We were given a leaky rental Duckie on the Middle Yough float. The floor bladder in the Ducky was flat and out of air within in a few minutes after launch. There was no way to go back. We were forced to sit in the Duckie bottom 3 or 4 inches lower than normal. This resulted in sitting on 4 inches of river water the whole way, with NO padding for our bottoms, hanging up on most rapids that should have been easy to slide over, and worse of all BOUNCING OUR BUTTS on every rock that was two to four inches below the surface. VERY PAINFUL. We were very lucky we were able to muscle over the rocks, not lose paddles or get separated from the boat.
The consequences could have been much worse.
When we finally arrived at take out, totally exhausted and Hypothermic, shivering and sore, we needed to stop at our hotel for a hot shower and change to dry clothes before returning our paddles.
When I did arrive back at the shop, Ann was quite upset that we forced her to wait around a half hour for our return, even though they had picked up the Ducky and seen the condition of the flat bladder. No concern for our safety or comfort, no apology for renting faulty equipment.
We will never use White Water Adventurers again, and I am pretty sure my wife will NEVER do a float trip on any river again.