Down River Index  1 Paddles   2 Boat Outfitting   3 Technique   4 How to Handle the River   5 Down River Racing

 2   Boat Outfitting

To get the most power and steering control your boat should be an extension of you: it should fit you snugly. Hip padding Should be firm around your hips but with enough room for twist for flatwater paddling. Angle the foam padding wider at the top to achieve this. Back Strap should keep you firm lengthwise to enable transfer of power, as well as being able to lean back when jumping stoppers. Footbar should be placed to allow for some straightening of the legs and locked in. Seat made of foam is warmer, lighter, can be shaped to suit you and won't move. Being secured on the bottom of the boat it has the lowest centre of gravity and is therefore most stable. Lastly, there is no structural pressure on the rim when the seat is fixed to the bottom of the boat which is stronger. Boat Trim is how the boat sits in the water: nose down for constant shallow water paddling; nose up for rapids. To change the trim of the boat, move the seat and footbar forwards and backwards.

© 1994-2002, Dave Worthy and Robyn Khorshid

Not to be reproduced without written permission of the authors.