Airbags

Airbags

We require all students to have their kayaks fitted with air bags on our courses.

Airbags are an essential item of equipment on whitewater rivers! Since the price of boats has gone up, one no longer gets airbags as standard in a new boat and is less lightly to get them in a second hand boat. However you need them. So get out and buy some as they are not that expensive! Back ones do fine for playboats but big boats need front and back so that they stay level if your deck blows.

My deck hasn't blown for years but as my mate Dave used to say to me "However bad it is in your boat, it's going to be a lot worse out of it". If you swim kayaking, having enough flotation in your boat often means the difference between getting your equipment back or not. In a weir drop you may be able to use the flotation of the boat to your advantage and your mates will be more lightly to help you to the bank with your boat if they know it's filled with air rather than water.

All good reasons to put floatbags in your kayak and also to refuse to go on the river with people who don't want to buy airbags as "I don't need them"! They don't need them as you are going to end up being the one trying to save their boat.