The Complete Whitewater Rafter [Paperback]

Jeff Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

This is the manual endorsed by professional guides, instructors, and recreational river runners everywhere. With comprehensive step-by-step coverage starting with the first run, it includes tips from top guides, outfitters, and instructors, plus the most complete guide to Class V rafting techniques ever assembled. This is the completely revised and updated successor to Bennett's best-selling manual, Rafting!.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As its title suggests, this useful guide offers about as exhaustive a course in river running as you can expect to get on dry land. Author Jeff Bennett outlines a simple approach that will take you from the showroom of your local paddling outfitter to the rapids of your favorite river. You'll learn about rafting history, equipment, safety, and rescue, and explore the dynamic forces at play in the rivers themselves. From underwater currents, surface hydraulics, and rapids classifications to water and wave patterns known as haystacks and pillows, The Complete Whitewater Rafter examines all facets of river running. Bennett also covers the planning procedures for full-scale river expeditions and the advanced maneuvers essential for Class V rivers. --Lance Judd

From the Back Cover

Here's the completely revised and updated successor to Jeff Bennett's best-selling manual, Rafting!

Captures the fun, excitement, and camaradarie of river running, and provides the technical expertise rafters need to safely participate in the sport."--Bunny Johns, President, Nantahala Outdoor Center

"The river community has been in desperate need of a how-to-raft book for years. Thank the river gods Jeff Bennett has written one!"--Eric Leaper, Executive Director, National Organization for River Sports

"The first comprehensive work on whitewater rafting. A must for the first-time floater or grizzled guide."--Les Bechdel, Co-author, River Rescue

"The complete reference on whitewater rafting from the man who defines the phrase 'whitewater junkie'!"--Jim Cassady, Co-author, Western Whitewater and California Whitewater

• Oar & Paddle Techniques
• Equipment & Accessories
• Hydrology & River Reading
• Safety & Rescue
• Camping & Cookery
• Maintenance & Repair
• Guidebooks & Resources
• Where the Jobs Are
• History
• Whitewater Photography
• And Much, Much More

Includes inside tips from top guides, outfitters, and instructors, plus the most complete guide to Class V rafting techniques ever assembled.

The Complete Whitewater Rafter is the manual endorsed by professional guides, instructors, and recreational river runners everywhere.

"Everything your mother forgot to tell you about whitewater rafting--and we all know that was a lot! Provides the knowledge, technique, and confidence you need to become more than a passenger on your next river adventure."--Phyllis Horowitz, Director, American Whitewater Affiliation

"A watershed event! The Complete Whitewater Rafter contains everything you need to know to be your own outfitter and guide."--Dave Harrison, Editor-in-Chief, Canoe & Kayak

"Required reading for all our rafting students!"--Bill Cross, Director, Running Wild Whitewater School

"Jeff's unique style of writing and whitewater insight provide everyone with that essential information necessary for a trip's success."--Tom Wagner, General Manager, North American River Runners

"A comprehensive guide, of value to both beginning and experienced river runners. This book has everything you need to become adept at river running."--Doug Tims, President, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association

"The rafting community has been waiting a long time for a book like The Complete Whitewater Rafter."--Jack Nelson, Owner, Cascade Outfitters

"The one book we recommend to all our guides!"--Mike Doyle and Dave Hammond, Owners, Beyond Limits Adventures

"Covers all you need to know about equipment, hydrology, camping, safety, and much more."--Tim Brown, Outdoor Gear

"If you only have room in your library for one more whitewater book, The Complete Whitewater Rafter is the one to have."--David Bolling, Author, How to Save a River and Wild and Free

"Assembles, in detail, all the information rafters need to make river trips safer, more enjoyable, and better organized."--Dennis Schell, President, High Country River Rafters

"The Complete Whitewater Rafter provides the missing link between boaters and rivers. An extraordinary tool for rafters of any abilty."--Dale Fuller, Director, North American Paddle Sports Association

"Puts together in one fun-to-read volume all the information you need to get started in rafting. Even experts will find a great deal of useful information from this leading authority on the sport."--Richard Penny, Author, The Whitewater Sourcebook

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007005505X
• ISBN-13: 978-0070055056
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Rafting
  • #8 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Whitewater Kayaking
  • #25 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing > Instructional

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars if you're thinking of rafting it's a must!, September 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Whitewater Rafter (Paperback)

Jeff Bennett has been doing rivers in North and Central America as a guide, whitewater instructor, international racer and professional photographer since the early 1970's. He has co-authored several other books, including Class Five Chronicles. The Complete Whitewater Rafter is the culmination of his river experiences and the progeny of his previous book Rafting!. Although sole author, he envisions The Complete Whitewater Rafter as the culmination of a river-running evolution that has been ongoing for the last half century. He has borrowed tips and techniques from contemporary instructors and classic technique textbooks.

Bennett characterizes this book as a complete course in river running. For those who raft, the book has it all, beginning with a chapter on the Evolution of Rafting: From Powell to Paddle Cats and ending with a chapter that covers becoming a professional guide, whitewater photography, rafting for the physically challenged and rafting with children.

I primarily bought the book to get tips on oar rigging and everything was there, including all existing boat, frame, and oar designs. The chapter on gear maintenance and repairs was first rate and complete (it even included material on maintaining wetsuits, drysuits, lifejackets, and pumps). For those with interests in paddle rafts the cook covers all the strokes and more importantly has an entire chapter on Paddle Captaining: The Art of Whitewater Choreography. Several major rafting companies include this as mandatory reading for guide certification. Finally, the book has several chapters on multiday trips, which review packing and carrying gear, river camping and cooking, and river exploration. This material is applicable to anyone who is contemplating a multiday trip (whether raft supported or not).

If you are not particularly interested in rafting check-out the book for the information in chapters 5, 8, and 10. Chapter 5 - River Morphology: The Dynamics of Running Water looks beneath the surface at river mechanics, laminar flow, turbulent flows, chaos, helical currents, and meanders and relates all this to tongues, upstream Vs, standing waves, diagonal waves, haystacks, breaking waves and stoppers, pillows, undercuts, rooster tails, boils and holes. It's really well written and excellently illustrated. I will probably scan-in some of the illustrations and make slides to use in lectures for paddling classes. Chapter 8 covers running rapids in oar rigs and paddle rafts but the information is equally applicable to hardboats. Again, the illustrations and suggestions on tactical approaches to rapids are excellent. Finally, chapter 10 - Rafting on the Cutting Edge discusses class V rafting including boulders and slots, waterfalls, high water techniques, and even steep creeking. I hadn't even imagined creeking in a raft but it is done. I have a whole garage full of hard boats for every possible use. This book has made be consider getting an R-2 for this year's creek season.

4.0 out of 5 stars good beginners guide, December 19, 2011

By 

J. Brooks (Ashland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Whitewater Rafter (Paperback)

I found the book informative and a very good place to start for beginning and intermediate white water enthusiasts.
Information I found particularly useful were the good diagrams on ferrying and other white water techniques.
4532ea

4.0 out of 5 stars exceptional information, April 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Whitewater Rafter (Paperback)

Bennet's book is detailed, readable and contains all the information that is needed to start rafting, though the information on the types of boats available is a bit dated. His chapters on the river bed morphology and the effects on the moving water are understandable and excellent and far makes up for the older information on this years raft models.

We have used this as a basis for our white water rafting cours.