C-Forum

I have heard and read differing opinions on whether an open whitewater boat should be bow light, neutral, or bow heavy. What is the wisdom of the sages on this important subject? Is the answer model-specific?

May be boat specific, definitely personal preference, and also depending on what you want to get out of boat/what you're using it for - all of those things.

But as a general response for most people:

Trim should be neutral. To avoid being bow heavy, you can err just a hair to the stern. You want to be able weight or unweight either end of the boat by leaning forward or back.

In my Outrage, that means my butt in the stern and my knees are in the bow. If I sit up straight in the saddle, the front of my face/chest is about at the boat's centre line.

P.

It is all personal preference of course, but I cannot imagine a situation where bow heavy would be desireable, so the choices are between neutral and bow light. I find with most older 12 foot designs I like to sit about 4 inches toward the stern. Definitely helps keep the bow up on larger drops andwith the Outrage it allows me to lean back and spin the boat on the stern, or lean forward and spin on the bow.