The Hyside MiniMe is the notorious raft that comes out of the quiver when the team is looking for big carnage. One of the nimblest rafts (possibly THE nimblest), what it gives in speed it takes in stability; she’ll turn on a dime just as easily IN the rapid as before it.
But when you’ve got a full float like today–and that means EVERY boat in the water, you take her out by default and sometimes put people who aren’t quite as river ready and take them down in a glorified blue soap dish. Such was Erica’s plight, a brave young lady I’d guided last year who came out to enjoy the river on this triple digit weekend.
Used to a 14-foot Avon, a 9-foot Hyside takes some practice, which became apparent when we dumped on the first rapid (Rock ‘n Roll). With four people in it, she rode low and bucked like a mule over most of the waves. Another upside is that she flips back over just as easily.