WHITEWATER BUYER'S GUIDE
8.
It’s what’s inside that counts. Don’t underestimate the importance of comfortable and supportive outfitting. The more time you spend in your boat, the more any outfitting issues will nag. Bush recommends spending time in it before you buy. “Sit in it, even just on the store floor,” he says. “Are your legs going to sleep? Adjust it and sit for a while longer.”
Know Your Type SIMON COWARD, OWNER OF SHOP AND KAYAK SCHOOL
AQUABATICS, HELPS US BREAK DOWN THE DIFFERENCES IN BOAT DESIGN:
WHITEWATER BOAT BUYING TIPS
4 . 1.
Buy the boat that suits your skill level NOW. “It’s often a good idea to buy a boat that is just slightly more advanced than you can handle so you improve your skills,” says Darren Bush, owner of Rutabaga Paddle Sports. “But with whitewater, especially playboats, I don’t recommend that strategy. Usually you’ll know when you grow out of a boat because it won’t do things you want it to do, which is better than it doing things you don’t want it to do.”
2.
“Ask what fellow paddlers have experienced with the boat. We’re lucky to have great Internet re- sources like boater forums where we can reach out to other pad- dlers
for instant information.”
–Beth Cornwall, Wellesley, ON 3.
The Internet is a resource-rich place
for prospective buyers,
but Google hasn’t yet figured out how to simulate the feeling of a boat on the water. Try before you buy.
So you tried your buddy’s boat and want one just like it? Look into boats of a similar style to find one that suits your body type and paddling style. Bush recommends his customers try three kayaks to compare simi- lar boats—less than that, you may not have explored all your options, but trying too many can leave you overwhelmed by too many variables.
5.
Kayaks with displacement hulls have relatively continuous curves front to back and side to side, which helps them move forward through the water efficiently. Flat- bottomed planing hulls can be harder to keep tracking straight but are great for surf and play moves.
6.
Length = speed. The longer a boat—more specifically the lon- ger the waterline—the faster it will scoot around the river.
7.
“Boats are like shoes—designed with different functions in mind. Decide what kind of boater you want to be and buy a boat that fits your style.” –Crisler Torrence, Chattanooga, TN
66 PADDLING MAGAZINE 9.
“River running kayaks are for people looking to improve their technical paddling skills on riv- ers where there are moves to be made but that aren’t super technical,” says Coward. These boats are stable downriver rides great for carving in and out of eddies, and their planing hulls allow for on-the-go play, like surf- ing and flat-spins.
10.
Crossovers kayaks are all the rage right now (see page 148). These long, high-volume boats are stable and confidence in- spiring for beginners. They gen- erally include a retractable skeg for smooth flatwater use, equally able to take you down a river or to a remote fishing or climb- ing spot. Coward and his team at Aquabatics have also tested them off drops and down class V rapids to prove they can handle the hardcore, too.
11.
“Freestyle kayaks are short boats with a high concentration of volume in the bow,” says Cow- ard. You want a freestyle kayak if you live near park ‘n’ play spots, or river runs with hit-on-the-fly waves and holes. Though these boats don’t track well on flatwa- ter, they can bring extra enjoy- ment to nearby runs that aren’t otherwise challenging, since they perform well on high- or low- volume play features.
12.
Creek boats are high-volume kayaks ideal for low-volume rivers. Their volume will take weekend warriors down rivers with confidence, and can also handle advanced maneuvers like boofs and drops. “They’re great for steep, rocky runs re- quiring technical maneuvers,” says Coward. Creekers have dis- placement hulls and ample rock- er to roll up and over obstacles and make tight turns a breeze.
PHOTO: ONTARIO TOURISM
PHOTO: JOHN WEBSTER
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