and try to learn the proper way to kayak.

Is this Ocoee in Ocoee FL?

The Ocoee is where the Olympics were held and it is in Tennessee. That river is an instant path to the fail boat if your not an expert. Going down in a raft with a guide is completely different experience than going down in a 40 lbs plastic boat strapped to your legs.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Ntrain2k on June 13, 2009, 09:20:41 AM
Nantahala ain't no sippin' tea, it has some killer rapids.  Literally.  Seek out a guide or a diehard paddler friend before you attempt.

+1

Used to love rafting there.   :noel:
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: bikewrench on June 13, 2009, 12:41:06 PM
I used to live in Chattanooga, and loved to go to both rivers on the weekends.  There are some great mtn bike trail in both spots.  I've never been down the Ocoee, but I did the Nantahala in a sit on top, they rent them at the NOC.  I thought it was pretty easy and I had no kayak experience.  I only swam the last rapid. 
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: 90boostdaccord on June 13, 2009, 12:50:52 PM
Nantahala ain't no sippin' tea, it has some killer rapids.  Literally.  Seek out a guide or a diehard paddler friend before you attempt.

Im glad your looking out for my well being, Some of these local college kids go quite a bunch. I am hoping to tag along with them when I score a new kayak. I also plan on going to a roll clinic and try to learn the proper way to kayak.

Is this Ocoee in Ocoee FL?

The Ocoee is where the Olympics were held and it is in Tennessee. That river is an instant path to the fail boat if your not an expert. Going down in a raft with a guide is completely different experience than going down in a 40 lbs plastic boat strapped to your legs.

yep.  i went here and went rafting, it was way fun.  i have no experience with kayaking, but it looks pretty strenuous, and in no way the same as rafting. 
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on June 28, 2009, 10:14:09 AM
I got a new boat, a Jackson Super Fun. Well against my better judgment I decided I was extreme bad ass and took me and my buddy to the Ocoee to try and paddle with some more friends. My dads friend used to be a pro kayaker and was sponsored by Liquid logic and Dagger at some point. Needless to say that guy was a bad ass. When we got there he said with a condescending grin that we were going to be fine.

I dont think I have ever been so excited / scared for my life / Tired, ever in my whole 25 years of life. These random people kept asking how many times we had been white water kayaking and told them that this was our first time to ever be in white water on anything. One guy replied "I dont believe you" followed by a "Who brought you here?". I pointed to the group of 3 guys we were with and He replied "Those guys are playing a sick joke on you."

I swam almost all the rapids on that damn river and got folded up like a rag doll in a washer machine. I followed some guy down the wrong way and ended up in 6-8 foot waves in the water and remember thinking to my self if I flip this boat it is game over. I am sure if I can make it down the Ocoee then the Nanahala is going to be a walk in the park.

The worst part about this is there were 2 guys with my dads friend that were on canoes. These were at lest 50 year old men in open top canoes going down this thing. One Guy was smoking cigarettes as he was paddling class 3-4 rapids and did not even get his cig wet. These old men were the best paddlers I have ever seen and kept my stupid ass from drowning all day. I wish I had this shit on tape. I will NEVER forget this trip down that river.

If you can kayak down the Ocoee then you are a bad ass and I respect you. End of story

Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on June 28, 2009, 07:28:37 PM
Damn, I wish you had gotten video, too.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on June 28, 2009, 08:56:34 PM
There is no room for that. If I get better I might try and look into a helmet cam so I can look back and laugh and what a fool I was. If there was a camera on my helmet yesterday the footage would be useless. It would have either been smashed into bits or the footage would have been what the Ocoee looked like underwater.

I am still licking my wounds. I lost a boot, some blood, and my dignity on that river yesterday.

I think I am going to the Nantahala next week for some more experience before I go back and to the Ocoee.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: turbob16hatch on June 29, 2009, 07:20:12 PM
god i love it, i mean you have no clue untill your there. i went on the white water family shit, and idk about anyone else but fuck that in a kayak.

respect for trying it, keep it up.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: bikewrench on June 30, 2009, 12:33:54 AM
Were you able to roll at all?

I can't believe you didn't kill yourself, much respect.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on June 30, 2009, 12:47:48 AM
Adam looks like Eli Manning, in more than just his face.  I'm sure he can take a rock to the face with the best of them.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: j.h.christ on June 30, 2009, 08:39:26 AM
adam does a lot of things that the typical afro-american man doesn't.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on July 01, 2009, 01:29:25 AM
Were you able to roll at all?

A couple of times in a pool yes, but in the river no. I am a good ole student of Internet University and tried to teach myself off a couple of good youtube videos. I am getting better just not where I want to be yet.

Adam looks like Eli Manning, in more than just his face.  I'm sure he can take a rock to the face with the best of them.

And I did in fact take a rock to the face, or it was my carbon fiber paddle, Its kinda hard to tell what is kicking your ass under water.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: bigdaddyvtec on July 01, 2009, 01:03:52 PM
KAyaking is for eco treehugging faggots with long hair.


Not niggers with turbo motorcycles......



On a seperate note Ross and I got his KAWI 550 Jetski with pipe, pump, milled head, ported cylinders and wiseco pistons running yesterday after sitting for 3 years....... Ahhhhh... The sound of twin cylinder twostrokes rapping out makes my penis hard.....


Someones going to get hurt riding that thing. Its NASTY
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Ntrain2k on July 01, 2009, 02:05:44 PM
430+ HP TURBO RXP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsCHMu_RT0g&feature=channel#lq-lq2-hq-vhq)
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: 97Econobox on July 01, 2009, 03:53:46 PM
KAyaking is for eco treehugging faggots with long hair.


Not niggers with turbo motorcycles......



On a seperate note Ross and I got his KAWI 550 Jetski with pipe, pump, milled head, ported cylinders and wiseco pistons running yesterday after sitting for 3 years....... Ahhhhh... The sound of twin cylinder twostrokes rapping out makes my penis hard.....


Someones going to get hurt riding that thing. Its NASTY


Wrong Black guy.  Adam Lofton is the Turbo Bike Darker Skinned Fellow whilst this is a different adam. 
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on July 01, 2009, 05:28:22 PM
Disagree, you're the blacker of the two.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: d-rail on July 02, 2009, 03:49:29 AM
not many black guys on this forum, how can you get them mixed up

I'm not racist by any means but who on here is black just out of curiosity
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on July 02, 2009, 08:01:43 AM
KAyaking is for eco treehugging faggots with long hair.


Not niggers with turbo motorcycles......


Actually I also have a turbo bike. The build thread is on here somewhere. You do in fact have me confused with someone else. I am the eCtune tuner.

I have also never tree hugged and do not enjoy the smell of sage. So I do not think I fit under any of the requirements you just listed listed.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on July 02, 2009, 08:28:25 AM
not many black guys on this forum, how can you get them mixed up

I'm not racist by any means but who on here is black just out of curiosity

Tuffy-gay, at least one of the guys with DA in his screen name (sorry, Zach, early onset senile dementia strikes), 89Sipimpin-->90LSpimpin, Adam Hopkins, RacingTiger, StanB, Rudebwoy, motherfucking SQ, and really a lot of others that I've completely forgotten or never felt the need to announce their presence as such.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: 97Econobox on July 02, 2009, 09:55:39 AM
Im not really black but JD's mom swears i am.  Said shes never had White meat like that, so it has to be black.  Its almost like a big pickle jar, no helmet at the end just a blunt tip.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on July 02, 2009, 01:01:47 PM
Funny Henry, haha.  Like my mom gives white guys the time of day.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: 97Econobox on July 02, 2009, 02:11:15 PM
Funny Henry, haha.  Like my mom gives white guys the time of day.

Im not Henry goddamnit hahahaha. 
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Robb on July 02, 2009, 09:36:19 PM
Funny Henry, haha.  Like my mom gives white guys the time of day.

Im not Henry goddamnit hahahaha. 

You sure about that?  You sound like a Henry to me.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on July 03, 2009, 12:22:18 AM
not many black guys on this forum, how can you get them mixed up

I'm not racist by any means but who on here is black just out of curiosity

Tuffy-gay, at least one of the guys with DA in his screen name (sorry, Zach, early onset senile dementia strikes), 89Sipimpin-->90LSpimpin, Adam Hopkins, RacingTiger, StanB, Rudebwoy, motherfucking SQ, and really a lot of others that I've completely forgotten or never felt the need to announce their presence as such.

Not that it matters, but why must you tell people that I am Black. Is it because of my afro engineering?
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on July 03, 2009, 12:26:28 AM
Are you questioning a white man??   >:(

Next time you come to town we chill with Kenny.  He's this Argentinian kid that was adopted and raised by white folks, he has some fucking hilarious shit to say about racial differences.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on March 08, 2010, 10:24:34 AM
Update:

Well I finally got better at boating. I literally went from never setting my ass in a white water boat to paddling with the pros on class V rapids in about 8 months. I have learned a lot and have gotten my ass handed to me a couple of times. You really have no clue how powerful water is until it picks you up, slams your down, and rips what ever it wants from you.( picking my fat ass up at 240 is no easy feat)  I got some Gopro head cameras so I thought I would share some footage from a play session from this weekend.

*** 7 minutes in I caught a good beat down with the camera, it was a girl, I was impressed she didnt swim ***
Rock Island Playboat Jackson Kayak (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6t6A1oZYLU#normal)
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: d16forlife on March 08, 2010, 12:39:40 PM
I have always wanted to Kayak, but fuck the rapids. I would stick to lakes and rivers where I cant be drowned, or confused for a fucking seal by a shark, in the ocean :-[

You claim a few posts up that you're black. Fucking with mother nature like uncontrolled water and playing with your life is stupid shit white people do. Whats next? Bungee jumping? Hiking in mountain lion territory or at night with out a map? Parachuting in to caves? Watching high surf from the edge of a cliff? Cutting your white trash, neighbor's son's hair with out his parents approval and posting the pictures on the intronetz( ;)).....you're not  O0....J/K! looks like fun... :?:.... :P :P
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on March 08, 2010, 01:07:43 PM
I have always wanted to Kayak, but fuck the rapids. I would stick to lakes and rivers where I cant be drowned, or confused for a fucking seal by a shark, in the ocean :-[

Most people who get into paddling in their late 30's or beyond tend to stick to lakes and placid (stretches of) rivers. It's really not a bad thing at all, dude I used to work with was a tubby early 50-something and dropped most of it one summer without really trying, going out to lakes and stuff with his camera.  He really got off on the whole thing, went from the used $150 boat to a new one the next year as well as upgraded his photo gear.  I should probably get up on something like that.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: salesmonkey on March 08, 2010, 02:30:15 PM
how much did your kayak cost you? ive always wanted to get one and do some white water kayaking. would but fun to just paddle around the pothole lake area around here as well with my shotgun on board. already do it with a boat. but the kayak  just sounds fun. almost got one last year but it didnt go as planned. problem is i dont think i could talk my friends into it. i got one that might do it, and a guy at work that has went a few times but besides that no one sounded interested.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: d16forlife on March 08, 2010, 03:06:46 PM
JD, thanks for that info. I really don't need to lose any more weight but I could definitely work out my core more since I'm having a hard time with it after being cut open for surgery.

salesmonkey , the appeal of kayaking on a lake or slow moving river, to me, is that I could do it alone....and why the hell would you need a shotgun ???
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Joseph Davis on March 08, 2010, 03:50:38 PM
JD, thanks for that info. I really don't need to lose any more weight but I could definitely work out my core more since I'm having a hard time with it after being cut open for surgery.

Same here, but the closest I've gotten to surgery is taking a burrito to the face.

...and why the hell would you need a shotgun ???

When you figure it out we'll make you an honorary cracker, sir.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on March 08, 2010, 04:36:04 PM
how much did your kayak cost you? ive always wanted to get one and do some white water kayaking. would but fun to just paddle around the pothole lake area around here as well with my shotgun on board. already do it with a boat. but the kayak  just sounds fun. almost got one last year but it didnt go as planned. problem is i dont think i could talk my friends into it. i got one that might do it, and a guy at work that has went a few times but besides that no one sounded interested.

It depends on what boat you want. For a simple flat water boat I would suggest the Perception Swifty. It cost 300 new at your major sports retailer.

For white water a new boat cost 1200. Used goes from 300 to 800 depending on age and condition. There are also different types of boats for what you want to do. Creek boats are good for waterfalls and technical rapids. Playboats, like the one im using in the video are good for calmer river running and surfing in holes.

cool video, but you should have got the gopro hd

You should have bought "Ham and Cheese" Hot Pockets instead of the "Pizza".

On a serious note, I might upgrade in the future when they come down in price. I bought two of these for 125 and have one of them on craigslist for 100. So I hope to have a total of 25 dollars in my camera setup.

you should come out here and surf some real waves, i know a couple guys that surf those at spots out here.

This is a real wave. It is where the world championships were held a couple of years ago. If its real enough for those guys its real enough for me. Did you not see the video about 7 minutes in? That was a pretty good beating.

Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on March 08, 2010, 04:54:29 PM
The difference between a river wave and an ocean wave, is that the ocean wave eventually fizzles out, where the river keeps on feeding that hole, hours on end, non stop. I have had to come out of my boat, swim to the side and watched my empty boat get thrashed around for 5 minutes in the same hole.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: bigdaddyvtec on March 08, 2010, 04:58:56 PM
Back in the early to mid 90s I used to River guide the South and middle forks of the American River out of Placerville (Specifically Coloma) CA. We (My family) owned  100 acres on the river that had 3 River rafting joints on the property, I worked for South Bay....  North fork was like class3+ stuff, Middle was 4+-5 in a copuple places... Tunnel shoot was the SHIT!!!!

LA companies would ship LA people to the Sierra foothills... We would take them rafting, then take their women out to the local roadhouses get them drunk, fuck them ... Then take them back to their poor unsuspecting significant others... 4 or 5 of the bet years of my life......

We ran HYSIDE selfbailers mostly

I never got into Kayaking....  Lots of friends did, not my thing....


The river isd a dynamic thing... TOTALLY dynamic depending on Flow....  Eddys, hydraulics and such can do really weird shit to a boat.

Ive helped "unwrap" a few boats in my time, and having had taken swift water rescue courses... Ive saved a few people from fucking drowning.

Tunel Chute (You cant tell but that fuckers at about a 60 degree angle, AT LEAST)
(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.raftwet.com%2Fchute.gif&hash=9abc785f95838a8db34bae431a3887a300dfb321)

Troublemaker:

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm1.static.flickr.com%2F8%2F9799490_3af8a5f767_o.jpg&hash=a9fd4776861a61f82af72789a475d8ad63c66806)

MEAT GRINDER:
(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.incadventures.com%2Fimages%2Frafting-ad-shot.jpg&hash=4550b479e97bff45a3f232f877097d9cebe259a5)

at above 4500 CFS.....  The bottom two are fucking nuts (In the pic, about a class 3), depends on how long they open the dams for, and where you are on the "bubble". The chute at above 4500 CFS, if youre not on it, people got hurt.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: onlyflash944 on March 08, 2010, 05:36:22 PM
I've hadn't had so much fun in a long time until we went rafting at the Upper Gauley.  5 Class V rapids in 9.8 miles.  Wicked fun.

actual photo:
(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fphotos-ak-snc1%2Fv449%2F122%2F51%2F720157750%2Fn720157750_1522860_3472.jpg&hash=676e74a6b7489a9f62a1b60112e7711ef4349353)

one of the few reasons for me to head back home to WV
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on March 08, 2010, 06:18:18 PM
I WILL be there this summer. That is one of my goals for this year. I have heard its not too terribly difficult because the lines are wide enough to drive a truck through.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: onlyflash944 on March 08, 2010, 06:24:45 PM
I WILL be there this summer. That is one of my goals for this year. I have heard its not too terribly difficult because the lines are wide enough to drive a truck through.


I had never been rafting before, and I didn't fall out once.  We went with Class VI and between all the fit college kids in the raft and the guide, we were able to position ourselves where we needed to be not to wipe out.  Other companies (ACE) will intentionally get you wet.  That would be okay with me but I suck at swimming and people have been killed on the Gauley before, hence why I was happy with what Class VI did.  That being said, If you miss the line, you will be in for trouble:

Gauley Carnage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhCPpJNt4uc#normal)

Lots more of those on youtube, but by far the most fun I've had doing something outdoorsy in the past decade
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: onlyflash944 on March 08, 2010, 06:27:32 PM
Before we even got wet, we were specifically told about this one:

room of doom rescue-more footage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GILACO989Y#normal)
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: Adam Hopkins on March 08, 2010, 06:44:25 PM
Before we even got wet, we were specifically told about this one:

room of doom rescue-more footage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GILACO989Y#normal)

80% is mental, Know what your going to do(plan A), have a line picked out, and go for it. Then do what ever the fuck it takes to stick with plan A because plan B usually ends in carnage.
Title: Re: Kayaking anyone?
Post by: onlyflash944 on March 08, 2010, 07:14:37 PM
Before we even got wet, we were specifically told about this one:

room of doom rescue-more footage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GILACO989Y#normal)

80% is mental, Know what your going to do(plan A), have a line picked out, and go for it. Then do what ever the fuck it takes to stick with plan A because plan B usually ends in carnage.


I would agree.  If you raft when you go, make sure you are in the front when it comes to the last Class V.  That is the best seat for Sweet's Falls, and was probably my most memorable, 'oh shit' moment as we went right over the edge.