Canoes & Kayaks
SAFER CANOES AND KAYAKS is a small, 39 page book on my safety flotation and self-rescue techniques. This easy, do-it-yourself guide describes how to add inexpensive safety flotation inside your canoe or recreational kayak that resists capsizing and enables you to climb back in by yourself, even if you capsize in deep water.
A recent study shows that most fatalities in canoes and kayaks are the result of capsizing. My flotation system provides stability to a flooded canoe or kayak. It helps prevent capsizing and allows a solo paddler to re-enter a capsized boat from deep water without any assistance, special equipment, or training. The flotation is light weight, easy to install, inexpensive, and has been tested on canoes and recreational kayaks 27 inches wide and wider. It is not an outrigger; the flotation goes inside the boat and does not interfere in any way with normal paddling performance. Boats used for camping still have plenty of room for camping gear. The flotation may not be adaptable to narrow kayaks like sea kayaks, and they have not been tested. The book describes how to outfit existing boats and also how to incorporate the flotation while building a boat.
Copies are available in two formats:
- On CD for viewing on your computer; $3.00 plus 2.50 shipping & handling.
- Softcover book; $6.00 plus 3.50 shipping & handling.
To order, go to the “Books” page and click on “Order Form.” Or send check or money order to: Rizzetta Music, PO Box 530, Inwood, WV 25428
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A new book is on the way. CANOE AND KAYAK BUILDING THE LIGHT AND EASY WAY is about 70% complete and is to be published by McGraw-Hill. I occasionally modify, design, and build light weight canoes and kayaks, and I’ve developed a convenient new way of building them in modern, high tech materials like Kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. It is an easy method for laminating an ultra light canoe or kayak hull that is ideal for do-it-yourself, at home construction. The hull is conveniently laminated over a temporary wood skeleton form which greatly lowers cost and building time compared to making conventional molds. Many of the photos in the book will show building the Wasp canoe described below and Kayoo, my decked canoe/kayak with built-in safety flotation. The book will also include the latest updates on the flotation concepts in SAFER CANOES AND KAYAKS.
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Another recently completed project is a radical new design for a safer and much more ergonomic solo canoe. The design is called the Wasp, because it combines flared bouyant ends with a narrow tumblehome waist which makes it easier and more ergonomic to paddle. It tracks well without extra length or weight but also turns on-a-dime. A pleasant cruise speed can be maintained without much effort. Wasp is especially resistant to capsizing. And, with my flotation system installed, it can be easily re-entered after a wet exit, making it much safer. The goal is to have a very safe and versatile hull for cruising, moderate class II-III whitewater, and touring with camping gear. The ergonomic features that provide a shorter reach to the water with the paddle also make Wasp especially nice for fishing. It is very responsive and easy to use for smaller paddlers but also has a large volume hull that easily carries heavy paddlers and lots of gear.
Plans for both Wasp and Kayoo will be included in the book.