Pyranha Mouldings Ltd., who manufacture canoes and kayaks in both Cheshire and Derbyshire, England, are a small company with two world-renowned brands; Pyranha and P&H. Motivated by their relationships with specialist canoe and kayak retailers in Ukraine, Pyranha recently launched a fundraiser to support relief efforts in the country, receiving a humbling response.
[ Discover the year’s best kayaks in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]
In just two days, Pyranha successfully raised more than £60,000 through producing a limited number of their market-leading kayak models, the P&H Virgo and Pyranha Scorch, in a custom blue/yellow colorway to match the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with the nation, which has been unjustly invaded by Russian forces. One-hundred percent of the revenue from this special production run will be donated to The Disasters Emergency Committee, which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities, raising funds to quickly and effectively respond to overseas disasters, such as that in Ukraine.
Photo Courtesy of Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.
Managing Director, Graham Mackereth says of the situation, “We are lucky to live in a stable and peaceful democracy, whilst millions live with the harsh reality of the many dreadful wars around the world. This war in Europe, in an area where some of our staff come from, where our customers are being bombed, brings that reality far too close to home.”
This effort has been made possible by a number of Pyranha’s staff donating their time, as well as coordination with their suppliers and fellow North West based companies, Stirling Moulded Composites, Gordon Products, and Resinex, who have donated materials to produce these kayaks. Pyranha’s worldwide network of dealers have also contributed their time and logistical support to make these limited edition Flag of Ukraine kayaks available to consumers as far as New Zealand and North America.
In addition, Pyranha is raising funds through pre-orders of two, limited edition t-shirt designs bearing the slogans ‘Launch Kayaks, Not Missiles’, and ‘Drop Waterfalls, Not Bombs’, as well as raffling off several Flag of Ukraine kayaks.
“We’re on track to raise over £120,000, which is almost double what we were aiming for,” says Mat Wilkinson, marketing manager. It is a true showing of the far-reaching community spirit amongst paddlesports enthusiasts that Pyranha is already over halfway towards this goal.
Photo Courtesy of Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.
If you’d like to contribute to the fundraiser, limited edition Flag of Ukraine t-shirts and kayaks are available to purchase at pyranha.com.
When I was 22, my lower back often flared up to the point I struggled to stand up straight. Sometimes first thing in the morning, I crawled around my room to warm up enough just to stand. Then, I started doing yoga in secret while working on drilling rigs in Alberta. I wanted to ease my pain and not trade my health for the money I was earning to go on kayaking trips.
Yoga is an excellent way to challenge your strength and balance, and increase your flexibility. It can prepare you for a day of paddling, or help you recover from one. A paddler’s core is constantly engaged, whether sitting or standing. The hip flexors, pelvis, groin and glutes get taxed constantly but are often forgotten until they scream in discomfort. Combine these postures with smooth, relaxed nose inhalations and exhalations to mobilize and strengthen the body while relieving tension. I still get sore, but now I know what to do to care for and even prevent it.
From standing, fix your gaze on a spot on the ground 10 feet in front of you. Bring your left heel above your right ankle, toes touching the mat (1). Reach arms straight above you or open a little wider like branches. Challenge the posture by placing your left foot on your right calf (2) or above the knee (3). Or, just close your eyes. Take five breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.
2 One-legged chair pose
From standing, keep your back as straight as possible while bending both knees and sitting back into an invisible chair. Fix your gaze 10 feet in front of you. Bring the left ankle above the right knee and continue to sit into the posture. Reach arms above your head. Take five breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.
3 Triangle pose
From standing at the top of the mat, take a three-foot step back with your left foot, raise your arms shoulder height with palms open, and rotate your upper body 90 degrees, so arms and legs are parallel. Open the left foot 90 degrees, so your left heel is in perpendicular alignment to the right. Attempt to keep the arms in a straight line while lowering your right hand to your shin, or fingers to the ground on the inside of your right ankle. Look up to the sky and take five breaths. Use your core to come up and return to the front of the mat, facing the same direction you started. Repeat on the opposite side.
3 yoga poses for strength
1 Warrior 2 pose
From a standing position, take a five-foot step back with your left leg—maybe more if you’re leggy. Turn the left foot out 90 degrees, so it’s parallel to the back of the mat, and so the middle of the left foot lines up with the right heel. Turn chest and hips to the left while reaching right arm straight over the right leg and left arm straight back over the left leg, parallel to the floor. Bend into the right knee, aiming for 90 degrees. Sink into it. Look past your right hand’s fingers. Try to keep your spine vertically stacked over hips. Take five breaths. Pivot your feet to the opposite direction to perform the same pose looking over your left hand. Take five breaths. Return to your wide stance, then return to standing.
2 Boat pose
From your back, bend your knees and place flat feet on the ground close to your butt. Use your hands below your knees to pull your straight spine off the ground. Stay here or extend your arms, palms facing each other, parallel to the floor. Stay here or lift both legs so your calves also parallel the floor. Stay here or extend your legs out at a 45-degree angle for five breaths. Lower and repeat five times. This core exercise is excellent for boat control.
3 Plank
Start with hands under shoulders, knees under hips, and toes tucked under heels. Straighten your knees, so your legs are straight and engage the core more by bringing your navel closer to your spine. Take five breaths, or hold for 30, 45 or 60 seconds. Relax by returning to the four-point base. Repeat three to five times.
3 yoga poses for flexibility
1 Frog pose
From the hands and knees position, create a greater distance between your knees and feet. Open the ankles so the inside of your feet are on the ground. Look at your legs; aim for a 90-degree bend in each leg. Attempt to keep the back level and hips from coming forward or back. Take 10 breaths. To come out, slowly move the hips forward first and return to the hands and knees position.
2 Shoulder drops
From your hands and knees, extend both arms out to the side while still supporting your torso. Drop the right shoulder and right cheek to the ground, then alternate sides. Exhale down, inhale up. Repeat as many times as you want. Be gentle.
3 Child’s pose and prayer hands
From hands and knees position, untuck toes, so the tops of feet connect with the ground. Sit back on your heels, then bring your forehead to your mat. Reach the arms forward for a stretch. Adjust the distance between your knees for comfort. For an added stretch, bend your elbows, point your fingers straight up, and bring your palms together. Take five breaths. Return to child’s pose and repeat three times.
Whether it’s for rehab or prehab, these tailored-to-paddlers stretches will help prevent soreness and injury.
5-minute paddling warm-up routine
Professional whitewater kayaker Benny Marr reveals his ultimate pre-paddle routine to get you loose, limber, and ready for a great day out on the water. Just as you wouldn’t drive on the highway without performing some regular oil changes, you shouldn’t take to the water without giving your paddling muscles some regular tune-ups, too.
[ Browse the widest selection of boats and gear in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]
These simple, beginner-friendly movements will not only help warm up your hips, shoulders, and core—they will also reduce your risk of injury or muscle soreness. You’re going to want to bookmark this one!
Yoga is an excellent way for paddlers to build strength and balance and increase flexibility. | Feature photo: Tom Poole
Master how to tie a canoe to your car and keep you and others safe on the road. | Feature photo: Quinn Nietfeld/Unsplash
Putting a canoe on your car is an important step for successfully making it to the put-in. Whether you are renting a canoe from an outfitter or you have your own gear, you are going to want to learn how to tie a canoe to your car. Read on for simple steps to follow whether you have a roof rack or not.
When it comes to tying a canoe to a car, there are a few different options—it all depends on whether or not you have a roof rack. A roof rack is ideal, because it provides the most secure tie-down. It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle. If you don’t have a roof rack there are still other options out there for you.
A roof rack is ideal, because it provides the most secure tie-down. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette
10 steps to tie a canoe to a roof rack
If your vehicle has a roof rack, you have one of the best situations for tying down a canoe. Follow the steps below to safely secure a canoe to a roof rack.
1 Lift canoe onto rack
Lift the canoe up and onto the rack on the vehicle. This can be done with one person for lower vehicles, but it is always easier and safer when you have two people.
2 Protect the gunwales
If you want to protect the gunwales on the canoe, you can put either foam blocks or cloth between the gunwales and racks of your vehicle.
3 Balance the canoe
Balance the canoe on the crossbars so it does not tip forwards or backwards. Usually, this means the yoke is resting equally between the crossbars. Position the canoe so it is straight and perfectly in line with your vehicle. If it is slightly off-line, the wind will put uneven pressure on one side of your boat the entire drive.
4 Toss cam straps over top
Standing on the passenger side of the vehicle, throw the non-buckle end of your cam strap to the other side of the vehicle. This step can be done for both the front and back strap of the canoe (one for each roof rack bar).
5 Wrap the straps and toss back
On the driver’s side of the vehicle, wrap the strap around your roof rack bars and send the non-buckle side of the cam strap back overtop to the passenger side again. Do this for both the front and back strap.
6 Wrap and buckle the straps
Take the non-buckle end of the cam strap and wrap it underneath the bar on the passenger side and up and through the buckle of the cam strap to begin the tightening process.
Start with the buckle close to the bottom of the canoe (the highest point when the canoe is upside down) so that you have lots of room to pull the strap tight before the buckle hits the bar. Repeat for both back and front straps.
8 Tie off loose ends
Once these straps are tight, tie off the loose ends so they are not flapping in the wind.
9 Tie bow and stern lines
Finally, you want to secure both the front and back of the canoe with a bow and stern line. Every vehicle is going to have different spots to connect. Many vehicles have built-in attachment points under the front and back of the vehicle. If you don’t, you might want to consider purchasing hood/trunk tie-down loops which can be found at your local paddling shop or on Amazon.
10 Final check
Do one final check to make sure the canoe is well connected to the car and you are all set to go. Try shaking the canoe with two hands—the vehicle should move with it.
5 steps to transport a canoe without a roof rack
If your vehicle does not have a roof rack, there are other ways to secure the canoe to your vehicle. One of the best options is to use foam blocks that can be purchased at your local paddling shop.
While the canoe is on the ground, secure the foam blocks to each end of the canoe halfway between the yoke and the thwarts. Ideally they will be sitting close to the balance points of the canoe.
2 Lift and place canoe
Next, either by yourself or with the help of a friend, lift the canoe up and place it on top of your vehicle. You may need to play around with the location of the foam blocks and the position of the canoe on the top of the vehicle. You do not want it too far forwards or backwards and ideally, it is perfectly balanced on the centre of your roof. This also means looking from the back of the vehicle to ensure the canoe is straight down the middle of your vehicle. If it is slightly off-line, the wind will be putting uneven pressure on one side of your boat the entire drive.
3 Strap it down
Many people will use either cam straps or ratchet straps to secure the canoe to the roof by opening all car doors and actually doing a full wrap inside the vehicle and overtop of the canoe. This can cause damage to the padding around the outside of your door frame. Another option is to use rope and tie a trucker’s hitch knot in order to get the extra leverage to pull the canoe tight to the top of your vehicle.
Finally, you want to secure both the front and back of the canoe. Many vehicles have built-in attachment points under the front and back bumpers, but using these can cause the rope to rub or scratch your paint. You might want to consider purchasing hood/trunk tie-down loops which can be found at your local paddling shop or on Amazon.
Create your own tie-down points for a bow line. | Photo: Brian Shields
Scratchproof, indestructible and almost free. | Photo: Brian Shields
Or, create your own tie-down points by bolting a loop of webbing to the inside skirt of your vehicle’s front quarter panel. Fold a 10-inch piece of webbing in half, burn a hole through both ends—I use a butane torch to heat a large spike for the burning operation—and then fasten it to the forward bolt which secures the quarter panel frame.
5 Final check
Do one final check to make sure the canoe is well connected to the car and you are all set to go. Try shaking the canoe with two hands—the vehicle should move with it.
This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
Master how to tie a canoe to your car and keep you and others safe on the road. | Feature photo: Quinn Nietfeld/Unsplash
It's essential to take a swiftwater rescue course. | Photo by: Yellowstone National Park // Flickr
Spending time in whitewater? Whether you are rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing, a swiftwater rescue class is absolutely essential. Instructors will teach you how use a throw bag and provide an opportunity to practice this key rescue technique. Doing so could save your own life or that of another paddler, so sign up today and don’t shirk your duty to paddle safely. We provide some tips below to help you prepare for class.
[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all safety and rescue gear ]
How to use a rescue throw bag
A throw bag is a necessary piece of safety equipment that should be carried on the river at all times. It is essentially 70 feet (or around that length) of rope stuffed into a bag, with the end of the rope attached to the bag. The bag is thrown to a person in need who is swimming in whitewater. The swimmer then grabs the rope and their rescuer pulls them to shore.
An ideal throw will hit the victim straight in the face with the throw line bag, so the victim has no choice but to grab the rope. | Photo: John Rathwell
Important: Take a swiftwater rescue class!
This cannot be stressed enough. A water rescue throw bag is useless if you haven’t received the proper training for how to use it and haven’t practiced with it. Not only will a swiftwater rescue class teach you the proper techniques for using throw bags, but you will get lots of practice with rescue scenarios of all types.
[ Plan your next whitewater rescue course with the Paddling Trip Guide ]
Practice, practice, practice
If you are practicing rescue scenarios, the best place to do so is in swift, moving current without any notable hazards. You will want at least three people in the scenario: one victim and two rescuers.
With the two rescuers on shore, have the victim begin swimming down the current. Make sure to tell them to swim on their back with their feet up and facing downstream. This is the defensive whitewater swimming position, which will allow them to push off any rocks with their feet rather than their head. One of the rescuers on shore will be handling the throw bag, while the other rescuer is there as backup.
The rescuer with the throw bag will open up the throw bag, take out a few meters rope to keep as slack (just in case), hold the rope with their non-dominant hand, and throw the bag (with the rest of the rope stuffed inside it) to the victim. As the bag is thrown, the rope will release from the bag, and provide a throw bag rescue line from the rescuer to the victim.
Aim to throw the throw bag past the swimmer so the rope lands on the victim between their head and the hip, ideally right on their chest. Practice your aim so you’re a good shot.
The victim will grab the rope, not the bag. If the victim grabs the bag, they will keep floating for 30 to 40 more feet as the rope continues to release from the bag.
The victim grabs the rope with their hands, turns on their back with the rope swung over their shoulder, and is towed to shore by the rescuer.
The backup rescuer will wrap their hands around the main rescuer’s PFD, and hold on tight, so the main rescuer does not get pulled into the water by the rope. This is important, as the main rescuer will be pulling the victim’s weight plus the extra force added by the current in the river.
It’s essential to take a swiftwater rescue course so you know how to properly use a throw bag. | Feature photo: Yellowstone National Park/Flickr
Important throw bag notes
If you are the rescuer, make sure you have a wide, solid stance, so you don’t get pulled into the water yourself. The most important thing in a rescue situation is keeping yourself safe and not creating more victims.
Neither the rescuer nor the victim should ever wrap the rope around themselves. Never around your wrist or body. Simply hold it in your hands. This is so that in the event that the rope becomes tangled around a hazard in the river, the victim can escape and does not also get tangled in the hazard.
The rescuer can throw the bag overhand or underhand. Just make sure to practice both techniques to find out what works best for you!
If the rescuer misses the victim on the first throw, it is advisable to quickly coil the rope up in one-foot diameter coils, and throw the coils at the victim for a second try. This is quicker than re-packing the bag, but still allows for a long length of rope to be thrown.
Practice using the particular throw bag you will be taking with you on the water. Kayak rescue throw bags are smaller than rafting throw bags, so plan and practice accordingly!
How to pack a throw bag
The goal with packing a throw bag is to make it as simple a process as possible. You want to stuff the rope in the bag in small bits at a time, stacking the rope on top of itself as you go, to reduce the possibility of any knots or tangles forming.
To do this, hold the throw rope bag with the last three fingers of both hands. Place the rope over your shoulder so the remaining rope is laying on the ground behind you. Use your thumb and forefinger on each hand to gently stuff the throw bag, one hand on top of the other.
Once all the rope is back in the bag, secure it with the buckle (or whatever securing device is included). Make sure to leave the end of the rope out, so you can access it as quickly as possible.
Yes, it is possible to make your own throw bag, and yes, it will be cheaper. However, it is not advisable to do so.
A throw bag is a vital piece of safety equipment for any whitewater paddler. It is not a piece of equipment where you can cut corners to save money. Buy the best throw bag out there and be there for your paddling partners.
This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
It’s essential to take a swiftwater rescue course so you know how to properly use a throw bag. | Feature photo: Yellowstone National Park/Flickr
Arriving at Homeboy Industries is like, “coming home to a place you’ve never been before,” said Rick Jones, Vocational Counselor. The California-based gang intervention program works to remove active and inactive gang members from—often toxic—concrete jungles and immerse them in a revitalizing outdoor environment; a space to break free of negative cycles.
The short film Uncharted Waters by Terraform Creative captures the beauty and challenges of forming this new connection with nature. 50 program participants are taken on an overnight whitewater rafting adventure to experience the thrill of the natural environment. More than just a rafting trip, it is a step towards overcoming adversity. A step towards healing.
[ View all Rafting Trips in the Paddling Trip Guide ]
“In that gang culture, you’re on the edge of death, on the edge of pain—it’s an excitement,” said Hector Verdugo, Associate Executive Director at Homeboy. “I feel like… how about if we were to play with our adrenaline junkie selves, in this manner where it’s positive.”
Ed Vater in his natural habitat. | Photo Courtesy of Bending Branches and Aqua Bound
Osceola, Wisconsin – Ed Vater, Osceola resident and business owner, is retiring after an impactful 20 years at Branches – commercially known as Bending Branches and Aqua Bound. In the 15 years prior to joining Branches in 2002, he was one of the top managers at Laser Machining, Inc. in Somerset.
Branches started in 1982 in a St. Paul garage, when founders Dale Kicker and Ron Hultman invented a tip protection material for their canoe paddles. Trademarked “Rockgard”, this technology is still leveraged by Bending Branches today, and has become the industry standard for canoe paddles. Forty years later, Branches has expanded into every segment in paddlesports and sells on a global scale; but still embodies the spirit of a family-owned business and manufactures their products in Osceola.
Ed credits much of the early success of Branches to the founders, who moved the business from St. Paul to Osceola in 1994. He also said that he and the employees are deeply grateful for the strong commitment, financial support, and guidance from Osceola entrepreneur, Mark Kravik, who bought the company in 2001, hired Ed to run it, and then in turn sold it to him in 2015.
On his retirement, Ed said, “I have worked alongside so many wonderful people over the last 35 years. From the trade coalitions, to the retailers, to our employees – the whole industry is such a uniquely warm and welcoming environment. It is one that I’m glad to have played a part in.”
But according to Vater, it is the Branches culture that developed during his time that means the most to him. “Anyone can buy a tin building and put machines in it, but it’s the people here that make the difference. Our culture has helped develop not only our company, but also our community, into a wonderful place to work, live and play. That is rare, and something I’m immensely proud of.”
For those that have had the pleasure of interacting with Ed, he is received as genuine, thoughtful, deliberate and patient. Commonly, Ed leans on his many years of experience and knowledge before delivering an articulate piece of advice. Amongst peers, he is a valued member of the (Twin Cities based) Paradigm Executive Leadership group and a board member of the Paddlesports Trade Coalition (a unity of industry leaders). Closer to home, Ed is active in many local groups and community engagements. Most notably, he is an active member in the Osceola Chamber of Commerce, is on the board of the Osceola Industrial Development Corporation, and is a supporter of the local boy scouts, the area schools, the industrial park and so much more.
Ed Vater in his natural habitat. | Photo Courtesy of Bending Branches and Aqua Bound
Ed’s retirement marks the end of an era at Branches, taking the company from financial uncertainty to record sales, and becoming the world’s largest paddle manufacturer. Some of highlights over the past two decades include: introducing lean manufacturing, discontinuing hockey sticks in pursuit of kayak paddles (now over 80% of the business), acquiring Aqua Bound (formerly a major competitor), winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ from the Twin Cities based Manufacturers Alliance, introducing key new products in canoeing, kayaking, kayak fishing, and stand-up paddles, and creating a winning team and culture at Branches.
Given the pandemic-driven demand for outdoor recreation, Ed and his wife, Kay, had many options for selling the business. After careful consideration, they prioritized what was best for their employees, customers and the local community, and sold the business to three members of their own leadership team.
Jason Eccles, Brian Boyea, and Cory Novinska, all local residents, will be taking over as the new owners. Eccles, the former Operations Manager with 20 years himself at Branches, has taken over as President. The plans for future growth and community engagement will continue as Branches looks to remain one of the top employers in Western Wisconsin.
Branches’ new president Jason Eccles (left) pictured with Ed Vater (right). | Photo Courtesy of Bending Branches and Aqua Bound
Ed plans to spend his retirement with family, traveling, paddling, working in community development, improving his 1948 International Harvester rat rod, and offering management and consulting services to local businesses on a part-time basis.
The Big Gear Show, the tradeshow for bike, paddle and outdoor gear, has hired two industry event and marketing professionals, Yoon Kim and Dave Petri. Yoon Kim will lead the show’s marketing and provide support to operations. Dave will direct retailer outreach, as well as support developing the show’s education program.
Yoon Kim is the founder of Outdoor Media Summit, the conference for media and marketers in outdoor, as well as Outdoor ECOM, the first digital marketing focused agency in the outdoor industry.
Dave Petri is the founder of the marketing firm, Cynosura Consulting and is the Board Chair for the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition. He is also the former Vice President of Marketing at Nester Hosiery where he led the launch of Farm to Feet socks and served on the Outdoor Industry Association’s Sustainability Advisory Council.
“Both of these experienced industry veterans are well equipped to grow the show,” says Sutton Bacon, founder of The Big Gear Show. “Yoon brings skills in show planning and digital marketing that will raise awareness to maximize attendance. Dave’s background in brand marketing can address the distinct needs of retailers attending the show. He brings additional insights on targeting military buyers, an important customer across multiple segments.”
These two new hires complement the Big Gear Show’s current leadership and will help support the show’s commitment to the needs of brands and specialty retail across the show’s categories.
About The Big Gear Show
The Big Gear Show delivers a new model of B2B event designed for specialty retailers, produced by specialty retailers. The event is all outdoors, in the elements, featuring brands and gear that get customers outdoors. The show is in its second year and the 2022 event will take place August 2-3, at Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah.
WHEAT RIDGE, CO – Down River Equipment, a leading river equipment supplier and manufacturer, just launched their Used Gear Program, becoming the first in the rafting market to offer this service to the river community. Down River designed the program to streamline how used equipment is purchased and sold, minimize waste by extending the life-cycle of gear, and put valuable river gear in the hands of those who need it most. Now, in addition to shopping Down River’s custom frame packages, sewn goods, and other unique product offerings, customers can sell and purchase used gear.
According to a recent research report by ThredUp, the preowned outdoor gear market is projected to soar to $77 billion by 2025, doubling what it is today. Down River Equipment’s roots in Raftopia coupled with their 40+ years of experience designing custom rigs laid a strong foundation for launching a used gear marketplace that is reliable and trusted.
Photo Courtesy of Down River Equipment
Down River Equipment’s Used Gear Program was inspired by the evolution of Raftopia, a widely recognized event that has been around since the beginning of the company’s existence. Raftopia started as a consignment sale and evolved into a used boat sale, new gear sale, and manufacturer’s exhibition that drew 2,000 rafters over a three-day event in April.
“Over the years we’ve brainstormed about how we could offer used rafts and river gear year-round,” said Phil Walczynski, Co-Owner of Down River Equipment. “When Covid forced us to change the format of Raftopia, it gave us the impetus to start buying and selling used rafting equipment. The Used Gear Program is set up so customers can purchase and sell used gear online any time of year.”
Products customers and buy and sell within the Used Gear Program include rafts, catarafts, stand-up paddleboards (SUP), inflatable kayaks, coolers, dry-boxes, oars, and frames. Down River’s in-house experts verify the quality and integrity of all used gear from sellers before accepting offers and putting them online for buyers to shop.
“We have seen a lot of different gear from many manufacturers over the years so, we know what to look for,” adds Tripp Arnold, Used Gear Program Manager. “I’m excited to spearhead a new program at Down River that provides a service to the river community and reduces our impact on the environment.”
To learn more about Down River Equipment and their Used Gear Program, visit downriverequip.com.
About Down River Equipment
Down River Equipment has been manufacturing and supplying the best river equipment since 1985. The company is owned and operated by river runners with a breadth of experience to assist customers with all of their river needs. Down River Equipment specializes in the custom fabrication, distribution, and retail of equipment for all types of river adventures. All products manufactured by Down River are made in Colorado and they are best known for their quality custom frames. They also manufacture dry boxes, sewn goods, tables, pumps, and cargo gear. In addition to their manufacturing operation, Down River sells river gear and distributes Hyside, AIRE, Rocky Mountain Rafts, Sawyer, Carlisle, Advanced Composite, and Engel among many others. Swing by Down River Equipment to experience some of the best craftsmanship and customer service in the industry. Visit downriverequip.com to learn more.
To build your own kayak can be as simple or as complex as you like. | Feature photo: Adobe Stock
To build your own kayak is to take part in a 4,000-year-old tradition beginning when the first Inuit hunter pieced together driftwood and sealskin and took to the Arctic sea. The process can be as simple or as complex as you like, ranging from assembling pre-cut pieces of a stitch-and-glue kit to creating a museum-quality craft of strips of cedar. We review three of the top techniques to get you started on a DIY boat-building project, plus five myths about wooden boats that don’t hold water.
For thousands of years, kayakers stretched and sewed sealskin over a skeletal frame of driftwood to create sleek, seaworthy crafts used for hunting in icy circumpolar waters. About the only thing distinguishing a modern skin-on-frame kayak from its Inuit origins is a newfangled, rot-resistant nylon skin. A lashed or pegged frame creates an edgy, hard-chined hull. A sculpted masik—the deck rib immediately ahead of the cockpit—locks the paddler in the boat. The characteristic low back deck enables unlimited options for rolling.
Skin-on-frame kayak. | Illustration: Paul Mason
Challenge: Builders need basic woodworking skills and the patience to take on the finicky tasks of joining the frame with mortises and tenons and sewing the skin. But don’t be intimidated. Building involves many little steps, very few of which can cause irreparable damage should you make a mistake.
Commitment: 60–120 hours, depending on whether the DIYer cuts a few detail-oriented corners.
2 Woodstrip-epoxy
A well-built cedarstrip kayak has the sheen of a fine piece of furniture. It’s no wonder many builders are tempted to hang their creation on the wall and never let it touch water. Beneath the glossy surface is a brawny fiberglass-wood composite that’s surprisingly tough. The hull and deck of woodstrip-epoxy kayaks are built on a strongback—a series of plywood forms over which narrow strips of bead and cove are fastened. Once hull and deck are attached, the entire structure is covered with fiberglass and epoxy resin, and finishing details like the cockpit and hatches are installed.
Woodstrip-epoxy kayak. | Illustration: Paul Mason
Challenge: Though not quite as foolproof as stitch-and-glue, complete kits and detailed instructional manuals like Ted Moores’ book Kayakcraft make strippers a reasonable project for novice woodworkers.
The precision-cut plywood panels of kit boats from designers like Chesapeake Light Craft, Getonthewater.ca and Pygmy Boats make stitch-and-glue the easiest technique for first-time DIYers. The panels are temporarily sewn together with wire, seams are locked into place with thickened epoxy fillets and the entire structure gets fiberglassed inside and out. Most models use temporary jigs in the stitching stage to ensure a properly aligned hull. At least two pieces of plywood go into the deck, which is then fastened to the multi-chined hull with epoxy or a gunwale-like strip of wood known as a sheer clamp. It’s also possible to combine a stitch-and-glue hull with a woodstrip-epoxy deck to create a more aesthetically pleasing hybrid eliminating the awkward process of bending plywood.
Stitch-and-glue kayak. | Illustration: Paul Mason
Challenge: Precision-cut plywood panels and detailed instructions make kit boats well within the reach of first-time woodworkers. It’s really just a sewing and fiberglassing job.
Commitment: The average builder can produce a stitch-and-glue kayak in 45 to 80 hours.
5 Wooden Boat Myths Busted
1 Wooden kayaks are fragile
Plywood panels and strips of cedar are just as durable and impact-resistant as store-bought composite kayaks when sandwiched between layers of fiberglass and epoxy resin and coated in UV-resistant varnish.
2 Wooden kayaks are high-maintenance
Wood-fiberglass kayaks require light sanding and a quick coat of varnish every three or four seasons—a small investment to maintain a beautiful watercraft.
3 Wooden kayaks are difficult to build
The simplest pre-cut stitch-and-glue kit boat can be built in 45 hours with minimal tools and no woodworking experience. By signing up for a boat-building workshop, reading instructional manuals and joining an Internet kayak-building forum, just about anyone can build a wooden or skin-on-frame kayak.
A full-size stripper or stitch-and-glue touring kayak weighs about the same as a carbon-Kevlar boat.
5 Wooden kayaks lack performance
Wood-fiberglass construction yields ultra-stiff, efficient to paddle hull shapes; and the tight fit of Greenland-style skin-on-frame kayaks make them effortless to roll.
This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
To build your own kayak can be as simple or as complex as you like. | Feature photo: Adobe Stock
Drysuits are an investment. In challenging weather conditions, they are a tool to keep you warm, dry and safe. As with any investment, it’s important to keep it in good shape to retain its value. After all, you can’t put a price on warm toes.
In this drysuit repair video, the team at NRS walks us through how to repair minor holes and weak areas of your suit using a few basic tools. You’ll need Aquaseal and Seam Grip to bind the patches, along with waterproof fabric (usually be acquired through the drysuit manufacturer).
