RIVER-READY. PHOTOS: SIERRA STINSON
OUTFITTING 101
A WELL-OUTFITTED BOAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SURF AND A SWIM
“It’s pretty obvious who spends the time outfitting their boat properly,” says Billy Harris, a pro-kayaker and white- water instructor. Those who don’t are often struggling with their roll, unable to paddle consistently, and worse, spend a lot of time on shore trying to stretch out cramps. Luke Vollmerhaus of Aquabatics Calgary agrees. “Outfit- ting is what keeps you comfortable and in control of your boat,” he explains. To get yourself situated properly, begin with your seat since it determines the placement of the rest of your outfit- ting. Most kayak manufacturers send out boats with seats centered, but depending on your size and boat model, you may need to do some adjusting by moving the seat back- wards or forwards, and likely adding a foam foot block. To build a foot block, use a large piece of mini-cell foam,
which you can buy from your local paddling shop. You may have to cut it down or add foam shims. In the end you should be sitting frog-legged, with your legs slightly bent at the knee [1] and feet resting on your foot block. “Foot blocks are an integral feature of many playboats,
providing a solid point of contact for your feet,” explains Mark “Snowy” Robertson, head designer at Dagger Kay- aks. “Taking the time to correctly adjust, trim and configure your foot block can make a big difference.” Once your seat and foot block are locked in, adjust your
thigh braces. There’s no right or wrong placement, some people like them high up on the leg towards the thighs, while others paddle with the braces cupping the knees [2]. If you’re having a hard time keeping your legs flexed,
Harris suggests placing a foam wedge under your knees. “It can be really helpful, especially if you’ve been finding that your feet are falling asleep,” he explains. Tighten your back band when you think your thigh braces
are in the right position. The band should sit on your lower back, just above your hipbones, and should be just tight enough to make you sit up straight. One of the most important aspects of outfitting your
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3 46 KNOW HOW|| Annual 2014 2
whitewater kayak is the hip pads. “Sit in the boat without any hip pads, then determine how much room on either side of your hips you want to fill,” says Snowy. The pads should sit on and above your hipbones, follow- ing the natural curve of your hips. Most kayaks come with fabric pockets, which allows you to add or remove foam. Last, but certainly not least, are floatation bags [3]. While
they don’t affect how you fit in your boat, they are an im- portant piece of outfitting—especially if you are a newbie. “Float bags take up space in your kayak to displace
water when your boat fills after swimming,” Vollmerhaus explains. “More than anything, they are there for the safety of the person rescuing your boat after a swim. At least one is necessary as a simple courtesy to the paddlers with you.” Outfitting your boat takes patience, time, and a bit of
trial and error, but at the end of the day, you reap the re- wards. Once you have it dialed in, spending all day in your boat will be a pleasure, not a pain. —Sierra Stinson
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