What types of boats are appropriate for whitewater?
Kayaks, canoes and rafts are commonly used for whitewater paddling. 5.1) Kayaks A kayak is a small boat, having only one opening where the person sits, and is paddled with a two-bladed paddle. A kayaker sits on his butt with his legs stretched forward to the bow of the kayak, and his knees snugly nestled against the underside of the deck. A “spray skirt” is a neoprene garment which fits snugly around the kayakers waist and torso, then flares out to fit snugly around the rim of the cockpit, keeping water out of the boat. A “spray skirt” may also be called a “spray deck”, and may be made out of nylon instead of neoprene (or a mix). A whitewater kayak is usually short, anywhere from 8 feet to 11 or 12 feet, and does not have a noticeable keel. If a kayaker flips over in the water, he can roll the kayak back upright using his paddle and his hips, which generally beats drowning by a large margin. If a kayaker can’t roll, he can always do a “wet exit”, and get out of the boat. There are many
