Ian Beasley has pulled together a kayak-themed exhibition worthy of any world class museum or art gallery and distilled it into a book so every paddler can see it at home, and visit again and again. Rare artwork and photography is combined tastefully with the words of paddlers and historians in a way that encourages both thoughtful contemplation and excited anticipation at the turn of every page. Kayak – A collection of words and images is divided into five sections that reflect the utilitarian uses of the kayak since its creation around 4,000 years ago; Living, Seeking, Challenging, Competing, and Defending. It tells stories of: the Innuit, Eskimo, and Aleut people who created the kayak for use in hunting and transportation; explorers undertaking adventures in never-before-seen places; extreme paddlers pushing the limits of human capabilities and endurance; athletes testing their skills against themselves, other paddlers, and the clock; and defence personnel utilising the kayak as a vehicle of stealth. Well researched paddlers will probably recognise some of the eminent names quoted in Kayak – A collection of words and images, but it is unlikely that anyone has seen a kayak-themed exhibition of this type presented in such a comprehensive and engaging manner. You may start the book thinking that a kayak is just a recreational toy, but you’ll finish it with an understanding that this wonderful little watercraft is so much more.

As any canoe enthusiast knows, Kevlar is the perfect hull material for building strong, light (35 pounds for a 17-footer), fast, maintenance-free canoes. Far superior to fiberglass, Kevlar – literally bulletproof and virtually indestructible – has one drawback: it’s expensive. A factory-built Kevlar canoe can easily sell for $2,000 or more. Here’s a low-tech method for building high-tech canoes from Kevlar.With this book, the most inexperienced home builder can turn out a handsome canoe for an investment of about $600 and a few weekends. The building method centers on the foam sheathing used in home insulation, drywall compound, a $5 hand plane, and a sharp pair of scissors. Boatbuilding doesn’t come any easier than this. Ingenious, simple, and inexpensive. Here is all you need to know to build a light, strong, maintenance-free Kevlar canoe in your backyard or basement – without an elaborate tool collection or years of boatbuilding experience. It shows how to build a tripper for extended wilderness journeys, a stable family canoe and a swift solo canoe.

If you are a canoeist, kayaker, or river rafter, this eclectic mix of essential and esoteric facts will keep you engrossed for days. Longtime paddler Zip Kellog left no stone unturned in his search for paddling-related information. Included are resources for every aspect of paddling: Boats and gears; Maps and guides; clubs, events, symposia, publications, and Web sites; Conservation handbooks and manuals; A survey of paddling literature, art, music; And perhaps the most comprehensive paddling bibliography ever assembled, with excerpts from Thoreau, Theroux, Mason, Barrow, and many others. Sprinkled throughout are technical tips and bits of wisdom, as well as alternative views from leading figures in the sport.