boats dory
Grand Canyon Questions?
My family and I want to go to the Grand Canyon. We still have to make some descisions. We would probably go between July and September. Could you guys who have been there relate youre experiences and provide as much detail as possible. here are some important guidelines.
Rubber Boats or Dories, Whats Better????? (pros and cons)
What Trip: The one until Phantom Ranch (5 days), The one from Phantom Ranch (8-10 days) or the whole thing (14-15 Days)
What company did you use??
what is the food like
In general is it fun??
Any other comments??
Just follow those guidelines and remember to make a comparison between Rafts and Dories, that is very important. If you did one thing (rafts or only 5 day trip) you can say why you might have done somethign else.
Just description and comparison
i am talking about a paddle rubber boat so no motorized boats
Fifteen years ago, I did a 9 day river trip from Phantom Ranch to Diamond Creek (the lower end). We went with Canyon Expeditions out of Flagstaff. The trip consisted of 4 ‘oar boats’ – each with a single boatman/woman in the middle using a pair of big oars and 4-6 passanger eachs in the front and back. It was a blast – one of the best experiences of my life.
You are definitely on the right track, wanting to go with smaller non-motorized rafts or dories. Aside from the noise and smell, those big motorized Greyhound bus rafts are crowded and don’t ride the waves as much as the smaller ones. Small and non-motorized is the only way to go.
As Mr Danger notes, if you have the time and money do the whole length – I wish that I had (you will not regret it). Each part of the canyon has different features and scenery. I would love to do the dories sometime – more ‘historic’ and probably a wilder ride since they don’t flex as much. On the other hand, the small rafts are pretty comfy (can lounge on the pontoons) and easy to jump in and out of.
As far as time of year… although it is hot at the bottom, you will be getting splashed a lot as well as swimming and taking little side trips that involve wading through water, so you want it to be warm enough that getting splashed with very cold water feels nice. We went in early June and I had problems with sunburn, but don’t remember the heat itself being a big problem because of the water. I would guess that May and Sept are probably the best times. The rapids would probably not be as much fun Nov-Feb.
I don’t remember too much about the food quality one way or another. The river guides did all the cooking and I remember it was always a well organized and fun camp each night. The guides were all great and very knowledgable – leading us on little side trips to see old ruins and waterfalls. They also taught the basics of rowing to those of us who wanted to learn and then let us sit in the boatman’s seat and paddle through some of the little riffle rapids – that was a cool experience.
Be warned that the park only allows permits for a limited number of commerical trips each year and thus most of the companys often require reservations long in advance.
A couple of notes:
If you are fair skinned and going in summer, ensure you bring some light, quick-drying clothing that can cover your arms and legs if you start to burn. I kept myself covered in sun block and still started to burn early on. A guide lent me a pair of doctors scrubs and these were great. Those pants with the zip-off legs would be a good choice. A broad-brim hat is a must.
Have shoes that are sturdy enough for short hikes over rocks, but can stand being in water a long time. Lots of people wear old tennis shoes, but Tevas would be great too.
Have fun… it is something you will never forget.
Dory Boats
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Drift Boats and River Dories $32.81 Description not available. |
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Building Badger (Paperback) $16.09 Popularized by the bestselling Voyaging on a Small Income, the Badger design of Benford sailing dories is fully dissected in the comprehensive guide to its conception, design, and construction. With sections… |
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How to Build the Gloucester Light Dory $7.87 A shop manual on building an exceptional rowing dory. Designed by Philip C. Bolger, the 15`6` Gloucester Light Dory is fast, seaworthy, and a delight to row. It features simple plywood construction. |
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Tennis (Indie Pop) – Cape Dory [Digipak] * $12.26 Disc 1:Take Me SomewhereLong Boat PassCape DoryMarathonBimini BaySouth CarolinaPigeonSeafarerBaltimoreWaterbirds |
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Dory Story $7.87 Danny, a young boy fascinated by the ocean, decides to take a small boat out into the ocean for a little adventure. As he rows farther and farther away from shore, he gets a glimpse of how the food chain works–shrimp eating plankton, tuna eating … |