01 — The Quiz
Renting for a weekend or buying your own? Pick one and the questions adapt. The renting flow points you at the right boat type and which local outfitter rents it on your river. The buying flow matches your use, budget, and storage to a specific make + model and which NWA shop stocks it. Picks reflect what we'd actually rent or buy.
02 — Quick Reference: Boat Anatomy
Sit-In Kayak
Enclosed cockpit, legs tucked inside the hull. Drier ride. Harder to re-enter if you flip on deep water.
Sit-On-Top Kayak
Open deck with scupper holes that drain water. Easy on/off, kid-friendly, perfect for warm-weather floats — you will get wet.
Hybrid (High-Seat SOT)
Sit-on-top hull with a raised, chair-like seat. Drier than a flat SOT, more comfortable than a sit-in for taller paddlers.
Canoe
Open hull, bench seats, max cargo. The classic Ozark family boat — two paddlers + a cooler + a dog and you're golden.
Inflatable Kayak
Pumps up in 5–10 minutes, packs into a duffel. Surprisingly capable on Class I–II. The honest answer if you're in an apartment.
Stand-Up Paddleboard
Cheap entry, flatwater only. Great on Beaver Lake. Above Class I and you'll be swimming a lot.
Tandem Kayak
Two seats in one sit-on-top hull. Couples and parent-plus-kid teams split the paddling. Nimbler than a canoe, drier than two singles, and you literally can't lose each other.
Inflatable Raft
Group seating, gear capacity, forgiving ride through Class I–II. The right call for big groups (6+) or anyone wanting splash without skill. Self-bailing models drain through the floor.