: Thanks Nick, I was hoping you might respond. I am just a novice, and I think
: the worst rapids around me are class 3. Mostly I'm thinking about some of
: the smaller rivers around my area, and they are all slow moving but I need
: something very maneuverable.I figured I could do it but wanted
: confirmation.

: Thanks Elliott

You're going to be sorely disappointed at how easy it will be for a novice to destroy a glass boat.

Don't Think low class whitewater isn't dangerous.

I'd advise getting training and never paddling without at least two other boats.

Novice paddlers destroy more boats and get into more trouble than experienced boaters. A glass WW boat will only have a chance of lasting in experienced hands.

I've heard of more accidents where people get hurt because they risk their lives to save their valuable equipment. I can certainly imagine if you build nice looking stripper WW boat that you might not let go of it in a bad situation when you should.

Most of the worst rapids are out of sight of roads. And a novice paddling class 1 - 2 water can die very quickly when trapped in a downed tree on the outside of a river bend. This is a classic hazard. I saw this exact situation happen to a high school friend. He was lucky, we were able to pull him out of the logs before he drowned. If we had not been there....

I paddled whitewater for more than 15 years and taught WW classes for the Appalachian Mountain Club. I'd suggest you pick up a cheap used plastic WW kayak and get some training. Go ahead and make a stripper WW kayak, but learn when and how to use it.

Please proceed with care.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com