B O A T i N s i D e r
release the hounds.
Photo viRginia MaRshall
double doG dare you
COMPOSITE CREATIONS’ NEW TANDEM RIVER RUNNER UPS THE ANTE
COMPOSITE CREATIONS is a tenacious example Rapid V8,I3), a beginner-friendly, solo whitewater ing our test runs and the sharp bow pierced the
of outdoor escapism fuelled by industrialism. The canoe designed and sized just for kids. The boat waves, making for a very wet ride for the bow
man behind the creations—which include special- was a hit with adventurous youths happy to strike paddler. The stern paddler, meanwhile, stayed
ized parts for Bombardier Learjet, Sikorsky and out on their own. But many kids (and parents), dry thanks to the central air tank that creates two
Airbus—is Andy Phillips. Phillips has worked his Phillips knew, were fearful of so much autonomy. entirely separate cockpits. Phillips says the trade-
way through composite materials courses and Enter the Double Dog. Phillips says he de- off for a wetter ride is that the low gunwales let kids
dusty experiments in his dad’s garage to become signed the tandem river runner short and respon- and those with shorter torsos reach the water.
a Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council and sive so an adult can paddle with a child and still The prototype is still a work in progress. For
FAA-recognized composite technician. He has the overpower the boat when necessary, “Watching example, Phillips is working on water rails for the
friendly, unassuming air of a small town hardware the kid/parent race at the Gull River, I saw par- forward and aft air tanks to divert bow and stern
store manager and the sandpaper-and-stain en- ents physically struggling to maintain [control of] a wash out under the gunwales rather than into the
thusiasm to match. longer boat.” The Double Dog, he says, provides paddlers’ laps. After several months of testing this
Between devising stronger floats for experi- more manoeuvrability as well as comforting stabil- summer he expects to finalize the mould and be-
mental aircraft and grinding fibreglass for custom ity for newer paddlers. gin production.
hotrods, Phillips designs and builds canoes from Where the Splash offered independence, the With the Double Dog, Phillips has created a
the same advanced materials he uses for his aero- Double Dog provides the reassurance of learning wholly distinctive canoe targeted to a unique—
nautical projects. His distinctive canoes—like the with “someone literally just over your shoulder.” and, he believes, under serviced—market. Posi-
new Double Dog tandem—now make up 40 per Essentially a Bull Dog cut in half and stretched to tive early experiences are vital to fostering a life-
cent of Composite Creations’ business. fit two, the tandem Dog shares the abrupt angles, long love of paddling, and the Double Dog allows
“We’re the Orange County Choppers of boat wide planing hull, super-duty composite shell and kids to grow into whitewater even as they grow
building,” he laughs. integrated air tanks of its pedigree. into their own boats. —VM
Phillips’ first commercial foray into boat build- We took the prototype Double Dog to a rocky,
ing was the Bull Dog in 2000. From its flat planing ledge-strewn rapid to test Phillips’ claims of du-
hull, double hard chines and integrated air tanks rability (check) and suitability for two adult pad-
DOuBle DOG
to its sharp, Lamborghini Countach lines and Kev- dlers (check…sort of). Remember, the idea is for
PRICE .................. $2,800 Cdn
lar/carbon/s-glass lay-up, the Bull Dog looked and a parent and kid team; the boat performs best
MATERIAL ............ Kevlar/carbon/s-glass
felt more like an Italian sports car than a classic with a combined paddler weight of less than 300
LENGTH ............... 12’6
Canadian canoe. Named for the notoriously feisty pounds. Ideal in class I-III rapids, where it is nim-
WIDTH ................. 28”
canine, the twitchy Bull Dog was designed to be ble enough to carve into micro eddies and catch
DEPTH ................. 15”
a playful wave hound (pun intended) that adept smaller waves, the Double Dog feels similar to an
WEIGHT ............... 54 lbs
boaters could surf, flat spin and roll. Esquif Blast only faster. OUTFITTING ........ Mike Yee saddles and straps
Phillips followed up with the Splash (reviewed in The low gunwales dipped into the water dur- compositecreations.ca
 Rapid summer/fall 2009
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