Critical Mass Close-up
Here are some more detailled photo's of our new creeker, the Critical Mass.


She's a sweet looking thing. Someone commented that it looked like a War Machine - some unstoppable tank designed to break through any defence. I like the comparison.


We really put a lot of effort into not only making this boat opperate, and well, but also look super slick. Some called it a Spintfire, someone else a race car from the 1930's... whatever your fancy, she's slick looking.

But of course, performance is everything, and so far, people love the boat.
A side view of the boat showing its extreme continous rocker, and high volume.


She's big. She floats big, and she runs big. Ironically, she doesn;t feel big to paddle, which is cool.
I'm NOT a fan of edges on the hulls of creek boats. Flat hull yes (if the boat has continous rocker - on a flat rocker profile like the Nomad, or Diesel, then a round hull is better because the flat is over too much surface = sore back when boofing). My flat hull has a slight edge - more aesthetic than anything else - that rolls off into a very rounded side wall from bow to half way down the stern. In the last 2 feet, there is a lifted edge in the tail for release (boofing) and to help bite to get out of holes (tested unfortunately ;-).

The word in creeking in hull design is round, soft smooth lines. Nothing to catch on rocks and catch weird currents.
A view of the internal system. Full padded plate footrest, mounted on RATCHETS with elastomer straps for shock absorbtion. (One paddler pitoned so badly this weekend he broke the strap - as is supposed to happen - he said afterwards that if the strap had not released he'd have broken his ankle.

The front pillar is replaced with the Bow Ring, which acts like a bulkhead, offering significently better shell ridigity than any central wall, AND keeps the whole front open and more spacious. Its super slick - safe, free, comfortable and effective.
Tripple fail safe grab loops. THREE inserts need to fail (as opposed to EVERY OTHER COMPANY where just one needs to fail) before the system fails. 4000lbs climbing webbing, or steal bars only work if the boat holding it doesn't fail (as usually happens). 2 Attachment poins per grab loop, but at the same time, grab loops that won;t break your fingers off if you actually need to use them.

Have you evern actually grabbed one of those bars when your hands are cold??? Not fun!
The hatch is now held on using a simple but effective cam buckle. The hatch can't come off the boat no matter what happens. The seal is still done via the skirt under the protective hatch. Good and dry.
The Air tube located in the center of the air tight sealed stern compartment. A bulkhead behind the cockpit seals off the stern and offers 4x the strength of a wall. At the same time it creates a air chanber that makes boat rescue easier, and also allows us to supply an air resevoir for a pinned paddler, giving up to 10 mins of air in a pin situation.
The mouthpiece of the air tube allows you to suck in air, but carbon doixide is not exhaled into the air chamber, but rather is let out into the water.
And extra, easy to clip into, D ring is mounted on the deck just in front of the cockpit for emergencies.
Another look at the internal workings. The footbrace is seen here with the standard extender that allows the tallest people to fit. in the envent of a pin and the ratchet releasing, the extender can also be used to create a fixed bar so you can still paddle out of the gorge.

The seat backband is also adjusted using ratched located on the seat, not the top of the cockpit where it can cut or bruise your legs on emergency exit.

So, thats the skinny on the Critical Mass close up view.

The 2006 mafia is pretty much the same fittings as this.