After Project HorizonLine kicked off the series, I took my sponsor SOTAR SL inflatable kayak to the Santiam and the Clackamas for three more projects: Streamline, AIRBORNE and OLDGROWTH. All three videos are below, with the story behind each.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells SOTAR and Sawyer gear, and I earn money when you buy it here. SOTAR also sponsors me as an athlete.
Project Streamline: SOTAR SL on the Santiam, a Broken Paddle and a Rondel Roll
Project Streamline is all about the SOTAR SL inflatable kayak: the Packsaddle run on the North Santiam, a paddle snapped at Armstrong Rapid during Clackfest 2025, and a Rondel roll on the Rogue.
Video: Project Streamline, By Jacob Linkhart 2025 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
This video is sponsored by SOTAR.
Packsaddle on the North Santiam
The Packsaddle run is about 6.6 miles of Class II–III+ from Packsaddle Park toward Mill City, with features like Spencer's Hole and Mill City Falls (How's Your River). It's a perfect river to show what the SOTAR SL does well: it tracks, it punches through waves, and it stays stable when it gets pushy.
The broken paddle at Armstrong
During Clackfest 2025 I got sandwiched against the rocks at Armstrong Rapid and the paddle broke. It's a reminder that paddles are gear, and gear fails, so carry a spare. A breakdown paddle like the Sawyer Cross Cut 2-piece IK paddle is easy to stash.
A Rondel roll on the Rogue
When I visited SOTAR in Merlin, they had me demo a Rondel, and I rolled it on the Rogue. Rolling an inflatable kayak is a different skill from rolling a hardshell, and getting one up is a great feeling. More Rondel: SOTAR's Rondel kayak on the Deschutes and The Rondel kayak chaos.
Project AIRBORNE: Big Hits in a SOTAR SL on the Clackamas
Project AIRBORNE is big hits and air on the Clackamas in my red, green and orange sponsor SOTAR SL inflatable kayak.
Video: Project AIRBORNE By Jacob Linkhart on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
This video is sponsored by SOTAR.
This is the SL at its most aggressive: boofing drops, launching off waves and taking big hits in holes. It shows that an inflatable kayak isn't just for easy water. Built right, it'll take everything the Clackamas throws at it.
What makes the SL good at this
Stiff tubes, a self-bailing floor and solid thigh-strap points let you drive the boat instead of riding along. Those are the same things I tell people to check in What to Look For in a Whitewater Inflatable Kayak. If you want your own, the SOTAR SL kayaks are in the shop, including preset color options.
Big hits also mean more flips; read My Flips on the Upper Clackamas for why self-rescue matters. The Project series: PROJECT HORIZONLINE, Project Streamline, this one, and The OLDGROWTH project.
The OLDGROWTH Project: SOTAR SL on the Clackamas
The OLDGROWTH project is a SOLWYRX Paddlesports production: my sponsor SOTAR SL inflatable kayak on the Clackamas, filmed from some of my favorite angles yet.
Video: The OLDGROWTH project, A SOLWYRX paddlesports production, By Jacob Linkhart, 2026 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
This video is sponsored by SOTAR.
The Clackamas runs through big, old forest, and I wanted this one to show that: mossy walls, huge trees, clear green water, and an SL moving through all of it. It's a short edit, and it's about the setting as much as the paddling.
Filming
Good angles take planning. Scout where the boat will be, find a safe spot on shore, and think about the light. Then run it again from the boat. Every video on the channel is filmed and edited by me, and I'm still learning every time.
The boat is the SOTAR SL. More from the Project series: PROJECT HORIZONLINE, Project Streamline and Project AIRBORNE.
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 31, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
