Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Bilge Pump Maintenance Tips
    • Gear Up For Fall Kayak Fishing
    • Winter is Coming: Kayak Storage Solutions
    • How to Pack Your Kayak
    • Flush Mounted Rod Holder Install for the Offshore Angler
    • Best Kayak Fishing Crates
    • Benefits of Paddling for Exercise
    • Best Bed Racks for Chevrolet Silverado
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Kayak Manual
    Subscribe
    Sunday, April 2
    • Home
      • About
    • Contact
      • Write for Us
    • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer
    • Kayak Types
      • Inflatable Kayaks
      • Budget Kayak
      • Folding Kayaks
      • Kayak for Rapids
      • Kayaks for Kids
      • Sit-In Kayaks
      • Sit-On-Top Kayaks
      • Tandem Kayaks
      • Touring Kayaks
    • Blog
    Kayak Manual
    Home » Kayak Rafting Up 101
    Kayak Rafting Up 101
    kayak

    Kayak Rafting Up 101

    Arthur G. MooreBy Arthur G. MooreMarch 14, 2022Updated:March 14, 2022No Comments7 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    It was always easy for a rafter like me to have no envy fora kayaker. I can’t roll and I’m a little claustrophobic, so I never felt like I was missing out by riding the meat barge—until I’d watch a kayaker surf. A good surf wave embraces the surfer and puts time on hold, as if downriver flow was meant for the less enlightened—for rafters. But why not surf a raft? On purpose, for fun, I mean. Boat-flipping maytag sessions in a sticky hydraulic aren’t fun for most of us, but there are great, user-friendly waves out therefor rafters to play on just like the kayakers do. Raft surfing can also serve as a great training tool, as it teaches paddle teams about using current,manipulating weight distribution, and high-siding, not to mention forcing the guide to rely on the team and learn about subtle changes in ferry angle.

    Guiding paddle rafts for seven seasons has given me the surfing bug and getting a good surf is more fun for me now than punching big holes. But getting to the point where I could successfully catch waves and stay on them took some trial and error. Initially, I watched kayakers turn upstream and paddle like mad, catching a wave and smirking as I drifted past. So I tried it that way, pointing upriver and whipping the team like dogs, only to blow past the wave with a disgruntled and exhausted crew. I even managed to dump an entire team this way—attempting to catch the first “surfable” wave in a wave train only to miss it and get hammered by the second one. The attempt to surf cost us too much momentum.

    Contents

    Listen to Ancient Wisdoms

    After paying more attention to kayakers and listening to some wisdom from a fellow raft guide, I realized that the key to raft surfing was the eddy. A catchable eddy in close proximity to the surf wave allows you to slow down, rest your crew and possibly return to make another try. The eddy serves as a launch pad for you to make your move onto the wave so, obviously, the closer the eddy is to the wave the better.

    Pay Attention to The Waves

    In addition to finding the right spot, with wave and eddy in workable locations, you need to determine if the wave is surfable and whether the spot is safe. How big is a surfable wave? Start small and look for single waves, not wave trains. Any wave much higher than the raft’s bow or stern is big enough to knock folks around or flip the raft. Surfing small waves is fun, and as your team’s surfing skills develop you can tackle larger ones.

    How Fast Is the Water?

    How steep a wave needs to be depended on how fast the water is moving through the wave. Fast water requires a wave to be steep enough that the raft will slide down its upstream face and not be dragged off of it. Less steep waves in slow flow are a good place to start surfing, and often very little eddy is needed to catch them.

    Break The Waves

    A wave that gets steep enough to break in cycles or break continuously can be good for learning to surf because the breaking action provides better push down the wave face and holds the raft in the surf.However, make sure you are surfing breaking waves, and not dropping into sticky holes. Avoid spots with steep pour-over characteristics, and look for a wave with a smooth trough upstream that is long enough that the raft can slide down the wave face and not auger into the oncoming flow in an unplanned ender.

    Careful with Wide Waves

    A wide wave will provide the longest surfs. The wave’s width makes it easier to avoid the down-river flow to the sides and stay on the wave,and its alignment perpendicular to the river’s flow won’t typewriter the raft across the wave and out into the downriver flow. Diagonal or lateral waves won’t hold the raft in a surf for long.

    Ferry Angle

    The guide’s ability to manage small changes in ferry angle is essential, and so he or she should always be ready to make quick and subtle adjustments. This requires that paddle power and weight be balanced side to side—keep tweaking the seating arrangement until the guide can focus on slight steering strokes, not big power pulls.

    Weight Distribution and Seating Position

    The crew’s fore/aft weight distribution and seating can make a difference, too. If the raft won’t make the drop over the wave’s crest and slide onto its face, move your heavier paddlers to the front of the raft. If the raft tends to ender in the upstream trough, put your lighter paddlers upfront, and if the problem continues, move paddlers out of the front one at a time until the bow rides over the water rather than dives into it. The team can fine-tune its fore-aft weight distribution by leaning forward or aft where they sit as well. This works well on waves that tend to cycle and drive the raft’s bow hard into the trough, producing an ender that can kick the raft off the wave—the team leans back to soften the ender, then leans forward to prevent being flushed downstream.

    Work As a Team

    To add to the fun and produce a better surfing team, designate a paddler in the rear of the raft on the opposite side of the guide to be the “offside rudder guy/girl,” who, on the command “Rudder!” will rudder/pry until the guide says stop. This helps the guide in situations where big draw strokes wouldn’t be enough to keep the boat straight on the wave.

    Often, if the wave’s a good one, the team can get good side-surfs or spins into back-surfs, but the crew should know how to high-side, just in case things get wacky. And rather than muscle the raft through spins, utilize the current by letting the bow slide slowly toward the downstream flow at the side of the wave. Just as the current begins to drag at the bow, begin the spin in the same direction and keep turning until the stern drops down the wave face. Continuing to steer while back-surfing a raft is tricky, but works best with a cross between a gentle forward stroke and a high brace—the opposite of a rudder

    Final Tips

    A couple of final tips on gear and etiquette. While any raft can surf, self- bailers with a fair amount of rocker tend to work best for surfing, and you might find that a floor pumped stiff will provide better surfing performance, even though the manufacturers tell you not to do it.

    And be considerate when surfing. Popular kayak spots may not be the best places. The wave itself might not be conducive to raft surfing, or the eddy may simply not be big enough to accommodate a raft and kayaks. Try to find your own surf spots where you don’t have to wait your turn.

    Conclusion

    If you really want to surf that kayak spot, here are some suggestions. Wait nearby for the spot to clear out. Usually, kayakers will see that you want to surf and wave you in—it’s often pretty good entertainment for them. If you can’t find a spot to wait, creep into the eddy if there’s room and ask if you can surf the spot—no, they don’t own it, but they’ll appreciate that you asked. If there’s simply not room or you’re not exactly greeted warmly don’t bother with the spot, there’s nothing worse than getting dragged by eddy current over local kayakers waiting their turn. And for a while you won’t be good enough to be a wave-hog, but at some point, you will be, so then give others a shot at it. And remember, have fun.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleWomen’s Whitewater Kayaking Gear
    Next Article Best 5 Fishing Kayaks Under $500
    Arthur G. Moore
    • Website

    Arthur G. Moore is a veteran paddler. He has over 10 years of whitewater kayaking experience in his kitty. When he was young, he used to love kayaking in rapid III and rapid IV but as time went on, he decided to concentrate mainly on covering long distances on a standard touring kayak. He is currently working as a senior editor for Kayak Manual.

    Related Posts

    Bilge Pump Maintenance Tips

    March 23, 2023
    Read More

    Winter is Coming: Kayak Storage Solutions

    March 23, 2023
    Read More

    How to Pack Your Kayak

    March 18, 2023
    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER

    KayakManual.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualified purchases.

    ABOUT KAYAK MANUAL

    It’s time to ditch the dry dock and get out onto the water! Kayak Manual provides an excellent resource for all aspiring kayakers and canoeists in pursuit of the best – and safest – paddling out there. Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to dip your toes into the waters of kayaking or an experienced expert looking for new places to explore, we’ve got you covered. We provide a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know, from finding the best spots on the lake, what gear to bring along for your journey, safety tips so can cruise without hitting any rocks – and some fun fishing tales to reel in while you’re at it. So hit us up before hittin’ the water – with Kayak Manual as your trusty companion, you can be confident that sailing is smooth sailing!

    About Kayak Manual

    Kayak Manual is trying to help both beginners and seasoned kayakers to have a great time on the water by providing them with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available about kayaking.

    We hope that this manual will provide you with all of the information that you need to get started kayaking or to improve your existing skills. In addition, we have included many helpful tips and resources that we hope you will find useful.

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    KayakManual.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualified purchases.

    Recent Posts
    • Bilge Pump Maintenance Tips
    • Gear Up For Fall Kayak Fishing
    • Winter is Coming: Kayak Storage Solutions
    • How to Pack Your Kayak
    • Flush Mounted Rod Holder Install for the Offshore Angler
    • Best Kayak Fishing Crates
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.