Jeff Bennett (Portland, OR) is an avid snowboarder and the author of The Essential

• IntroductionThe First Splash; About the Author; A Little Help from My Friends; What Are You Getting Yourself Into?; How to Use This Book1. The Evolution of Rafting: From Powell to Paddle CatsThe Fremont ExpeditionsJohn Wesley PowellNathaniel GallowayThe Post-World War II EraThe Self-Bailing GenerationThe Russian InfluenceLooking Toward Tomorrow2. Get Wet: Your First Rafting AdventureOutfittersOther Ways to Get WetClubs and Organizations; Raft Rentals3. Equipment: From Oars to Floors, Helmets to Hi-FloatsBasic Raft AnatomyTubes; Panels and Seams; Valves; Thwarts; Floors; Accessories; FootcupsMaterialsBase Fabrics; CoatingsDesign CharacteristicsLength and Width; Tube Size; Symmetry; Rise; Waterline; FloorsCataraftsTypes of Catarafts; Cataraft Design; Characteristics; Rotocats and Plastic CatsOther Types of RaftsNorth American Rafts; PlohtsPurchasing a RaftTraditional Rafts; Catarafts; Used RaftsFramesTraditional Raft Frames; Selecting a Frame; Other Considerations; Cataraft Frames; Cooler FramesOarsOar Construction; Selecting Oars; Oar Length; Setting Up Oars; Pins and Clips; Oarlocks; Fine TuningPaddlesEssential RiverwearClothing; Lifejackets; HelmetsSaddle Up: Assembling Your Gear and CrewInflating Your RaftPumps; Inflating the RaftRigging the FrameLoading AccessoriesSpare Oars; Spare Paddles; Bowlines; Handlines; Bail Buckets; Additional GearPassengers in Oar RaftsNonpaddlers; Paddle Assists/Paddle TeamsA Solid Foundation; Seating Arrangements; Varying the Size of the Paddle Team5. River Morphology: The Dynamics of Running WaterA Look Beneath the SurfaceWater Mechanics; Laminar Flows; Turbulent Flows; Chaos; Helical Currents; MeandersRiver CharacteristicsVolume; GradientSurface FeaturesTongues; Upstream Vs; Standing Waves; Diagonal Waves; Haystacks; Breaking Waves and Stoppers; Pillows; Undercuts; Rooster Tails; Boils; Holes; Lowhead Dams and Weirs; Waterfalls; EddiesThe Big PictureThe Rating GameThe AWA River-Rating Scale; Fine-Tuning the Scale6. Propulsion Basics: Different Strokes for Different BoatsOar StrokesBackrowing; Portegee; Turning; Shipping; Rowing Sweep Boats and PlohtsPaddle StrokesGet a Grip; Three Types of Paddle Strokes; Basic Power Strokes; Advanced Power Strokes; Turning Strokes; Bracing7. Paddle Captaining: The Art of Whitewater ChoreographyThe Pretrip LectureSeating the Captain and CrewThe Captain's Chair; Seating the CrewGuiding StrokesThe Strokes; Experience Is the KeyPaddle CommandsBasic Commands; Advanced Commands; Fine-Tuning; Handling Lag Time; Handling Overstroking; Your Voice; The Seasoned Team8. Whitewater: Running the RapidsFive Types of ManeuversRiver DirectionsStaying Parallel with the CurrentFerryingHistory; Oar Rafts; Paddle Rafts; Apparent Versus Real Course; Ferrying Around BendsTurns and PivotsSideslipsEddy ManeuversPutting on the Brakes; Entering Eddies; Staying in Eddies; Exiting Eddies; Capsizing ForcesHeading DownriverReading Rivers; The Two CsThe SAFE SystemScout; Analyze; Formulate; ExecuteThe Added EdgeBailing; Highsiding; Digging; Lowering Your Center of Gravity; BeachingHoning Your S