Yesterday I was paddling along and I saw what looked like a cool place between two rocks. I was a little concerned about going in because it looked like there might not be enough room to make a turn. I decided to try it anyway even though there was a pretty good swell moving the water around. Things looked pretty good for a while. I got the bow most of the way around, but still need to get the stern past some rocks behind me. I found myself in a position where the bow was pressed against a rock in front and the stern was tight against a rock behind. Then the water went away. I ended up suspended approximately 6" above the water, hanging from the points of the bow and stern.

I sat there for 10 or 15 seconds passing my hands under the boat to confirm I was in fact high above the water until the next swell came through. The water came back, but I was still in the same pickel with my boat just exactly the right length to fit between the rock ahead and the hard place behind. I let the stern grind around on the rock behind while I tried to swing the bow around towards the way out. It took a couple more swells and few more times hanging suspended above the water.

I finally got out with the remains of some barnacles stuck to the bow. When I stopped for a snack later and brushed off the barnacles I could see no obvious signs that I had spent several minutes bouncing off rocks.

You should treat your boat with respect, but if you choose to be stupid, chances are pretty good your boat will survive.

> I am considering building a strip kayak, however I question how durable
> they are for use in streams where faster moving water and rocks are
> prevelant. Could anyone share their experience with me. Thanks...