There are six degrees of difficulty for rating a rapid or a river, known as "classes," defined below. It is important to note that the class of a river may change according to the weather, water temperature, water level and geological disturbances, among other things. Class I - Moving water with few riffles and small waves. Few or no obstructions. Class II - Easy rapids with waves up to three feet and wide clear channels that are obvious.

Good question! Truth is - I'd rather be paddling and teaching than in a store selling. I use a number of Best-of-the-Best kayaks in my instructional program. Not only do you get a great lesson, you also get to Demo the best boats on the market, kick the tires, take it for a spin, see how it fits, see how it performs, and see how good you look in it! ....you simply cannot do that in a storefront or warehouse.

Choosing a kayak is like choosing an automobile. Your choices include pick-up trucks, mini-vans, sports cars, SUVs, etc. Each are designed for a different purpose. No automobile performs well in all situations...neither do kayaks. You should chose a type of boat that you'll paddle 90% of the time. Some options include Whitewater, Recreational or Touring kayaks.

Using a recreational kayak on whitewater is strongly discouraged. Any boat with a keel should be avoided in whitewater. While recreational kayaks are wider and more stable, they are less maneuverable. Maneuverability is key on whitewater. Additionaly, recreational kayaks are made from less durable plastic and lack the hull stiffness to withstand a pin or warp. The wider cockpit makes it easy to get in and out of the kayak...but offers less body contact with knees, hips and feet, resulting in less control over the boat.