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Q: Why should I consider a composite boat?

 A:  Composite boats are stiffer pound for pound and can be built lighter than plastic boats. But people often get "glass" units because they are into some exotic design only available in glass.  More often than not people go glass to get a custom "chop" (sizing) as is the case with squirt boats and some surfing designs. Some people get indulgently light composite boats for specialized functions such as touring. And customized metal flake graphics make glass boats first rate toys also. In short, custom composite boats let the customer have more control over exactly what they get as a final product.

 Q:  What is a squirt boat?

 A:  Technically this would be any boat capable of a mystery move (total submersion of boat and rider into whirlpools or seams). Squirt boats are often custom sized to be as small as possible- usually with bumps for the feet.  There is a whole class of small sterned cruising boats which can stern squirt and rodeo boats which can squirt but technically a squirt boat is mystery capable.

Q: What size squirt boat should I get?

A: First orient by your inseam length as this will dictate how your toes line up with the foot bumps.  The “Shred", "Fantum", "Hellbender" and "Asylum" are ideal for people with "medium" inseams of 28"-32". The "Bigfoot" and "Underdawg" are the most accommodating superlow boat for people with longer inseams and the "Surf" is a roomy choice for people this size too.  The "Maestro" and "Fish" are favorites for squirtists with "shorter" inseams under 29". Another sizing decision should be based on what you plan to do with the boat mostly. Some experts get "Experts chops" which are as small as possible and for destination boating or flatwater.  This gives a slight advantage when steering underwater and searching for more downtime from your mysteries.  It also allows a more fluid and effortless action when doing past vertical transitions and tough flatwater work. Most people though are well advised to get the "medium chop" because there are marked advantages to the speed and handling of these chops. A "medium chop" will leave your seamline approximately level with the waterline with some stern deck showing in the air.  An "experts chop" will have the distant stern a couple inches underwater and virtually the entire boat underwater. Your foot chop is sized independently from your weight chop (which pretty much affects the stern).  You really just need to note your foot size and if you want it to be roomy or not.  An expert's criteria for minimal comfortable is when you can barely pull your feet down away from the deck inside by ¼" at the most. This leaves the bow able to sink by the rider simply leaning forward.

 Q:  Where can I learn to squirt boat?

 A:  Squirt boating is usually taught informally between friends and there is an endless spectrum of improvement and development accessible to participants.  Safety is a key issue among squirtists and running rapids is often more of a means to an end - "destination play spots".  You can still learn squirt boating from the Snyder brothers (Jim and Jeff - 2 of the sport’s pioneers).  You can call Jim at 1-304-329-3310 or Jeff at 301-746-8543 for more information.

 Q:  How tough is glass?

A: How tough do you want it?  We can customize per sections of the boat if you want us to.  Many people have paddled our rodeo/surfing composite design, the Tool, and whacked it a bunch doing enders, and they have held up like champs.  Composite boats are extremely repairable- even focused abrasion spots. This is a serious consideration for long high exposure expeditions where equipment failure could be quite costly or for people who intend to use one design for many years.

Proudly Creating kayaks as individual as the paddlers themselves

[ PS Composites Inc • 311 Friendsville Rd • Markleysburg PA 15459 • psc@customkayak.com • 724-329-4413 ]