Everglades Challenge 2025

[Steve W]

Alan, 

 

I've used a standup paddleboard on Skeena with pretty good success. You can have one knee on the seat and have an extended leg on the cockpit sole to get some good drive with your back. I think for the marina paddle you described this would be way easier than oars. 

 

One thing you mentioned in one of your videos was that someone was using a tiller pilot. Is that legal in the EC? I've been thinking of adding one to Skeena. I single hand a lot and there have been times I'd like a break.

 

I like your wind vane design, but I'm short a good shop right now, so that's out of my scope right now. 

 

Take Care,

Steve 

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

Paddle Alternatives: I know talking to you and Chief that my Core Sound 17.3 was somewhat prepped to have a Hobie style peddle drive near the stern. Chief pointed out that while sitting on the bench like normal, peddling, the fins could propel the boat straight as the drive can be turned in varying orientations, including 90 degrees. How do you think the speed of the boat would be being peddled vs being rowed?

 

Autopilots: Steve, if you are into do it yourself, the Pypilot project is an open source autopilot using available hardware and software. Pricing it, I think it could be done for under $400 plus a lot of time and energy ;-). 

 

https://pypilot.org/autopilots/

 

If I use the autopilot ram to move the tiller back and forth to propel the boat forward, do I have to register as a class 6 boat for the EC? In all seriousness though, I'm pretty sure that Greybeard and Cheframen used an autopilot in previous everglade challenges.

 

[Alan Stewart]

Jon, Yeah that is right. Chief installed a rectangular box in the aft end of the cockpit but decked over it until he was ready to cut it out for a mirage drive. I've never seen a mirage drive that was 90 degrees to the direction of travel though which would be nice because then you could sit on the side of the boat. They are all oriented fore and aft so you'd have to sit on the stern deck which is not ideal both due to weight placement and because the tiller would be in the way. Chiefs (not your) boat has the pivoting tiller but still something that would need to be worked out. Another problem with the mirage drive is the height, they're designed to go into the sit on top kayaks which are not very thick from seat to water and you're in a recumbent position. the mark 3 is pretty thick from cockpit sole to hull bottom and then you're sitting pretty high up so the angle and height of the foot pedals may be a problem. 

 

You can use a tiller pilot or pypilot or anything like that. They don't propel the boat so they're allowed. I have one of Seans tiller pilots to play with on my boat if I ever finish it. Working on an EC writeup now. 

[messingdd97]

Hobie makes a Mirage 360 drive that rotates. I guess you can install it in whatever orientation you want and change the rotation to accomodate your preferred seating location. It kicks up as well. I've used the regular drives a lot, and I really like them, but I've always been suspicious of the fancier drives with reverse, kick up, and now rotation. The drive is over $1K, which limits my enthusiasm for just going out and getting one for experimentation.

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

I just have a hard time putting a hole in the boat to add the mirage drive. Would it slow the boat down or change the water flow detrimentally? Plus, I like paddling. I'd consider the drive though if it'd be faster! 

[Don Silsbe]

If I were you, I’d consider taking only oars on my first EC.  Get the “lay of the land” (water) before doing anything extreme.  If you swing by here on your way down, I’ll loan you some 9-1/2’ Concept II bantams.  They have big blades and  carbon fiber shafts.  Also, I might find myself in FL about that time.  I could take them with me.

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

Thanks for the offer Don. I'm hoping for EC 2027. I am coming South for the Florida 120 raid in Pensacola Beach May 14 to the 18. Come join us! Its an easy event where one can have lunch out every day and even get a shower most days. I have hired crew to join me. All I had to do to compensate him is get him out of a week of third grade.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fl120/

 

https://swidmier.wixsite.com/fl120

 

[Don Silsbe]

@Jonathan M. Cohn— I’ve gone to FL for a couple of weeks in February, co-organized two events this spring, and have signed onto a Beneteau 45 for eight days in the BVI.  All of this was minus my partner in crime.  I think I’d better cool my jets for now.  But thanks for the offer.

[PadrePoint]

2 hours ago, Don Silsbe said:

I think I’d better cool my jets for now.

Yeah, there is that. 

Always gotta think of the big picture…. (and what’s worth it.)