Posted by Alan August
on 8/21/2008, 8:57 am, in reply to "Re: Inflatable kayaks suited for whitewater"
72.200.152.209
The only brand of whitewater-capable inflatables that I am aware of is Aire. I have no personal experience with duckies, but I spoke to some of the whitewater instructors at the Nantahala Outdoor Center when I used to go paddling in North Carolina every summer.
I don't mean to be rude or elitist, but from what I have been told by people who are intimately familiar with them, they are so slow and non-nimble that if you buy one you might not be welcome to paddle with a hard-boat group more than once.
Also, being wide and sluggish they cannot go where sleeker, extremely maneuverable kayak go easily. Because they float so much higher and are so flexible they CAN go where no hard boater would dare to go. In other words, if you buy one you will not be able to get much advice from our group as to what you can and cannot, should and should not, do with it.
I would suggest that if you really want one that you contact the folks at NOC and inquire about lessons. NOC is one of the leading whitewater education establishments in the US and has an international reputation for excellence.
With no knowledge or training you would be at risk in anything above Class II (novice level). However, I know of one expert kayaker who, following a spine fracture and lower-limb paralysis, successfully ran the Grand Canyon in one.
Whitewater is not a Disneyworld ride. The river does not know who you are or care if you live or die. You cannot conquer a river, it will be there centuries after you are dead. If you want to have fun in whitewater, if you want to push your personal envelope and live to tell about it, get proper training.
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