Squirt Kiting the Blowout

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Fun day kooking out with the crew - Thanks Bolstad Clan Thumb's Up

Those who never seen a squirt boat - its a whitewater kayak made of fiberglass or kevlar that looks like it was flattened with a steamroller - designed in the mid-eighties to travel underwater with the ability to rotate on all axis - not all its drivers could survive without air on the bottom of a river and it lost some of its popularity...

The last time i busted it out was to surf the Skookumchuck wave - a tidal narrows that forms once a day - that was 2001 about the same time i started kiting - i remember it being a tight fit, my legs fell asleep paddling down to the surf spot and i had to get out and squirm about like a seal till the blood started flowing again - it was labor day weekend and was surprised no one else was there - had the fam hike in and meet me and since i had the place to myself, got to pig out, got one ride on the wave that lasted 37 minutes

thought i would break the 1988 squirt boat out of its hibernation for the Blowout and see if it would work with a kite - not the most efficient of craft it puts out a giant wake - tho the wake is kinda rad - likes a lot of wind

highpoints - launching over three waves at a time and having the spray off the bow fold my both of my eyelids back

lowpoints - the second set of doldrums and a 10 minute balancing act with the boat pointing 45 degrees skyward before i could get the kite relaunched

highpoints- finishing...

some pics

Skookumchuck Wave

Squirt boating is pretty rad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKH6UZ8hbVc

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

G: gotta give some visuals for those who learn that way...

http://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/episodes/1506/

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 613 Posts pdx Addicted

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 402 Posts Portland Obsessed

kick ass