Whitewater Redemption! Upper Lehigh River Gorge in Sea Eagle Explorer 300X @ 780cfs
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2021
- Super Excited to get the 300X out on some whitewater and the Upper Lehigh is a perfect place to put this great little boat through it's paces. After my experience at the Yough Loop, I'm happy to be paddling with facebook friend Bryan!
The smile this puts on your face tells it all!
Absolutely! Can't wait to get back out there!
The Waves are scared of Burt! Burt is the alpha male of Kayaking. Men want to be him and fish and white water fear him. Great Vid, you rock!
Thank you Sir!
You've definitely persuaded me to put a 300x on my shortlist.
You won't regret it! Just purchase a foot brace if you'll be set!
Hey Bert, I don’t own a boat yet but have been researching the heck out of the kayak market.
I know that an inflatable would be the best choice for me. I had pretty much come to the conclusion that a Sea Eagle is the best boat maker in this category before I ran across your videos.
And your vid’s have solidified my thoughts about these boats. I think a 385 ft will be my best choice to start with
Thanks for all the time you have invested into editing and capturing your footage.
It is very helpful to a guy that just turned 52 and is looking forward to getting started in the paddling game.
You rock Bert !! 👍👍
Sorry I misspelled your name here Burt
Wow! Thanks Patrick! I was 52 when I got my first boat. I think the FT will be a great choice to get you on the water. Good luck!
Thank you
Another good video. I like the town of Jim Thorpe but haven't paddled the Lehigh River. I have suggested a trip to some friends for 2023 when we can look at the dam release dates. Unfortunately the release dates for 2022 don't match my availability. Keep Posting stuff, I'll keep watching!
Bert - Sea Eagle just sent your video out via email!!!😁. Way to go!!!
Pretty cool, huh? I've actually been talking to them and they like what I'm doing. Hopefully we'll see some more videos as well.
Finally pulled off that "Rockford" and got into that eddy at the 19m mark and then again on that last one at the end. Nice!! Old dog new tricks....Pfffft!! Great stuff Bert!
You sir, know of what you speak!
Thanks for the adventure Bert, wife and I have the 300X as well.
It really is a great little boat. I love it!
Great video. Looks like fun!
Thanks! It was way more enjoyable than my disaster on the Yough Loop!
Really looked like a fun river. Nice video Bert.
Thanks. I’ll be back again and eager to see what it’s like with a little more flow.
Looks like fun .I like the new boat!
Thanks. I like the 300X a lot! But the 380 will still be my go to for multi-day trips.
Hi, Bert.
When you need company on a slow river again let me know. I own an inflatable Saturn FK396 (not self bailing, so no white water 😁).
I'm near Pittsburgh, and driving a couple hours is not a problem.
Safe paddle!
Great run!
Thanks! It was a lot of fun!
New subscriber! This seemed pretty tame compared to the Ohiopyle Youghiogheny trip. I would guess river levels can change that. I have the 380x and I'd love to try this trip (but...I don't live around there). Thanks for posting your videos. I'm learning from you. Thanks.
Keep on watching. I’m happy to let my mistakes help us all!
Bert. Thanks for making these videos. I'm learning from you and getting ready to buy a 300x.
I love my 300X!!!!
Bert's videos are why I'll be buying a 300X to float the Wallowa and Grande Ronde here in eastern Oregon.
@@robsimer9296 you won't be disappointed!
looks like fun! I read on Sea Eagle's website about not merely unscrewing the drain cap, but removing the cap from the retaining plastic strap entirely... they pop right out of the strap. In fact, you can buy replacement caps from Sea Eagle in case you loose one. :)
Yea, that's the best way to prevent damage to the floor of the boat.
Oh boy, does it makes me want to go out having fun or what. Seems the 300X is perfect for that kind of water. Seems to be as slow as mine in the corners if the water flows too fast. :-) I got the Aquaglide XL fishing kayak. I think it is 140. Nice trip.
Yep. Inflatables have their pros & cons. But it’s a great boat for me!
You rock uncle B
I’ve run a 300x in around 3,500 cfs. Full run from White Haven to Glen Onoko. Those boats can handle some big water. I didn’t make it but a few of my friends ran theirs yesterday in over 5,000 cfs.
Not sure I'm brave enough to run that big! But I thought the Corps was stepping down the release from 4k over the weekend? I would love to hook up with you and your friends next season and could really use some local inflatable paddlers to go with.
The 300x makes sense if you mainly use it for upper level white water, don't need to store a lot of gear, and go alone. I prefer tandem paddling and if I were to try white water, my wife would probably come if it weren't anything too crazy.
Totally valid commentary!!
Hi Bert, I love your videos! I have an SE370, but am planning to upgrade soon to either a 380X or 300X. (I'd love a 350XF but It's so darn heavy) Mostly for flat water, and maybe a few light rapids. Probably mostly day trips, so I don't need the huge cargo capacity. (I'm 6'4 and 260lbs) I was wondering if you could please comment on the differences in stability and control between the two. Also could you please tell me which seat you prefer, the inflatable deluxe, or the highback pro seats. Thanks, PS I live in S.E. PA and have an RV that I spend a lot of time RV camping, biking and kayaking. Maybe we'll see each other on the river someday, or could plan a trip together. Bob.
Hey Bob! Thanks for the note. At your size I think you would be better with the 380X and the added capacity. Yes, you might lose a bit of maneuverability but that would only be a factor on larger rapids! Good luck and feel free to reach out when you are up and running.
Great video. I was scared when you were near the rocks. Did you use the scagg at all.
Thanks for caring! 😂. No skeg in whitewater.
Well done! Glad you like the new boat. Did you use a skeg?
Nope. Not in whitewater
Nice run, Bert!! Glad you like the 300X (I’m a bit partial 😂)! I was wondering, as a few others have, if you used the skeg?
Thanks Susan! No skeg on the boat in whitewater. I’ve made that mistake in the past!
You don’t put the skeg on for river running..unless you want to rip out the bottom of your boat
Looks like rush hour on the river! Glad the 300x handled good!
You're on Facebook?
It was really crowded at the top, but it loosened up as we went along. The rafts just shoot straight down the river so they were gone pretty quickly.
You mention thigh straps. What are those? Where do they attach? (I'm new to all this, can you tell?)
Great video, Bert . . . It convinced me to get a 300x ! I do have a quick question (while I wait for mine to arrive). What are the dimensions of the 300x when its all folded up & in bag? Thanks for your great videos, and in advance for your information :)
Thanks for the comment. I don't know the exact dimensions when folded but would guess that is is about 20" x 36" and comes with a backpack bag.
Thanks so much for the info! I couldn’t tell if the bag it came with was a backpack or not 😊
Great videos. I'd like to know how the 380 would turn if the water was gone.
I think it's pretty nimble. Have never had a problem. Keep in mind the skeg does bring some resistance, but that's the price for better tracking.
Bert, very cool how many miles
Bert, How do you feel about the lack of foot braces on the Sea Eagle Explorer? I am looking into purchasing one, but wish there was some kind of brace for longer paddling trips.
Hey Sam... I have made a foot brace out of pvc pipe and a strap between two d-rings and I think it works great!
They sell an adjustable for brace and leg straps for their kayaks
Bert - which drop in and pull out locations did you hit? How tight was parking at both locations?
Nevermind...heard you say Whitehaven / Rockport. How bad was the parking?
@@jwally000 we were there around 9:30 a.m. and it was fine in both locations.
How do you best describe the difference in size? Pros/Cons. I have a 12.5 Aquaglide McKenzie (tandem) I paddle it solo ALL the time. I just ordered the same boat in 10.5' solo.... can't wait.
@aquaglide
For me, I found the 300 to be far earlier to maneuver than my 380. More responsive and quick to turn.
How is the bailing? I had the 420x out on some 3s and it bailed so slow. Had to stop and empty the boat. Been wanting one of those for awhile.
Hey Ryan... I made the same mistake my first time doing bigger water. The trick is to tuck the caps under the floor. When that is done, the boat empties as quickly as it fills.
That makes a ton of sense. The weight of the water in the boat keep them closed. Thanks for the tip. Love the videos.
@@rynodesign I believe that the water entered the boat so quickly and filled it that it did compress the caps on the holes and made it really slow to drain. With the caps tucked under the floor it was a 100% difference.
How do you reckon it would perform weighed down with gear for a 5 day trip?
I have never taken the 300X on a multi-day, but the 380X is my go to multi-day boat. I've loaded it up with all of my camp gear, coolers and even firewood. Capacity is 650lb.
I wonder how the Razorlite would have handled that trip? (Would the foot pegs have helped to make things easier?)
Nope. Not what it's designed for.
@@bertsadventures9974 was actually thinking about the fasttrack and put the wrong model name, but noticed that it's only good for up to class 2 water too... and what you went through was more than that LOL
Is the skeg in or out on this kind of white water?
Always skeg out for whitewater for maneuverability and you don't want to get hung up in shallows.
Bert. At 70 years old I am going to buy a Sea Eagle. I live in Idaho. Lots of rivers and lakes. I want to be able to do small to medium rapids plus lots of flat water. Which of the Explorers would you recommend?
Hey Leon... Idaho is on my paddling bucket list! I think you'll make a great choice with the Explorer. Here's my take... If you are only doing day trips and will be in the boat solo, then the 300X is the way to go. If you may do some overnights or want to paddle tandem then I would recommend the 380X. If you are going to do extended multi-day trips (5 day+) then I would go with the 420X. I just got a 300X and I really love how it plays on moving water!
I like the shoes. What kind are they?
Thanks, they're the Merrell Hydro Moc. My wife hates them!
Do you have the skeg in when doings rapids like that?
No sir. In whitewater you lose too much maneuvering and have the risk of getting hung up.
Looked like a blast! How was the tracking in the calms with no skeg?
How does it track when in calm potions of the river?
Do you mean when I'm doing a river and don't have a skeg? It's fine, I learned to shorten my stroke a little bit and tracking remains fine.
I wish I had thought of that years ago. Rather than getting a "PhD in paddling and rolling" a hardshell sit-in kayak on Class 3, I could have been paddling more of it.
The Sea Eagle looks to cover about 85% of what I might paddle, and the truth is, I have no business in the other 15%.
EXACTLY! I'm almost 56 years old and really don't have anyone to impress. I'll probably never learn to roll a hardshell... after trying to learn in the pool all winter... so I really think that I'll be mostly sticking to my Sea Eagle.
@@bertsadventures9974 On top of that, just being able to roll in a pool isn't enough. You need to be able to roll in whitewater and/or deal with a wet exit and retrieving a kayak filled with water. Knowing how to swim in those conditions is necessary with any boat.
Sit on tops and inflatables looks like they help reduce the stress level and let people get out there and enjoy the water more.
All of mine are sit-in presently. I've been looking at something a bit easier to use.
I have a small 19' trimaran sailboat, that's too big to explore some of the tighter areas. This one looks like it might make for a nice "dinghy" as well.
@@wisenber just invest in a good wetsuit or drysuit to protect yourself in cooler weather or colder water and you'll be good to go. One of the only downsides I can see is the reality that an inflatable or sit on top are a "wet ride". If you don't mind that, and I don't, then they are awesome!
@@bertsadventures9974 Good pointers. I've had neoprene and drysuits for years. A sit-in kayak with a skirt doesn't mean you'll be dry. So long as the water is in liquid form, I'll be paddling.
🤣😂😅 amazzing💯👍👌🤟🤣😍😁
What class rapids would these be?
I don’t think there was anything bigger than 2+ maybe some easy 3’s
Wonder how the 420 would do with two people. That’s the one I have and want to try some rapids with it
Don, I've seen video of people doing tandem whitewater run in either the 380 or 420. I think as long as you both know what you're doing it would be fine. The boat itself is almost unflippable unless you really miss a line.
My wife and I have the 420 and 380. Both do pretty well, but the 380 has a bit less flex when going over rapids, Both are sweet though, and the 420 has a ~10inches more room for a dry bag or something for daytrips. Loaded up, the 420 just plows though some decent waves :-)
You talked about thigh straps. What are they, do you have a photo of them? Is this somepurchased
Hey Charles... I purchased mine from NSR.com I had to install two additional D-Rings on the inside of the boat as an attach point.
@@bertsadventures9974 Mayde your next you can show some of the modifications you have done recently.
@@charleshenk8003 good idea, but I haven't modified anything on the 300X yet.
Bert, do you have a facebook page? Is there a way to contact you privately? Are you interested in doing the Youghiogheny loop or the Middle Youghigheny?
What brand paddle is that?
It is a Kerco, carbon shaft and super light, that I got on Amazon a few years ago and is 280cm long. I really like the length when paddling the Explorer. But I also just got an Aqua Bound Manta Hybrid and it is super light too and pretty reasonably priced!
Thanks
What did he cut out of that you could not do.
You do need a better camera with a lot better sibilantly control
That was just the first segment when I was hand holding the camera and it wasn't tightened down, but I get your point. Overall I'm pretty happy with the quality of the images I get from the GoPros.