History question- early Perception K-1/C-1 conversion

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:59 pm

I used to paddle a Sage, and I recall that back then, Perception marketed a boat that was essentially a Quest or Spiit or something, converted into a c-1. I think it was called the Spectre. Any old-timers remember the boat, its name, and when it was marketed?

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:22 pm

Gawd, what an awful boat.

They called it the Spectrum. I don't know what kayak it was converted from (maybe Quest...). It had very little rocker and was fairly round-bottomed. It came out about two years before the GyraMax - roughly 1982. It was so bad that I replaced it with a converted Dancer when they came out. Much better boat.

boathead · Post by **boathead** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:04 pm

Bob is correct. Ding,ding,ding,ding. It was 1982 and its cousin was the Eclipse K-Boat. I had the C1, my other half, the K1. It took me exactly 2 weekends worth of paddling this god-awful contracption that i called Perception and they sent me the Eclipse K1 outfitting to convert my C-Boat to a Kayak.............Now what is wrong with this thought process? A year later I got smart and traded them both in on a Mad River Courrier solo canoe that later became
the Guide. I think it was close to the last Perception boat I ever owned. The exception being their open boat, the HD1.......................The Boathead.........................

Sir Adam · Post by **Sir Adam** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:24 pm

If any of y'all need to relive those painful times, I have a Sage sitting in the boatrack. In GREAT shape for it's vintage...but in the end...it's still a Sage....

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:25 pm

Me, in the boat:

Picture

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:23 am

Bob P., I love that Hi Float PFD. Did you make yours from a Walbridge kit like I did?

Still have mine, but when I sewed it, I didn't allow for growth.

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:01 pm

That was a looong time ago, but I think it was from a kit. Somehow I talked someone else to do the sewing (fortunately).

I haven't tried to get into it for at least 15 years, but I suspect it's shrunk just like yours.

And how about that Iliad paddle? That enormous blade would probably rip my shoulder apart now. We were real men back then.

Berkshire Jack · Post by **Berkshire Jack** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:31 pm

I had the Spectrum also, and I agree with all the other responses. Even though it was my first C1, I could tell it was a piece of cr___ and it wasn't just my technique. It was so rounded, it felt perfectly at home on any side and up side down. I felt like I was paddling a cigar. After one season, I ordered the kayak out-fitting from Perception like Boathead and turned it into a yak and sold it as fast as I could without leaving an address.
Bob, I am amazed you could balance in the play hole at Tariffville in that boat. That is the play hole with Pencil Sharpener behind it? It must have been a fast shutter on that camera to catch you upright.
Jack

Sir Adam · Post by **Sir Adam** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:59 am

Funny you mention Illiad.

For guide-sticks I alternate between my Norse and Illiad:)

I can't imagine using either with most of my C1's (though with a Hahn, Sage, or Czech I suppose it would feel "comfortable" )

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:52 am

Berkshire Jack wrote:...
Bob, I am amazed you could balance in the play hole at Tariffville in that boat. That is the play hole with Pencil Sharpener behind it? It must have been a fast shutter on that camera to catch you upright.
Jack

I've always found that round-bottom boats are easier for side surfing - at least in deeper holes. In the Eighties I spent so much time in that hole that I was known as The Mayor of T'Ville.

Ever see anyone surf the hole in an open boat - standing up?

Of course Jim M holds the record for juggling.

Gyramax Surf

Batmax?

John Coraor · Post by **John Coraor** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:05 pm

Great photo Bob!

I still have my original hand-sewn Waldbridge Hi-Float. However, I was paddling kayak at the time so I made it as the short version, without the lower set of cells. I've also got the matching one that I made a couple years later for my fiance (now wife) with whom I was paddling C-2. Unfortunately, both have miraculously shrunk over the years.

We used Norses rather than Illiads, and I still have several. Although the first one or two I used in open canoe had full-size blades, while we were racing with PSOC we would order them with the blades cut-down by the manufacturer. The standard slalom size blade was the "John Sweet" cut, and the smaller women's blade was the "Barb McKee" cut. Those full-size blades must have been sized for Charlie Waldbridge!

John

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History question- early Perception K-1/C-1 conversion

History question- early Perception K-1/C-1 conversion

spectrum

Had the boat also

Re: Had the boat also