Title: Purchasing White Water Rafts Tips Word Count: 453 Summary: Although often times you can rent white water rafts from the location you choose, and sometimes the use of white water rafts is even included as part of your trip’s package deal, if you are planning on purchasing white water rafts for yourself, there are a few things you should know before going ahead with the buy. Buying White Water Rafts: Tips and Ideas The design that you opt for is important, and you must first decide on what it is you are planning on doing with the... Keywords: whitewater rafting trip,white water rafts,arkansas colorado whitewater river rafting, Article Body: Although often times you can rent white water rafts from the location you choose, and sometimes the use of white water rafts is even included as part of your trip’s package deal, if you are planning on purchasing white water rafts for yourself, there are a few things you should know before going ahead with the buy. Buying White Water Rafts: Tips and Ideas The design that you opt for is important, and you must first decide on what it is you are planning on doing with the raft once you are in the water. Depending on what you are hoping to receive from the raft is dependant on what you are expecting to do. For instance, if you want to surf with the raft or do tricks and you don’t mind a possibly bumpy ride, you will want the right white water rafts selection for that. On the other hand, if you want a quick ride with more stability, there are particular white water rafts for that as well. Before you make your purchase you should be sure that you know exactly what you are buying, and as well you should research the seller in order to be assured in product satisfaction. Unlike canoes and kayaks, rafts do not have a hull, rather instead of displacing water to keep afloat as canoes and kayaks do, rafts float paddlers on the top of the water by their buoyancy. Rafts are primarily used for navigating whitewater rapids, and most rafts are paddled with a single blade paddle. Rafts can be made out of any type of material, so long as the material itself is buoyant and therefore can float on the water. The most common material used for rafts is that of flexible PVC plastic, and although this material is puncture resistant, it is still always a good idea to bring a patch kit with you just to be safe. Even after selecting the right raft for you, there are still a number of things that you need before hitting the water. These include: paddles, as you can’t control yourself without them, and Lifejackets or some form of personnal floating device which should be worn at all times when doing boating of any sort. Appropriate clothing including a light weight helmet, depending on the season, is advisable because you are going to get pretty wet during your trip. Sunscreen, of course if you go during summer this is even more important and drinking water due to the fact that all boating activities often leave you dehydrated and although you are surrounded by water it is not very clean. Finally some form of emergency patching kit in case you spring a leak.