Boats and Gear

Choosing whitewater equipment that's suited for you and what you're going to be doing is one of the most confusing things for the beginner. This page will help you sort through this mess. At every trip, pool session, or lake lesson there will be people to help you pick out equipment. If you ever have questions please ask. We would much rather have you ask then find out later that something is missing or not right for you.

Gear - The Six Essentials

The Hoofer Outing Club has all necessary gear. It is subdivided into Lake equipment (accessible in the outer cage) and the Trip Equipment (only accessible with instructor who has a key). Any broken gear should be brought to the attention of your instructors. Please make sure that we don't loose pieces, replacing them would take a lot of time. For kayaking on whitewater all 6 things are required. For the kayak pool sessions only a paddle, boat, and sprayskirt are required. For practicing on calm, flatwater you need a life jacket (pfd), boat, paddle, and sprayskirt.

Helmets
Helmets must also be worn anytime gear is used on moving water. The helmet should fit snugly enough that it doesn't slide down and obscure the paddler's vision, but not so tightly that it is uncomfortable. All pads should be present, and the buckle should be verified as operational. Make sure that you cannot slide your helmet backwards and expose your forehead.

Life Jacket(PFDs)
Life Jackets otherwise known as pfd's (Personal Flotation Devices) must be worn on the water anytime by decked boaters (which includes kayakers). They should fit snugly, and all zippers and straps should be verified to be in sound working order before leaving the triangle. Be sure to get the "short" version (i.e. without the extra extension at the bottom - those are designed for rafting and canoeing use).

Spray Skirts
The size of the rand (the edge that contacts the cockpit of the boat) of your neoprene sprayskirt should fit your boat (there are different size cockpits) . The size (written on the skirt) is only related to the size of the tunnel (the part that wraps around your waist). The skirt should fit snugly to keep out as much water as possible, but not so snugly that you rip it pulling it over your hips. Nylon skirts are used in the pool to avoid chlorine damage to the neoprene but, while the nylon skirts are "one size fits all" for people, they do not fit all boats. You should try your nylon skirt on your boat before going to the pool, and get a neoprene skirt marked "POOL" if the nylon skirt is too small.

Paddles
There are a few basic aspects to consider when choosing a kayak paddle:

Length - The most important one to the user is the length (expressed in centimeters), that usually ranges between 197cm and 203cm. A male of average height and weight will normally use a 200cm paddle, with larger paddlers using longer paddles and smaller paddlers using shorter paddles.
Feather - Another important consideration in choosing a paddle is the "feather" or "offset" of the paddle. This is the number of degrees that one blade is rotated from the other on the shaft. Paddles can range anywhere from 90 degrees to 0 degrees of offset, but most of Hoofers paddles are (more popular in general) 45 degrees. While 45 degree feather will reduce wrist strain a bit as you learn to paddle, offset is more or less a matter of personal preference. The most important thing is to find a model that you like and continue to use that same model from week to week. Switching between paddles with different offsets will complicate the learning process.
Left/Right - Left and Right handed paddles have nothing to do with you being left or right handed. Depending on what hand are used to as the control hand you use, you will prefer one of the other..
Blade Size -
Shaft Diameter -

Choosing A Boat

Longer boats tend to track (go in a straight line) better than shorter boats, while shorter boats turn more easily than longer ones (sometimes too easily for beginners).
Sharp edges on the bow and stern enable the experienced boater to perform advanced maneuvers in swift water, but may be too ?edgy? for inexperienced paddlers, and tend to flip more often in current..
Flat bottom boats will have more primary stability, but less secondary stability, while round bottom boats will usually have less primary stability, but more secondary stability.
Heavier paddlers should start in boats that have sufficient volume to support their weight.
If the boat you choose is equipped with a drain plug, make sure there is a plug in the hole before taking it to the river.
In general, boats with nothing but foam blocks for foot braces should be avoided during the class. They are difficult to fit to users who aren't familiar with outfitting boats, and most of those models are too advanced for beginners anyway.

Fitting A Boat

The bulkheads are moved by removing the wing nuts on the inside and sliding the rails forward or backward, then replacing the wing nuts. Some boats may have a single strap in the front center wall. On those models, loosen the strap and push the bulkhead forward as you slide into the boat, then pull the strap to make the bulkhead snug after you're seated.
The bulkhead should be close enough to allow the paddler to apply pressure underneath the thigh braces with his/her legs by pressing down on the bulkhead with the balls of the feet.
The bulkhead should never be so close as to hinder the free movement of the knees from the thigh braces while exiting the boat.
The seat may be padded in the hip area to give a tighter, more comfortable fit and greater hip control, but this isn't usually practical to try padding the boats in this way for class trips.
Try the boat each time you want to take it out. Someone else may have readjusted it and it no longer fits you which might not be a big deal to fix at the boathouse but by the rivers edge you might just not get to paddle that day or weekend. Another problem is that something might have gotten damaged in the boat in which case you might just want to choose another boat.

Carry a Boat

One person carries the boat horizontal with their shoulder inside the cockpit rim.
Two people may carry one or two boats by their bow and stern loops .

Boat Floatation

Not to be confused with personal floatation devices(pfd's).
Rsually just referred to as "floatation".
Must be used in whitewater(moving water) but not in the pool(due to dirt being trapped behind the floatation). Can be used on flatwater(calm water) but is optional in that case.
These are inflated air bladders that keep the back part of a boat of filling up with water when you wet exit. For a description of a wet exit see the lake lesson information.
Make sure there are 2 of these and that you can inflate them.

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Gear - The Six Essentials The Hoofer Outing Club has all necessary gear. It is subdivided into Lake equipment (accessible in the outer cage) and the Trip Equipment (only accessible with instructor who has a key). Any broken gear should be brought to the attention of your instructors. Please make sure that we don't loose pieces, replacing them would take a lot of time. For kayaking on whitewater all 6 things are required. For the kayak pool sessions only a paddle, boat, and sprayskirt are required. For practicing on calm, flatwater you need a life jacket (pfd), boat, paddle, and sprayskirt. Helmets Helmets must also be worn anytime gear is used on moving water. The helmet should fit snugly enough that it doesn't slide down and obscure the paddler's vision, but not so tightly that it is uncomfortable. All pads should be present, and the buckle should be verified as operational. Make sure that you cannot slide your helmet backwards and expose your forehead. Life Jacket(PFDs) Life Jackets otherwise known as pfd's (Personal Flotation Devices) must be worn on the water anytime by decked boaters (which includes kayakers). They should fit snugly, and all zippers and straps should be verified to be in sound working order before leaving the triangle. Be sure to get the "short" version (i.e. without the extra extension at the bottom - those are designed for rafting and canoeing use). Spray Skirts The size of the rand (the edge that contacts the cockpit of the boat) of your neoprene sprayskirt should fit your boat (there are different size cockpits) . The size (written on the skirt) is only related to the size of the tunnel (the part that wraps around your waist). The skirt should fit snugly to keep out as much water as possible, but not so snugly that you rip it pulling it over your hips. Nylon skirts are used in the pool to avoid chlorine damage to the neoprene but, while the nylon skirts are "one size fits all" for people, they do not fit all boats. You should try your nylon skirt on your boat before going to the pool, and get a neoprene skirt marked "POOL" if the nylon skirt is too small. Paddles There are a few basic aspects to consider when choosing a kayak paddle: Length - The most important one to the user is the length (expressed in centimeters), that usually ranges between 197cm and 203cm. A male of average height and weight will normally use a 200cm paddle, with larger paddlers using longer paddles and smaller paddlers using shorter paddles. Feather - Another important consideration in choosing a paddle is the "feather" or "offset" of the paddle. This is the number of degrees that one blade is rotated from the other on the shaft. Paddles can range anywhere from 90 degrees to 0 degrees of offset, but most of Hoofers paddles are (more popular in general) 45 degrees. While 45 degree feather will reduce wrist strain a bit as you learn to paddle, offset is more or less a matter of personal preference. The most important thing is to find a model that you like and continue to use that same model from week to week. Switching between paddles with different offsets will complicate the learning process. Left/Right - Left and Right handed paddles have nothing to do with you being left or right handed. Depending on what hand are used to as the control hand you use, you will prefer one of the other.. Blade Size - Shaft Diameter - Choosing A Boat Longer boats tend to track (go in a straight line) better than shorter boats, while shorter boats turn more easily than longer ones (sometimes too easily for beginners). Sharp edges on the bow and stern enable the experienced boater to perform advanced maneuvers in swift water, but may be too ?edgy? for inexperienced paddlers, and tend to flip more often in current.. Flat bottom boats will have more primary stability, but less secondary stability, while round bottom boats will usually have less primary stability, but more secondary stability. Heavier paddlers should start in boats that have sufficient volume to support their weight. If the boat you choose is equipped with a drain plug, make sure there is a plug in the hole before taking it to the river. In general, boats with nothing but foam blocks for foot braces should be avoided during the class. They are difficult to fit to users who aren't familiar with outfitting boats, and most of those models are too advanced for beginners anyway. Fitting A Boat The bulkheads are moved by removing the wing nuts on the inside and sliding the rails forward or backward, then replacing the wing nuts. Some boats may have a single strap in the front center wall. On those models, loosen the strap and push the bulkhead forward as you slide into the boat, then pull the strap to make the bulkhead snug after you're seated. The bulkhead should be close enough to allow the paddler to apply pressure underneath the thigh braces with his/her legs by pressing down on the bulkhead with the balls of the feet. The bulkhead should never be so close as to hinder the free movement of the knees from the thigh braces while exiting the boat. The seat may be padded in the hip area to give a tighter, more comfortable fit and greater hip control, but this isn't usually practical to try padding the boats in this way for class trips. Try the boat each time you want to take it out. Someone else may have readjusted it and it no longer fits you which might not be a big deal to fix at the boathouse but by the rivers edge you might just not get to paddle that day or weekend. Another problem is that something might have gotten damaged in the boat in which case you might just want to choose another boat. Carry a Boat One person carries the boat horizontal with their shoulder inside the cockpit rim. Two people may carry one or two boats by their bow and stern loops . Boat Floatation Not to be confused with personal floatation devices(pfd's). Rsually just referred to as "floatation". Must be used in whitewater(moving water) but not in the pool(due to dirt being trapped behind the floatation). Can be used on flatwater(calm water) but is optional in that case. These are inflated air bladders that keep the back part of a boat of filling up with water when you wet exit. For a description of a wet exit see the lake lesson information. Make sure there are 2 of these and that you can inflate them.
The Hoofer Outing Club promotes safe, fun, outdoor and social activities that are open to all. This means we promote diversity, try to accommodate people who are disabled (within budget constraints), and do not allow harassment of any kind. For more information, please email our Accessibility Chair.