maybe true but
Well considering they were the first American’s Source to Sea complete human power of North America’s Longest river system…I think that would be considered an “Expedition”.
rivers are not “offshore” or "open water
Not dissing your friends’ accomplishments, but a long river descent is not the same as an open water coastal touring environment. Hobies have their use, but they are not what I would want for conditions where I would have to haul them above the tide on a regular basis.