Well Dave, let's just say that after about 10 Natti Lights last night I wasn't in the best frame of mind for a legible review
but here is what I have to say so far...
Let me start out by saying that the 08 Hero is AWESOME, BUT it is TOTALLY different then the Rocker series. The Hero line is really fast, tracks like its on train tracks, but still rolls very easy, and paddles really nice. It's much more of a sports car feel then the fully lifted/offroad feel of the Rockers.
The Cheoah didn't turn out to be too high, but had plenty of flow for a fun day. The first lap we did took some learning for me to drive this boat. It surprised me how different this boat was to the Rocker, but that was my fault. One look at the two hulls together and it's obvious, but again, it caught me off guard. It's really a fantastic river runner/creek boat. Super comfy (as always) and eddies out with a snap that will knock the corn off your cob. The speed was a surprise at first and I found myself bombing into rapids and already half way through them before I knew it. It's really stable. I was going into the wierdest of current/holes I could find just to see how it reacted and was only rolled up once in two runs. I was back up in a blink and I ain't the fastest of rollers.
The first run was really spent learning this boat. Coming from many seasons in a displaced hull had me figuring the edges, planing hull and shorter length out. BUT the second run was a ton of fun screwing around with holes and lines, eddy outs and just overall bombing down a solid class IV run with a lot of holes.
Some suggestions:
In my first run I was way forward. This presented too much tracking and was a bit tough to turn sometimes. Clay suggested moving back the seat which made a big difference. I tried in the middle and in the far back on my second runs. For me at 6 feet, I like just a bit beyond dead middle. It provided better control and I was never endering.
Don't lean this boat too much to turn it (far unlike the Rocker). It turns better if you keep it a bit flat when eddying out. That planing hull and chine really snaps in to eddies that way!
When boofing, unlike the Rocker which is a boofing machine, the Hero's take a little more stroke as they have less rocker and more water line. It will boof just fine, but again a big difference in style from the Rocker.
You gotta be prepared to steer this porsche, it needs a driver. Maybe that had to do more with the speed at which I wasn't accustomed too. But more than once I was catching myself being lazy (which the Rocker lets you do) and thinking to myself that I need to steer this sports car with more gusto!
Cayo, I am not sure I understand your question, but the only thing torpedo (ish) is it's speed and tracking ability. I am highly impressed with a bunch of stuff, mostly cause it's so different from the Rocker. Not everyone gets to have a quiver of boats like I do, so in regards to replacing the Rocker's... that won't be happening with me. I have to say that I still LOVE my Mega and Rocker for stuff like SSV and steep sharp rock mank, but the Hero opens up new fun for all kinds of runs around Colorado. In my short 1 day opinion it's going to be a great kayak for people wanting something that does all around very well.
Double thumbs up from Craw.
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