The
Creature Craft is interesting. I'd (theoretically) like to try building a (removable, bolt-down) fat foam/fiberglass roll bar over a Dayak. I flipped a Dayak once, at Wire Fence in Desolation Canyon on the Green. It was all about operator error and inexperience. I'm white water late in life and don't in any way qualify as an expert. I did flip it. I had the oars and everything else strapped down properly and didn't lose anything. Whit and Dave Inskeep came to my throw bag rescue, right before entering Three Fords rapid upside down. Whit hit me right between the eyes with the throw bag so hard I almost saw stars. Miraculously I didn't even lose my glasses (I did have a backup pair, somewhere in a dry bag).
I laughed about it. Once we got to shore I drank a beer and then got back on the boat. Dave congratulated me. He said most first flip people go into uncontrollable Tourette's Syndrome "holly shit" screaming after their first flip. I raised my eyebrows smiled a bit and tipped a beer.
If I'd had a fat overhead foam roll bar maybe I'd have flipped twice, with the second flip being from upside down back to right side up again. You could put a roll bar on any decked white water dory. It wouldn't have to be a Dayak. Has anyone (other than the Creature Craft guys) ever done that? Seems like a white water no-brainer to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QtTfCkfVPw&t=144s
I do want a removable, optional overhead flotation roll bar on my Dayak. And on the big one--the Whale Rider--that I might actually finish this summer.
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