Hang ups & Dragging & Lining...Oh My! A Shallow Water Pine Creek Gorge Paddling Adventure!
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Paddling Pine Creek through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon at 2.25' water level in a Sea Eagle Explorer 380X inflatable kayak.
#seaeagle
#seaeagleboats
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#seaeagleexplorer
#explorer380x
#inflatablekayak
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#inflatablekayakfishing
#inflatablewhitewaterkayaking
#kayakcamping
#c-tug
#ctugkayakcart
#stohlquistpfd
#stohlquistkeeper
#stohlquist
#pinecreekgorge
#pinecreek
#grandcanyonofpa
#pagrandcanyon
#lvkayakandcanoeclub
#philadelphiacanoeclub
We have a popular canoeing river in michigan called the rifle river many shallows last time on it was in spring flood that added the excitement.
Bert, as a local and someone into history I'll answer your floating logs down the creek question. Back when the forests were still virgin growth the creeks and rivers were indeed a lot deeper than they are in current days. The leaf and pine needle litter on the forest floor was several feet thick in most spots and this acted as a giant sponge that would hold water for longer periods of time and make most of the creeks and rivers navigable year round. As deforestation advanced with the clear cutting of the forests the lumber companies would build large splash dams that would retain water upstream before a few logs were removed which would release a rush of water carrying the logs downstream. Nice video and yeah last year seemed to be a very low water level year for paddling on Pine Creek...a dragging year!
That's great insight. I really appreciate the comment and hoping for better water level in April when I go back!
The ice melt and the rain should certainly help! Hopefully the spring isn’t a dry one then you should be good to go.
Thanks for documenting the Pine Creek Gorge, but you didn't go thru Owasse rapid. You took the 'cheat' down river left around the island. IMO a inflatable kayak is the last boat I would go down the Pine in at 2.25. I have one and only use it on real whitewater. I have friends that us a SUP w a SOT kayak seat and have no problems. I have done the creek from 1.6' - 3.5' about 50 times. Lots of walking at 1.6. Not recommended. But 2.2 in a hard kayak is VERY doable with NO walking. Just gotta read the water and pick ur way thru.
Yea, the water level was pretty harsh on that trip, but we ran what we could given the levels. I'll never do it that low again.
Hey Bert, NRS has a 2 and a half inch skeg for whitewater paddle board that also fits the 380. I use it and it makes the kayak more maneuverable, doesn’t track as well as larger one but good enough to keep you from turning around. I think it’s just what you need
Thanks for that! It would probably work in a situation like this. I also have gotten better at paddling without a skeg which make a lot of difference as well.
Great video, I’ll be doing the gorge for my first time this weekend!
Good luck! I hope they got some of the rain that happened overnight and is expected this weekend so that you have better water levels than I did!
Definitely appreciate you sacrificing yourself for the great views. Gotta get up there myself at some point
It's all about the viewers! :)
Great video Bert. I would be scared to try that with an inflatable ,but that's one tough boat. I use a FT385 in the ocean to scuba dive out of. I love my Seaeagle.
Oh man! I would love to take it to salt water, anchor up and snorkel! Wow!
It looked like you were taking your kayak out for a walk at those shallow points. Great video.
My husband finally went out with me for the first time last weekend on my 385ft. He liked it.
It was a bit of a workout, that's for sure! Be careful on that tandem, they don't call them divorce boats for nothing!
@@bertsadventures9974 uh oh. I'm picking up another tandem (a Hobie) this Friday.
Need some off that wonder tape that works underwater.
Nice video. I plan on biking pine creek this summer. I’ll bring my sea eagle 393 razorlite but that looked a little much in spots for my tippy drop stitch. Maybe if the waters a bit deeper.
I paddled the gorge last year in 4' water and there were zero points where I was hitting bottom. I think a Razorlite would do ok in higher water, but there are some legit class II+ through Owassie Rapid and I'm not sure how that boat would handle them.
Hi, Bert! Thank you for nice video! Waiting to try my Sea Eagle in Ontario Lake this summer...
Upper Ontario is on my list for next summer when this COVID nonsense is in our rear view!
@@bertsadventures9974 Hope you kayaking in Canada be great!)
I just bought myself a sea eagle 370. Looking forward to trying something like this! Great stuff Bert :)
Congratulations on your purchase! I hope it will unlock a new world of recreation for you, as it has for me!
@@bertsadventures9974 I so looking forward to the journey, and it looks like you really enjoy it to the fullest!
Love your videos there Bert. What paddle is that that you seem to use regardless which boat you're in?? I like the fact that it seems to have a rule on it. Thanks ! Also, did you have the skegg in on this trip? That's some really fishy looking water. Sorry. Last question answered at the 13:00minute mark.
Thanks Bob! I tried to go without a skeg, but the way the boat was loaded it was impossible to keep it going straight. My paddle is a chinese knockoff I got on Amazon called Kemco. I think it is 230 cm. Since this video I have actually purchased a shorter paddle for whitewater as well as another for the Razorlite.
Nice one 👍… btw I’ve just used ‘303 spray’ anti UV etc on the fasttrack and it bought it up well.. might be worth a look if you don’t already use it 👍
Good call. I'll look into it!
Congrats on the shout out via Sea Eagle email! Hoping to get to Pine Creek later this year. Mental note 2.5 or higher only!
Yea, how about that!
We made our first run in our sea eagles last weekend. I have the 380 and she has the 385. We knew the river was way low so we ran no skeg. I had to get out once in 8 miles so not bad at all. I loved it totally stable with my 330# 6’3” hind end in it.
The Explorer will carry the load for sure! Was your paddle on flat water? Because I found it incredibly frustrating to paddle without a skeg on the flats.
River with some rapid water spots. Nothing worth getting excited about. After a bit you get the hang of running without spinning....lol
@@bigfoot-wo3qy I should have stuck it out a little longer through the flats. I probably would have been fine through the moving water.
Considering this kayak, but have used the Sevylor many, many years ago to float the Buffalo National River. It was fantastic on shallow rock scraping taking little damage. How does the Sea Eagle handle the scrapes and rock poking in the shallows? Damage?
I've been floating it for about 5 years with lots of scrapes and drags. No damage yet! BTW... The Buffalo is on my bucket list. Looks like a great multi-day float.
Burt, The Octoraro Creek from the covered bridge in nottingham to the mouth entering the Susquehanna below Conowingo is both beautiful, exceptionally so, and for the last 6 miles somewhat challenging with class II and III rapids. Highly recommend you try it if you havent done so already. I'll go with you!
That sounds AWESOME!
Let's do IT! I've lived here in Lancaster County my entire life and never thought about this body of water being as exceptional. It really is. It's a total of 21 miles, first 14 or so class I. the last 6 or 7 miles it's considered a II/III river. It is a perfect overnight trip as there are several areas to pull off and camp. 0 roads, 0 houses. I did it last week and an Eagle followed me and a buddy down the creek the whole way. I figured out about halfway he was waiting for us to toss him a floater for lunch. Caught plenty that day but he went hungry. I've been going to Ohiopyle for 40 years now. Rafting with my parents, then with my wife and kids. It just wasn't enough. 10 years or so ago we started kayaking. Did the entire lower Yough run clean 2 years ago in a duckie. That will for certain be my pinnacle. I tried it a year before in my recreational kayak and almost died in Cucumber. I completely understand your newfound respect for the power of that river. good stuff bro. Oh, just pumped up my wife's new Sea Eagle in the front yard. Heading to the Susquehanna to try it. Muddy creek in york county is another gem only a few minutes away.
Great video Bert. I noticed you had an inflatable something under your hard kayak seat. What is that and how can I get it. Also what device did you use to pull the kayak in the water? Did you take the scagg off in the whitewater?
I'm in Fl and the river waters here have very little current. You can paddle both ways with not that much effort. Do I still need the scagg because sometimes the water levels are low if not in high tide.
Also I had a rental hard kayak hull Crack on me once and the boat would not stay level so I had to be towed in. How was your friend ale to manage?
Thanks so much for all the adventures. So much fun to watch. Come to Fl. No rocks but allegators.
Hi Carol! I'm a former Floridian myself and will probably end up back down there someday. Two things I recommend: 1- the 5" square cushion from Sea Eagle. Gets your butt off the floor of the boat. 2- the Sea Eagle Swept Back Skeg. Only needs 6" of depth to run.
The rope is actually a 10' climbing rope dog leash I got at PetSmart. Replaced the regular clasp with a carabiner & it works great!
How do you go back home? Do you have someone to drive you back or you kayak your way back where you parked your vehicle?
For this trip I use the shuttle service offered by Pine Creek Outfitters.
Hi Bert! Wife and I are big fans. We're curious what gloves you're sporting in this one. Safe paddling (water hiking)!
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. The gloves are NRS Paddling Gloves. I used to use Yak Grips (you can see them still on my paddle, but the gloves are more comfortable.
@@bertsadventures9974 good to know. Will definitely give them a shot. Our stitching isn't too comfortable on longer trips
Hi Bert, I too own a SeaEagle 380x and enjoy watching your videos. We have a group planning to paddle the Pine Creek gorge in a few weeks and camp one night in the gorge. In this video, you say there was a lot of 'boat dragging' with a Cedar Run gauge level of 2.25'. How much dragging? What was a lot? How many times? Longest distance? We are trying to establish a go/no go gauge level for our trip planned on June 4,5. What is your recommendation for what would be a "too low" level. Some scraping and an occasional (short distance) drag through low sections would be acceptable. Love to hear from you with your thoughts. Thanks, Cory, Hegins, PA
Hey Cory! Thanks for the comment and good catch on the title. That trip was actually at 1.25' and it was way too low. I think 2.5' is an ideal height. Check out the website for Pine Creek Outfitters where they have some good guidance on which conditions. I'll never do it when this low again, it just wasn't worth it. If too low I would maybe opt foe the West Branch of the Susquehanna which is a beautiful run too.
@@bertsadventures9974 Thanks Bert. That makes more sense now. And yes...our group enjoys the West Branch. We had one of our best trips last year from Allenwood to Milton State Park...with a lunch stop on the grass bank at the park at Watsontown. Keep on paddlin'
Great video. My uncle used to have a cabin in Cedar Run. I own a Sea Eagle boat, I was wondering how you keep the PA registration sticker stuck to the side of your kayak?
Hey Norm! I have it stuck directly to the boat and then I painted over it with clear acrylic to keep the edges from peeling. I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to get it off and replace when it expires.
Great video. I'm just getting into it. Are you guys from Philly?
I live in Chester County, PA
@@bertsadventures9974 I'm in Rox borough. Keep me in the loop for your next trip. I'm a fly fishermen. Just getting into kayaking
How was the bottom of the hull after your trip? Was it evident that you had been getting hung up on rocks? Any concerns after the trip was done. If I were to get such a boat, it would be used primarily in slow moving rivers and lakes, but if a trip like yours is doable, why not? I think I might also add a couple of kegs towards the bow in the straight section of the tubes. There are some low profile available. You waste a lot of energy with each stroke as the bows sways back and forth like a hunting dogs nose. That's my only misgiving with the sponson/catamaran design of these kakaks. In theory the 2 tubes should give you a wetted area of about 22 inches or so wide. Due to that, I'm surprised that these boats can't achieve higher speeds. Every video I've seen of this style boat, the operator says they just aren't fast. Do you think that is primarily due to the bow wagging back and forth during power strokes? Sorry for all the questions. I am very interested in this boat. Thank you very much for the video. Happy streams.
I've had my 380X for four years and have been in a lot of shallow waters as well as beaching & dragging it. The hull is no worse for wear and I have zero concerns. Just try to be smart. I'm not sure about adding skegs toward the front of the boat as what you perceive as improved tracking could actually be less responsive turning. Skegs definitely impact that. Speed isn't the primary issue for me and during my first season I didn't even know kayak speed was a thing. It wasn't until I started paddling with more people in hard shell kayaks that I noticed a difference. In actuality I think it is more the hull shape and not inflatable vs hard shell. My Sea Eagle Razorlite is just as fast as any hard shell rec kayak, in my opinion. The bottom line is to buy the boat that is right for you and will get you out on the water. With that in mind, you can't go wrong with a Sea Eagle Explorer! Have fun & good luck!
Great trip .Did you add glue on D rings to your boat and change the seat position more towards the middle?
Good catch! I've added multiple D rings to give me more flexibility with seat location and securing gear. I also sometimes have two of the swivel fish seats mounted as well. Tomorrow I'll be adding more D-rings on the inside for thigh straps. I'm going to be doing some big white water next week!
@@bertsadventures9974 I have an older Sea Eagle tandem that was gifted to me. It has the skeg that attaches to the stern and it pivots if it bottoms out. These are great, tough boats. I need to do this mod to mine. I enjoy your videos, it looks like you have a lot of fun.
How many feet is your boat?
can sea eagle make a shorter skeg?
They do have a couple of different skegs available. I was using the low profile skeg, but the water levels were just too shallow.
What seat do you use Burt?
I have the black high back seat from Sea Eagle, but I put a 4" pad under it to raise my butt off the floor.
I can understand kayaked once with kayaks that could not track, frustrating.
Class 2 rapids?
Normally this time of year Pine Creek would be class I, II & III, but I think it was mostly I+ and a couple of small II's.
@@bertsadventures9974 All new to me. Thanks! ;)
You need to lezrn to use a j stroke.
Some nice views, too bad you had too much of your face and not enough of the surroundings.
To each his own I guess!