How to trick out your Airis Play 8 for whitewater use??

I found that the skeg would cause the boat to get pushed around by the current more than I wanted (as well as would scrape on rocks) so I used a hacksaw to cut it off (right at the base of the vertical fin leaving the base material and never coming anywhere near the boat's bottom when cutting). This was very easy - only taking 5 minutes or so. I have also added an NRS backband used for hardshell kayaks rather than use the seat that comes stock with the boat, and NRS thigh straps (available from www.nrsweb.com). Depending on leg length you may want to add aditional D-rings further forward and further back than the ones that are on the boat when it comes out of the box so that you can get a better thigh strap fit (also available from NRS or from your local whitewater shop). I've talked to Walker Bay about this and we hope to see some of these changes made soon. However, as the Play is not being made specifically for a whitewater market, and with slow sales this year it may not be until 2011.

Additionally, I have found that if you run the floor quite hard (although less comfortable on the bottom) it will help the boat bail faster and decreases the chance of water pushing the floor up when surfing in bigger water.