Rafting Dictionary - Rafting Terms and Definitions

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	BAILER A bailer is an open-ended container or bucket used to remove water from the raft.
	BOILS The term boils is used to refer to an unexpected and abrupt rise in the level of the water.
	BOW This term refers to the front of the boat.
	CARABINER This is a clip used to secure items into the boat, and to construct safety and rescue systems.
	CATARAFT This term refers to an inflatable boat with two pontoons.
	CHANNEL A channel is the path of the river your guide chooses.
	CHUTE A chute is a narrow channel through which the flow of water is swifter and deeper than the normal flow.
	CUBIC FEET PER SECOND (CFS) This is a way to measure the level of the river.
	DRY SUIT This refers to a suit designed to keep all water out, under which any amount of layered clothing can be worn.
	DUCKY A ducky is an inflatable kayak.
	EDDIE LINE/EDDIE FENCE This refers to where the water flowing upstream passes the water flowing downstream.
	EDDY An eddy is the flow of water upstream behind an obstacle or obstruction.
	FERRY This term is used to cross a current or river without moving downstream.
	FLIP This term is used to refer to a boat when it turns upside down by a wave, rock or other mishap.
	FLOTILLA This refers to a group of boats together on a trip.
	FORK A fork is where the river splits into at least two different channels.
	GORP This refers to a trail mix used as a high energy snack food on the river.
	GRADIENT This term is used to quantify the depth of the river.
	GUIDE This refers to the person who steers the boat down the river and gives paddle commands to the crew.
	HAYSTACK A haystack is a series of waves that occur at higher water.
	HIGH WATER This refers to the river flow above an expected average.
	HOLE A hole is a depression in the river caused by reverse water flow.
	HOOPI This refers to the tubular webbing used for multiple purposes in rigging and preparing boats.
	HYDRAULIC A hydraulic is used to refer to a transformation in the current that can lead to a modification of the speed of the raft.
	LATERALS This refers to a wave or hole peeling off an obstacle at an angle.
	LOW WATER This refers to flows below an expected average.
	PADDLE It is a light single-blade instrument used to propel the raft forward or backward.
	PADDLE COMMANDS This refers to the commands used by the guide to communicate to the crew.
	POOL This is an area of flat water without rapids.
	POOL DROP A pool drop is a whitewater rapid, usually of short duration that begins and ends with fairly calm weather rather than continuous water flow.
	PORTAGE This term is used to carry a raft around unraftable or unsafe rapids or falls.
	PUT-IN This refers to the river access where a trip begins.
	RAFT This is the primary equipment for Rafting. It is a special type of boat, distinguished by the absence of a hull.
	RAPIDS This term refers to a series of waves and turbulence.
	RIFFLE This term refers to a very small rapid or wave caused by a shallow sand bar or rocks extending across a streambed.
	RIVER LEFT This refers to the left side of the river when facing a downstream.
	RIVER RATING This term is used to refer to a measure of the difficulty of a rapid or a river.
	RIVER RIGHT This refers to the right side of the river when facing downstream.
	RUN A run is used to describe that segment of the river that is feasible for rafting.
	SAFETY TALK This refers to a talk which precedes every trip, in which paddlers learn about safety on the river.
	SCOUTING This term is used to visually survey a rapid from the riverbank to select the best route.
	SETTING SAFETY This term is used to catch an eddie, or hike down the river, past a rapid to be there for the safety of a boat about to come through the rapid.
	SOLO CAT This refers to a one-person cataraft paddled with a double-bladed paddle.
	STANDING WAVES This term refers to a series of stationary waves caused by water converging at the end of a tongue or a submerged object.
	STERN This refers to the rear of the boat.
	STRAINER A strainer is a barrier that allows restrictive entry.
	SWIMMER This refers to a person who has fallen out of the boat.
	TAKE-OUT This is the point where the rafting trip ends and the rafts are removed from the river.
	THROW BAG This refers to a small bag containing a coiled rope that is used to rescue rafters in a river.
	WET SUIT This refers to a neoprene rubber suit which allows a small amount of water in, to help retain body heat.
	WHITEWATER This refers to moving water whose surface becomes turbulent or frothy either by passing over rocks, through a narrow river channel, or down a steeper gradient.