Caney Fork with invisible Sponsons (Hero report)

Photos

By Clay Wright

Part-time JK staff member Justin Owen surfs Rock Island almost every morning. Just last year we ‘got him down’ Upper Caney Fork at a really low level and he’s been boating hard ever since. So when the gages spiked I knew he would be game for another go with much more water. But alas, JK is in over-time mode and he was due at the plant at 12:30 … Knowing he’s been getting up early for months to drive an hour to surf here at 8AM, Stephen and I rallied into the dark at 6AM with our trusty new Hero’s in hand. We were changed and loaded by 7, greeted by the muddy waves of a great level at the put-in, and on the water shortly after 8.

Now the first thing I noticed with the Hero was ‘WOW it’s short! Coming from an 8’ Rocker that’s saying something, but because the bow is smaller and 6” shorter it really feels sporty. On the water it’s ridiculously stable – more primary stability than a Rocker and the secondary is off the hook! It’s like this boat has invisible sponsons! Surfed some waves, did some spins; it’s got some play for a phat boat, but it’s not slicey like a Fun so there ya go. Paddles pretty fast for a 7’6”er – good thing since we had a deadline.

Hopped out to scout Devil’s Kitchen and were greeted by a big water approach with a tree hanging in the river, some stomping holes at the bottom, and another tree has washed up across the outflow downstream. So big-water control was mandatory. I slid in and as I dropped into that first big curler I know this was gonna be cake. The stern is a the true ‘Hero’ of this boat – it’s got so much volume and a hard chine yet it dives into these crosscurrents stable as can be, rebounding really controlled to send you on to your next move. Hit the first boof, flowed around to the main line entrance, greased over the pourover, and charged left to right across the bottom 2 holes right where I wanted. Ferried in behind the tree to set up for Stephen and Justin.

Justin’s a good creeker, but like many of us he’s been in a playboat so much that the transition to a round hull can feel different. He styled the approach, nailed the entrance line, and charged across the holes perfectly only to spin out on the eddyline below. No big deal mind you, but I hit the same eddyline and just ruddered back straight … perhaps this is the reason to put a planing hull on a river-running boat – so you don’t always have to follow the bow where it’s going? Works for me .. the no-speed ‘spinnability’ of the Hero seems to be a strong point when running big boily water OR just when you find yourself drifting around on an eddyline. Stephen came down with a new ‘boof’ line and then drove across to run the very meat of the bottom hole – sik. On his way down the ramp I notice he was half sideways – uh oh! But with one stroke he swung it around and just planed right through the monster without having to fight a bit. OK guys … 7 miles to go!

The rest of the run was beautiful at this level, bouncing along between boulders with curlers to punch, boulders to dodge, and time to make. We arrived at the take-out at 10:45 – earlier than I have ever put-on in the past. Even after shuttle we had time for lunch, some reminiscing our lines, and the 30 minute drive to make sure Owen doesn’t miss his 2nd day back at work. More rain expected!

Clay Wright