Whitewater rafting may be dangerous for a novice who is not fully trained in navigating the inflatable boat over the currents. And if you are a guide, you know that there is more to working with passengers during a rafting trip than merely paddling on a river. There are a number of insider tips you will do well to observe, as well as some obvious industry specific advice that is certain to make your business more lucrative and your career safer. Meet Minimum Industry Standards The International Rafting Federation put in place a number of minimum standards that commercial whitewater…
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The Colorado Rockies is the starting point for many of the nation’s biggest river systems including the Colorado and the Rio Grande. For the intrepid adventurer Colorado’s rivers offer a plethora of rafting and kayaking opportunities from mild beginner paddles to edge-of-your-seat adrenaline rushes, from grade I (easy) to grade V (expert). The whitewater season in Colorado lasts from May, when the snows in the mountains begin to melt, to August. Clear Creek Conveniently close to Denver and running along I-70 in the mountains before heading down Clear Creek Canyon, Clear Creek offers excellent whitewater potential and several big river…
Part of the fun of making a raft is using the materials you have at hand in a creative way. A raft can be made of anything that is strong enough to hold it together and light enough to float. If you have a platform and a few buoyant floats, you have all you need to enjoy a lazy afternoon of floating around. Things You’ll Need: Instructions Step 1 Find or assemble a platform. One of the simplest raft platforms is a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, about 4×8 feet in size. For a more primitive approach, lay a bunch…
If you are a whitewater paddler living in North Georgia then you’re lucky enough to have several excellent spots for kayaking that are close by. Chattooga River has a variety of rapids for the intermediate and expert kayakers while Cartecay River in Ellijay offers great practice for the novice or intermediate paddler. Whether this is your first time in a kayak or you’re an expert paddler, there are plenty of opportunities in North Georgia. Chattooga River Running along the border of South Carolina and Georgia, the Chattooga River offers up some excellent class III and class IV rapids. Consider putting…
Most serious kayakers don’t have just one boat. Different boats fit different paddling styles, and your mood may dictate a different boating experience. Once you own multiple boats, you need a way to store them. Anyone with basic carpentry skills and a few tools can build a kayak rack, and the project takes only a few hours. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Instructions Step 1 Measure the lengths of 4-by-4 needed for the frame of your rack. Racks for whitewater boats will be shorter than those for touring kayaks. If you have many boats, the width will be greater. Height…
Kayaks take up lots of space, and when they’re on the floor they make it inconvenient to move around in your garage. Making your own kayak rack is an easy and inexpensive project that will get your kayak off the ground, out of the way and make room for other toys. Instructions Difficulty: Moderate Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Measure the distance between your kayak’s bulkheads. The stiffest part of a kayak’s hull is where the bulkheads are attached, and this is where the kayak should rest while being stored. Failure to rest the kayak on or near the bulkheads could…
Properly adjusted kayak foot braces help increase the power of your paddle strokes and your control over the boat. Foot braces also increase cockpit comfort. Most commercial kayaks ship with built-in adjustable foot braces, but these usually provide minimal contact for your feet. You can easily make kayak foot braces out of closed cell foam. Closed cell foam provides a larger surface for your feet and a custom fit for more power and control. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Make a tracing of your kayak’s forward bulkhead. Use a large piece of paper and pencil to trace…
A rudder isn’t necessary for kayaking, but it can be handy while angling, in windy conditions and for long trips. Fewer paddling corrections need to be made in a kayak with a rudder, but it can be an expensive add-on. If you decide to put a rudder on your kayak yourself, installation is dependent on the model of kayak and kit you use, but some features of rudder kits and kayaks tend to be similar. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Read over the instruction manual that came with your rudder kit. Lay out parts on a clean,…
Cleaning stained sails can be frustrating. No stain remover, whatever the claims, will take out every stain. Household bleach will remove mildew stains from heavy, durable Dacron sails, but don’t use it on nylon sails. It is not good enough, in any case, for the chemical bonding that takes place with rust (iron oxide.) Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Buy oxalic acid powder at a drug store. This colorless, toxic chemical occurs in nature in vegetable matter like rhubarb root and leaves. It can also be found in certain commercial preparations like Zud cleanser and Whink rust…
Whitewater kayaking is an adrenaline-packed sport requiring skill and patience and a steely nerve. The sport is enhanced by learning new tricks, techniques and rodeostyle maneuvers. Tricks include eddy surfing, “boofing”, deliberately keeping the bow of your kayak underwater, and running waterfalls. To learn these tricks, a pedagogy needs to be followed to build the skills and techniques to execute them safely and efficiently. When practicing and learning new whitewater tricks, for safety always have a partner with you at the river. Instructions Difficulty: Challenging Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Decide what new trick you wish to learn by watching more…