Hyde or Clacka

[rickster]

I need to dip into the vast knowledge base here on NGTO. I know there are some of you folks out there that have owned/rowed/fished in both.

I "want" one of these two badly. Before I get too far along in the process I wanted some opinions on differences if any. I know the differences in the construction, what I am wondering is ride, maneuverability, etc.

I'm thinking a 15' or 16' low profile. Most of the time on the Toccoa tailwater or other nearby water.

Are there certain years of either to avoid?

Thanks in advance.

rickster

[Jimmy Harris]

Rick,

I have owned both in addition to a Star Waterbug. They all have pros and cons in my opinion. The Star would maneuver as easily as a canoe and bounce off most rocks as quietly as you please. It also allowed the anglers to be high enough off the water that they could cast as easily seated as standing which was a plus on a long day of fishing. It also was self-bailing so you didn't spend the day with wet feet or rowing the extra weight of a few gallons of water. The down side was that it caught wind like a kite. If the wind was blowing upstream, which somehow it seems to always be, you wanted to shoot yourself to get out of the misery.

The Clacka was our first boat and the one we still own, in spite of it's checkered life having been stolen, washed into a culvert and sunken. It does take a lickin' and keeps on kickin'. Ours is too old to have the new dimpled bottom so I can't comment on that feature but I will say that even our old boat seems to handle on the water better than our new Hyde did (before it too was stolen; this is getting kind of sad, isn't it). By that, I mean that it holds its position better and tracks better than the Hyde did.

The Hyde, in spite of not handling as easily on the water as the Clacka, does have some really good points. I like the raised floor to keep your feet out of the water. I also really like the anchor system on the Hyde. It has a block and tackle type rig at the back of the boat that reduces the amount of effort needed to raise the anchor. I've wondered if we couldn't just rig something similar on our Clacka. I also like the fact that the anchor system is side mounted rather than center mounted. Just seemd a lot easier to me. Hyde also makes their own boats whereas Clacka has some company that makes bathtubs make their's.

Finally, I think you will find that most of our guides who row, seem to prefer the Clacka. I think a lot of that is kind of like Chevy vs. Ford owners but what can you say. Hope this doesn't muddy the water too much.

[Grizzz]

Rickster,

The Claka is a great rowing boat. I have not put it up on the board yet, but alas I think I need to sell mine. It is a 16' high side in good condition. It is a used boat and like all in this area has some dings in the chines. If you are interested, let me know and we can talk.

[rickster]

Thanks Jimmy, exactly what I was looking for. I was in the Blue Ridge shop this afternoon and talked with David and a guide that I didn't get a name from. (from Wyoming)

Clacka seemed to be the choice with the guide, but thats what he owned.

Grizz, thanks for the info. Everyone says I should get a low profile. I'm still debating what price range I can afford. (read as trying to convince my better half how much I need this boat) Hoping for a new one. ;)

rickster

[The Ole Man]

What are the pros and cons of low profile vs high ?

[Jimmy Harris]

Wind! Since we don't really have any rough water that we float in this part of the country, no need for the high sides.

[Troutseeker]

I've owned a LP Clacka, an Osprey,15'Star Superbug(a beast),a Scadden 'toon, and up until about 3 days ago, an HDPE Native DB. The rivers I fish are full of rock gardens. I tried the fiberglass boats,(Clack and Osprey).
If you can afford to have your chines and bottoms re-glassed every 3 years, you can't be the LP Clack. The downside, at least on the HI is, your gonna' loose some fiberglass through several rock gardens. The HDPE boat was bombproof, but my kids wanted something they use for whitewater, too. The Star raft is a hybrid, it's a raft as well as a cataraft. They row as well as some DB's. They are tough as nails.
They have a 4K denier floor with 2k denier on the massive tubes. I would probably still have the Star if I had gotten the Wonderbug, its only 13.5 feet in length. If you're going to be guiding, the 15 'Superbug would be a great choice. I found it too big for me. Anywho, I'm down to my Scadden 'toon, and starting to shop for another raft/rowing frame/trailer. To sum it all up, the
LP Clack was the best overall boat that I rowed. It is guick, and you can
move it around the river with ease. If we didn't have so many boulder strewn
rivers in the Southeast. I would still be rowing my ClacK.

[Grizzz]

rickster,

I understand the want of a low profile and if you can afford a new boat, that would be nice. But if price becomes an issue you can get mine for less then half the price of a new boat.

[rickster]

Thanks Grizzz, I'll keep you posted.

[STIXMAGILL]

Grizz,

Email me with price and details. I am in the market.
stixmagill(at)hotmail.com