Capsize and re-entry

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Rick
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 9:23 am
Location: Bancroft, Ontario

Capsize and re-entry

Post by Rick »

Awhile ago, someone here described a capsizing a racing canoe and having a long swim back to shore... if this had happened in cold water like we have here in Canada, hypothermia and death could have resulted rather quickly.

I don't want to be beating people over the head with cautions to do this and not do that, but deaths from this kind of thing do occur, and paddlers should be able to re-enter and make it to shore to warm up.

One of the easiest ways to re-enter a canoe is to keep a rope sling attached to the center thwart to act as a stirrup, you put one foot into the loop and swing the opposite knee into the hull to get yourself back in. If going solo, the canoe will have to be emptied with a bailer or a bucket first.

This describes the technique for both kayaks and canoes:

http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2 ... _149.shtml


Sorry to be a caution, hopefully nobody here will ever capsize into cold water! Better safe than stiff and past the point of being sorry....

:frightened
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Bryan Hansel
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Location: Grand Marais, MN
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Post by Bryan Hansel »

Rick - This is a good note.

The only caution that I would mention is that a rope attached to the yoke or thwart and not secured can pose an entrapment risk. So, when not in use, if you choose this method, make sure to secure the rope.

Also, everyone should practice reentry and canoe over canoe rescues each spring. And if you are expecting to paddle in cold water, it's not a bad idea to wear a wetsuit. Living on the cold shore of Lake Superior dictates a wet or drysuit for paddling on the big lake for me, a stark contrast to the warm waters of the BWCA this time of year in which we just were swimming in the last couple of days..

Bryan
KenC
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Location: Oakville, ON

Post by KenC »

...when not in use, if you choose this method, make sure to secure the rope.
When not in use, the excess sling rope could be stuffed into a small drawstring bag to minimize snagging on gear, etc. Much like a throw-bag. It'd be easy to make.
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Jeff in Farmington, MI
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Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:19 pm
Location: Farmington, Michigan, USA

Post by Jeff in Farmington, MI »

I visited the link, but I'm having a real tough time visuallizing how this technique works with a canoe. Can anyone offer some clarification ... or even a picture?
Thanks.
Rick
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 9:23 am
Location: Bancroft, Ontario

Post by Rick »

It's best to practice the technique first, it'll be different when going with other canoes or single, tandem or solo.

In the two-canoe situation, a canoe-over-canoe rescue is done, then the rope is tied to a seat or thwart of the rescuing canoe, thrown over the center of the empty canoe floating alongside, and the loop hangs down in the water about two-three feet deep. The victim inserts a foot into the loop, and then stands up with weight on the loop while the rescuing party bears down on their side to keep the canoes level. The victim then swings the free knee into the empty canoe to kneel, followed by the other. This is far easier than having to hoist up on the gunnel with both arms then flop in backwards.

With only one canoe, it's more difficult. The canoe has to be emptied as much as possible by rocking, then bailed out until it's about half empty. Then one paddler bears down on one side while the other uses the sling tied to a thwart to stand up and swing in on the other.

Going solo will mean that the victim must bail and enter alone, which will take some experience. If the water's cold, it's best to stay close to shore, since a solo re-entry might be too time-consuming before hypothermia sets in and swimming to shore could be the quickest and safest option... and like Bryan wrote, a wetsuit will also add some safety.
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