Kayaking in Asia

If you are new to the sport of paddling in whitewater, be it canoeing, kayaking, or rafting, it is essential that before you hit the water or even before you go shopping for a boat you learn some of the basic vocabulary.

To avoid the uncomfortable feeling of the novice when shopping for your vessel, here are some helpful terms that you will be able to use with some understanding when talking to a shop clerk. Some of this vocabulary will also give you a heads-up when it’s time to take your first lessons.

Amidships: This term refers to the area in the center of a boat when measuring lengthwise.

Beam: This is the width of a kayak or canoe measured at the widest point.

Bulkheads: These walls form sealed compartments in the rear and front areas of a kayak.

Chine: The area between the bottom and the side of the boat. This area is considered the transition area.

Coaming: The coaming is located around the edge of the cockpit of a kayak and is used to secure a spray skirt. It takes the form of a curved lip.

Cockpit: The opening in the kayak where the paddler sits.

Draw stroke: This stroke is used to move a boat in a sideways direction.

Feathered paddle: This type of paddle is used in kayaking. It is designed with the blades set at an angle to each other and helps to present an edge to the wind which reduces air friction.

Ferry: A maneuver used across current with little or no downstream travel.

Gunwales: These boards run along the top of the hull, which lend support to the boat. Strips along the inside of the boat are called inwales; strips along the outside are called outwales.

Initial Stability: This term describes how resistant a boat is to tipping.

Keel: A strip along the bottom of a hull which prevents side slipping.

Portage: The act of carrying a boat around rapids which are too heavy to negotiate, or between bodies of water.

Rocker: Upward curve of the keel line from the center towards the end of a boat. If you have a lot of rocker, it means you’ll be able to make quick turns with ease.

Roll: A basic technique in kayaking and canoeing in which an overturned boat can be righted without the paddler leaving the vessel.

Skeg: A stabilizer located at the rear of the boat.

Stem: The piece at the end of a canoe or kayak, which connects the keel to the bow.

Tracking: The ability of a boat to hold a straight course because of its hull design.

Of course, there are many other terms you will be using in your whitewater learning experience, however, these should be enough to get you started and to save you from some embarrassment. If you come across a term that you are not familiar with in the course of your lessons or while shopping for your boat, remember the Golden Rule: never be afraid to ask.

A real adventure awaits you when you raft the American River in California. American River rafting is one of the best things that you can do to invigorate your life. There are many rafting outfitters available that will help put together a rafting trip for you, your family and/or your friends. This is a trip that will require some endurance and strength, but the most important thing to you need to have is an adventurous spirit!

There are three forks of the American River and they all start in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These forks find their way to the valleys below by flowing through magnificent canyons. The rapids along the way are rated Class II, Class III and Class IV. Almost anyone can manage one or all of these classes.

The three forks of the river are called: The Middle, North and South. Whitewater is at its best in the South Fork section. Class II and Class III rafters will find the South Fork just what the doctor ordered. The Middle Fork has more difficult Class IV rapids and gives rafters quite a thrill. The North Fork can be rafted only during certain times of the year when there is a snowmelt. Otherwise, there are no rapids to run.

The best way to run the rapids is to hire a professional river outfitter. The outfitters along the American River are licensed with local, state and federal governments. Two very reputable companies are All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting and American River Rafting Trips. You can contact either on of these companies to find out just what trips they offer and if they are provide the trip you are looking for. If not, then go online and find other companies so that you can compare prices and services.

American River rafting is there for you to try. Just remember that anyone can do it if the desire is there. It will add additional excitement to your vacation plans and give you a chance to do something out of the ordinary. Look into your inner self – You may just discover that you’re more adventurous than you think!

On River Repair of Tear or Tube Leak (Hypolon/rubber) -Part II, On the River

1. Empty the boat and get it out of the water onto a flat area.

2. When working on a floor put a small tarp under the boat.

3. For leaks: pump the tube up super firm. Check the whole tube for additional punctures. It is a major bummer to work like a surgeon on an obvious leak only to put everything away and discover you have another.

4. If you have a tear in a tube over two inches I would recommend put on an inside patch first. Even if it doesn’t hold air it will provide strength for your exterior patch. Same repair step for inside and outside patch, floor or tube. The floor patch is more forgiving for a bucket floor. It just has to reduce the volume of water that leaks into the boat. I am more relaxed about doing a patch on one side of a bucket floor. When I get the boat home I plan on inside/outside floor patching (again for tears over two inches).

5. Tears over seams are going to be nearly impossible to repair leak free on the river. Your goal should be to provide the best inside/outside patching to slow down a leak. Permanent repairs will probably require deconstructing a seam. HUGH JOB … not for on the river.

6. Here we go on river patching:

o Dry off the work area.

o A cool technique to create a smooth, flat, firm surface is to put a flat-bladed oar or paddle under your work area. Make sure the oar does not have any sharp edges.

o Get someone started on buffing (sanding) the fabric (inside/outside)

o Cut your inside patch 1/2 inch larger in diameter than the tear.

o Cut the outside patch one-inch larger in diameter than the tear.

o Get someone to start buffing the back of the patches.

o Clean all buffed areas with toluene.

o Shake well the shore adhesive.

o Apply a thin coat of shore adhesive to the buffed areas … let this dry to the touch.

o For an inside patch, take a ballpoint pen and draw a dotted line down the middle of the glue on the patch.

o Apply a second coat of glue. Here’s the TRICKY PART. In a shop with a glued inside patch you can put the material in place and move it around … line up your dotted line with the tear. Then you can heat the whole shebang with a heat gun and reactivate the patch in the proper place. SLICK! However, on the river it will probably be too hot (in summer), so once the glued patch hits the inside glued surface they are going to stick! So, you have to be very careful and patient in this process. It will not be perfect, but will it add strength to your outside patch? If for some reason you bring the two surfaces together and they don’t stick, get them into place and wipe a small amount of toluene on one surface then bring the surfaces together.

o Repeat the above step for an outside patch. Then, roll the heck out of it. Or, use your smooth rounded tool to apply pressure to the patches. Wait ten minutes and then roll it again. Put some air in the tube so that it takes shape. Wait 30 minutes (or longer if you can) before you fill it up for travel.

Truth is, fear stops many people from experiencing a wilderness paddle. The canoes are tipsy… the kayaks are small… and what happens if you tip over? All these reasons are good reasons for not doing a trip down the river. But with leisure rafting it does not matter… you can be right in the middle of it all… safe and experiencing everything.

Eight man platform rafts can comfortably accommodate anyone that wants to experience a river. These smaller rafts give the wilderness intimacy of a canoe… but the safety & space of a boat. Rafting has normally been branded as the “whitewater adventure”… the “Dare-Devil” extreme. But leisure rafting offers a great way for friends of no skills to safely experience some time on a river together.

The Grand River Rafting Company in Paris, Ontario specializes in leisure river rafting for everyone. Their theme is “Experiencing Everything Together” and they do customized guided trips for families and friends. Their goal is to offer rafting trips that leaves a wilderness memory for many months past. Knock at the door of grandriverrafting.ca to see what they can offer.

With leisure rafting, the guides pilot the rafts and know where to go… the rest of the group just paddles or drifts. The boats are so stable that you would have to meet “Jonah’s whale” in order to tip over. But best is the air-cushion comfort of staying dry. It’s like your own couch… but outdoors.

With wilderness leisure rafting, people can safely experience floating through swifts and pools… like gliding down a water slide. They can catch the opportunity of seeing wildlife unaware. They can fish the pools where the big ones are… everything is taken in by just drifting by.

The panoramic view is fantastic… like a 3D screen with everything coming your way… and no advertisements! This is the “IMAX” of sound, color, fragrance and taste… but without the building. Sitting in front of this huge outdoor window does something to the “spirit house” within.

These words capture it all:

“When the trip is done…

When the paddle is laid down…

When the shore is touched…

There is a difference…

Even if it is only for the moment of being there.”

With rafting… weight, size & agility does not matter… it is the will to have fun.

Famous rivers are not the only areas for rafting and ride the big rapids. You can find many areas that have just as fast and high moving rapids when you go white water rafting West Virginia style. Yes, even Virginia has some awesome river rapids with classification I to IV. The spectacular New River Gorge follows over fifty-three mile of fun rapid action and some relaxing time in between. This river gets the blood flowing and the excitement is magnificent.

You will find yourself resting between rapids and enjoying some relaxing times talking and listening to our guide talk about the areas and stopping at some areas of interest. This experience surely leaves you fulfilled and delighted. You will sit around the fire at night and share rafting stories and if this is your first time, you will hear some amazing white water rafting in West Virginia stories.

Shoot the upper river or the lower river; you cannot beat the ride or the scenery that awaits you. The ravishing waters will thrush you around and when you have a minute to think, you will find yourself with the most intense adrenaline rush ever. No one ever walks away from the West Virginia experience untouched. You experience nature in all it glory. The rapids are extraordinary, while the scenery is outstanding.

The West Virginia River the Gauley has some great white river rafting around the area. The spring brings lower water levels when the Army fills the reservoir in Summersville. This gives you a real rush because the drops are extreme. The water runs out of the reservoir at such rates to send you flying down the river. About one million gallons of water is released in one minute.

Some love the Beast of the East, the Gauley River, but the New River Gorge sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the east gives you fantastic views of the rock formations and the trees that grow up out of rivers banks. The white water rafting in West Virginia leaves you breathless and wanting more. Some even hang around for rock climbing and hiking, which also becomes another memorable experience. Nowhere else you go will ever offer an experience as this, these rapids are a one of a kind from the start to the finish. Now get out and enjoy some great white water rafting times with friends or family.

There is something about rapids on a river that make people excited. Oh, yeah. I gotta try that! Before you hop into the river on a kayak, raft, canoe or branch, you need to take a minute to understand river classifications.

Not all whitewater on a river is equal. Some rapids come in the form of minor disturbances that are fun, but not too treacherous. On the other end of the scale, there are the rapids where you are sure death is feet away and it may very well be. So, how do you know if you are going to get a little excitement, a medium level or a meeting with your maker? You just look up the classification of the rapids in front of you or read on.

Rivers are classified in the same way across the world. Hey, at least we can all agree on something! In the case of rivers, the classification is known as the International Scale of River Difficulty or ISRD. There are six basic classifications, but people have also developed sub-classes. We’ll avoid those for now and look at the big six.

1. Class I – This is basically your easiest rapids. We are talking minor speed bumps on the river. You are only going to get hurt if you are drunk or can’t swim and fall out of the boat. These rivers are so tame, you might not realize you are even on rapids.

2. Class II – A bit more adventurous, but not much. These rivers tend to have daring looking whitewater, but not in the actual path you will be taking. You can more or less just float and bypass everything. Good for beginners, but probably will not get the adrenaline rushing.

3. Class III – Now we are starting to have fun. Class III rapids are considered excellent for moderately experienced boaters. You are going to get thrown around a bit. You are going to get water in your boat. You should have an understanding of how to maneuver in rapids to avoid rocks and such. In kayaks, you can flip if you are not careful. Canoes can be filled with water. Definitely the first stage where your adrenaline gets going.

4. Class IV – Now we are weeding out the people not that interested in whitewater experiences. This is the level you see on television shoes. Water is thrashing everywhere and you need to know what you are doing. You should walk the shore and scout the rapids to pick out a course before entering them. If you are kayaking, you MUST be proficient at rolling because there is a very good chance you are going to flip in or next to a hole.

5. Class V – This is a serious river. The rapids may not actually be that much worse than a Class IV river, but they typically exist over longer distances. Shooting wild rapids for 200 feet is one thing. Shooting them for a mile is an entirely different situation. You should be an expert. You should scout the river carefully and closely. You should sign your will before going down.

6. Class VI – Insane. Yep, you have to be insane to go down these. Death is assured. These are rapids that make any normal person shake their head. The brutal truth is nobody should go down these. Examples include fast water shooting down multiple waterfalls in a canyon with 40 foot walls and water that is no more than 10 feet wide. If you get in trouble, nobody can help you. You die. Only a person with years of experience and a death wish should try these babies.

For most people, the Class II through IV rivers do the trick nicely. Once you become very proficient with them, Class V will usually be good enough for the rest of your career. Class VI can be done, but you are tempting fate even though you are an expert in your kayak.

Boats have always fascinated mankind. It seem like magic that boats which are so heavy are floating on the surface of water and that too with such heavy loads, but actually its working on Archimedes principle of buoyancy. Boating is merely referred to the act of traveling by boats. However the term is generally linked with leisurely activities or any recreational usage of any kind of boats like power boats, sail boats or even yachts. Several sports activities are also associated with boating like fishing, waterskiing, boat racing and similar water activities. There is hardly any country in the world where boating is not done.

Types of Boats: Recreational boats used for boating purposes can be categorized in categories as well as subcategories. Some of the important categories are:

• Dinghies: These are generally less than 16′ and are generally powered by wind sails, muscle or small engines.
• Paddle sport boats
• Runabouts: These are usually 15-25′ powerboats with outboard or inboard engines.
• Day Sailors: These are 14-25′ sailboats equipped with small auxiliary engines.
• Cruisers: These 25-65′ powerboats with many cabins.

Apart from these, narrow boats are a common type of recreational boats found in England for boating purposes.
Boating Activities

There are many kinds of boating sports which are quite popular in many parts of the world. Many boaters participate in the activities and enjoy the sport. Some of them include:
• Paddle sport is one such popular boating activity which is widely enjoyed as a great recreational activity in many places.
• Canoes are commonly used as a recreational boating activity generally on lakes and rivers as they are more comfortable on still water or mild flowing water.
• Kayaks are used as recreational boating usually on still inland water bodies and sometimes can be used along the ocean coasts. They are highly maneuverable and depending on that they are generally constructed with required shape.

Apart from these rowing craft are also quite popular but their usage has been limited to fishing or as a boating race sport. These are extremely long and thin, and hence has higher speed compared with other boats, as the ratio of length of waterline to beam is of vital importance in design mechanics. Row boats or in general The Dinghies are oar powered and are heavily crafted as compared to other boats designs.

Small sailboats are generally constructed of fiberglass and comprise of wood or even aluminum spars. Racing sailboats are especially designed to be lighter in weight to that boat can achieve higher speed. Apart from these Water sport boats or ski boats are powered by large powerful engines, so that speed can be easily attained and boating experience can be fun.

Racing is something which has been the most popular boating sport across the world. It has even become a culture in many places and even different parts of the country. Sailboat racing are one such type of boating sport which is commonly done by family people as it’s of great fun too.

When you think of kayaking, you probably do not think of Indiana. If you are in the state, however, kayaking in Indiana may prove to be surprisingly fun.

Indiana is not the first state in which you might expect to find water activities or sports. Relatively landlocked, and located in the Midwest away from any coastal areas, Indiana still manages to play host to a number of outdoor activities involving water. One such activity is kayaking – Indiana offers both the experienced and novice kayak paddler a great place to enjoy this exciting water sport. The many kayak rental and tour companies found on the rivers of Indiana offer families and others a great place to explore the world of kayaking.

A kayak is a human-powered boat, meaning that no motors or external power such as wind is used to power the boat. It is typically a covered canoe shaped boat, that also includes a canopy over the cockpit, or area where the paddler sits. Kayaks are paddled with at least two paddles, and generally can hold between one and three paddlers. Kayaks are also designed quite differently than canoes, although shaped somewhat similarly, and are not at all the same even though in some countries such as Great Britain they are both called canoes.

One place that kayaking Indiana is really popular is at Blue’s Canoe Livery, located in a remote spot 45 miles south of Indianapolis, Indiana. Blue’s Canoe Livery offers canoe and kayaking trips on the Driftwood River, which runs through the central southern portion of the state. This canoe tour company stocks enough canoes and kayaks that they can outfit several large groups at a time, meaning that you needn’t bring your own equipment – they’ll be sure to have some you can rent. Camping is also available through Blue’s Canoe Livery.

This kayaking company offers trips from their livery to Atterbury (a trip that takes two to three hours and is about six miles long), and from the livery to Furnas Mill (an eight mile long trip that takes three to five hours). If you choose to take part in the overnight camping available here, you can use your own tent, and modern amenities such as hot showers are available.

No matter which place you choose for kayaking, Indiana offers many different rivers and tour guides to make your kayaking adventure exciting and comfortable. You can choose to kayak on a day trip, stay overnight, or even make an entire vacation based around this fun water sport – it’s all up to you and your family!

I have always been curious about high performance race boats, but I must admit I had never had a chance to experience a boat race until a few weeks back at the Pepsi Racing Power Cup Challenge, the Hydroplane boat racing event on the Missouri River. Being in the boat supplies business has left me curious on the high performance aspect of championship boating and tickled my need for speed. While these machines are high precision, high performance and incredibly fast, the sport has not caught on as much here in the US.

It is however a very popular sport in other parts of the world and it is classified into a few different categories.

1. Limited racing – They race under several classes and are very Affordable to race in. They can achieve speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h).

2. Unlimited Light Hydroplanes – These are hydroplanes (20′ up to 26′) that run big block Chevy motors and travel at speeds between 130 and 160 mph (260 km/h).

3. Thunder boats hydroplanes – The Thunder boats have two classes of engines, (G-575) and (G-468), which have superchargers that create high power and speeds over 100mph. The Boats are from minimum 25′ 0″ up to 28′ 0″ maximum length. Weighing minimum from (G-468) 2,800 lb to (G-575) 3,600lbs

4. Unlimited racing – The unlimited hydroplane has much fewer restrictions than with limited hydroplane racing. These 30 foot, 6,800 lbs boats run primarily with a T-55 L7 turbine boat and go over 200mph.

5. Stock Outboard Racing- Stock Outboard Racing utilizes both hydroplane and runabout or monoplane hulls with racing engines that utilize a service outboard power head and a racing lower unit with a direct drive (i.e. start in gear). Racing in this form ranges from classes designated as follows: A Class, B Class, C Class and D Class. There is also a Junior or “J” Class for kids between the ages of 9 and 16 years of age. The engine sizes range from 9.9 horsepower (7.4 kW) to 50 horsepower (37 kW) with speeds from 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) to 90 miles per hour (140 km/h).

When it comes to the precision high performance boat supplies found in these machines you have to start with the engines.

Racing Engine Boat Parts

When it comes to racing engines you have a wide variety of standard made mercury Engines to shops that take OEM engine bases and custom make them to fit your racing needs. The most common engines for hydrofoils are big block Chevy engines, mercury Engines and Japanese Yamamoto engines that have become very popular in the USA.

Hydroplane body boat parts

When it comes to racing, weight is a key component to success so the lighter the hydroplane is, the faster it goes so most of the hydroplane’s body is made of fiber glass or wood. Cockpits are made from carbon Kevlar.

The Japanese have pushed the weight issue to the point where they have capped the driver’s weight to 50kg for males and 47kg for females, any boat found to be lighter with the driver has more weight added to it to create a balance with the other boats.

Safety boat parts

The hydroplanes require standard safety harness systems, the cockpits are made from carbon Kevlar and side impact protection for safety to the driver against crashes. Boat Fire Extinguishers are always readily available and fire crews are always on standby in case of an accident.

All in all I learned quite a bit from the race even though I was spectator and would have loved to take a lap around the course, maybe next time. I must say my curiosity is so peaked am looking to building a hydroplane as my next project.

Considering a unique Hawaiian experience? The small islands, located in the Pacific, has a wide variety of water sports and activities that make visiting the islands a memorable occasion. However, for a truly unique experience, consider racing boats in Hawaii.

Dragon Boat Racing

Since 1996, Dragon Boat Racing has been an annual activity in Honolulu, Hawaii. The two-day race, which includes multiple teams of about 20 people; 16-18 paddlers, a helmsman, a drummer and a flag catcher, usually takes place in July or August. The teams compete to finish the 600-meter race first. In order to win, the team’s flag catcher has to retrieve the flag and cross the finish line with it. The tradition comes from races first held in China, where the boats were decorated to look like dragons.

For those interested in participating, sign-up forms, rules, regulations, the fees and the dates are available online. Onlookers can gather and cheer for their favorite teams, friends and family-members and in-between races, there is plenty of time to take a dip or catch some waves.

Yacht Racing

For a more modern approach to racing boats in Hawaii, consider racing a yacht with or through the Hawaii Yacht Racing Association (HYRA). Every year, the association holds a race on the Kauai Channel. In 2008, 22 boats participated, and 130 people attended the awards ceremony. The Kauai Channel Race itself is 78 miles long altogether, starting in KoOlina and ending in Nawiliwili.

The HYRA, which holds events for both men and women, holds several other boats and races through the year, including a Bulkhead Race and a Class Boat Race.

The Haari Boat Races

The Haari Boat Races were first held in Hawaii in 1990. When a Hawaii native took part of a similar race in Japan. Years lager, he suggested that Hilo be the event host, and had someone ask the Japanese mayor of Nago City to donate three sabani boats. The major, to the surprise of everyone, agreed. Today, this tradition of racing boats in Hawaii in the Haari boat races signifies a peaceful and friendly relationship between Nago City, Okinawa (Japan) and Hilo, Hawaii (USA). In addition to the actual winners of the race, the Haari Boat Races website also includes costume winners, pictures and an introduction to the new teams and the experienced teams.

For years, many Hawaiian cities have been celebrating different styles of boat racing. Some, like those mentioned above, are steeped in tradition. Others are just people getting together to have a good time, celebrate and show off. Sailing, yachting, Dragon Boat Racing and Haari Boat Racing have made up an interesting and unique part of Hawaiian culture, and racing boats in Hawaii wouldn’t be the same without the influx of other cultures. For a good time, and a unique experience, check out a race, or even participate.