Kayak Play Boats

River Running Fun!

Play Boats: A whitewater play boat is made specifically for the currents of a river and are popular with whitewater kayakers looking to play in one area as opposed to getting from one point to another.

Play boating is the skilled art of river tricks using waves, holes, and pour-overs. Whitewater rodeos are competitions in which paddlers compete for the most original and technically precise river stunts. Some of the tricks include spinning in holes, getting shot out of the water on-end, and wave surfing.

Generally, these kayaks are twelve feet or shorter in length and are the best for play boating because they spin faster and fit more easily into holes and steep waves. A good play boat has a lot of rocker (banana shape) in its hull which makes it easy to spin. Playboats are relatively forgiving and smooth-handling.

Whitewater Play Boat Sources

Many manufacturers produce playboats. Here are a few of the companies that produce quality play boats.

• Dagger Play Boats
  Dagger's innovative Crazy 88 has won the 2005 Gear of the Year award. This boat rocks.
• LiquidLogic
  The Scooter! Its time to go playboating and here's the latest from Liquidlogic. Great speed and paddle ability. LiquidLogic makes several models of play boats to suit paddlers of various body weights.
• Perception
  Have a look at their Sonic and Supersonic toys.
• Prijon/Wildwasser
  Check out the Fever, Release, and Wizard models.
• Pyranha/Impex
  Choices include Freestyle, River Play, River Running, and Creek Boats.