How many times have you ended up in the drink?

[Grandpa Paddler]

Just twice while solo: 1st time on a strange (to me) river with weird cross currents, 35 deg. weather and driving snow. Fortunately I was with 5 other guys who were right on me PDQ (1 hour later another guy dumped). 2nd time, very next day, same river but warmer and sunny. Fortunately, I was 50 yds upstream from a camp that was occupied and had a warm fire in the stove. Got to dry out and drink coffee. Within 20 minutes of getting back on the river, a 3rd guy (in a kayak) dumped. 4 of us decided never to do that river again (can you guess who the 1st 3 were?).

4 times tandem. A great friend of 27 years in the bow each time. Smart man (MBA), well read, up on current events, but can't seem to get the knack of reading the water or leaning into the obstacle. The only thing I won't do for him is let him get into my canoe.

BTW, my wife (a foot shorter and 100#'s lighter) is the best paddling partner I've ever had. 35+ years of tripping together and neither of us remember even coming close to a dump

 

[JackL]

A few times, but the most memorable one was five or six years ago in the 90 miler in Browns Tract which is a narrow twisting water way.
. We had just passed a half dozen paddlers an my bow paddler who is the best bow paddler in the world (my wife) on a sharp turn was leaning out doing a perfect post , and dummy me for some unexplained reason leaned out on the same side.
Over we went, and as we were gathering our yard sale stuff and trying to get to the bank, one by one the passed paddlers came by, offering to help and each had a grin on their face

Jack L

 

[lowangle al]

Like I suspected, it is a rare occurance, maybe happening once or twice in your life, or more likely never. The main reasons would be; 1, being distratcted by fishing or other activities. 2, paddleing with someone inexperienced combined with not paying attention. 3, hitting a submerged obstacle while not paying attention.

I would think that flipping in calm flat water would be almost as rare as driving your car off of the road in good conditions. There would need to be some kind of distraction.

 

[sweeper]

Then there's the learning process and enough witnesses on the board that were at WPASCR this spring.

So I was learning to do a Post or was it a Wedge, either one, I did it bass ackward and followed the paddle into the Duck Pond. End-o-Lessons.

 

[pblanc]

Like I suspected, it is a rare occurance, maybe happening once or twice in your life, or more likely never. The main reasons would be; 1, being distratcted by fishing or other activities. 2, paddleing with someone inexperienced combined with not paying attention. 3, hitting a submerged obstacle while not paying attention.

I would think that flipping in calm flat water would be almost as rare as driving your car off of the road in good conditions. There would need to be some kind of distraction.

Well, that very much depends on the canoe. The flat water Olympic C-1 sprint canoes paddled from a high kneel position, are perfectly round-bottomed and have as much primary stability as standing on a round log. Marathon C-1 canoes can be rather unstable as well. Even when the paddler is concentrating, a strong gust of wind can result in a capsize.

I had a friend who was part of an Ivy League rowing crew that had been pretty competitive. He was no mean paddler, but he told me about a crew mate who had been a world class athlete who felt he might have a chance at an Olympic medal. This fellow thought that C-1 sprint would offer him the best chance so he obtained an Olympic boat. My friend told me it took him two weeks before he could get in the canoe, paddle it 6 feet away from the dock, paddle it back, and get out without capsizing.

 

[Guest]

Most common though is flipping when looking backwards

That simple action has gotten me a few times, usually when family paddling or on group trips, looking back to see if everyone has followed my line, is still upright or at least in somewhere in sight as part of the group.

That motion, combined with a too round/elliptical hull bottom, does not work for me. I’ll happily pay the performance price for a shallow arch or shallow vee if it helps keep me inside the canoe and dry when I turn to look behind me.

I had a friend who was part of an Ivy League rowing crew that had been pretty competitive. He was no mean paddler, but he told me about a crew mate who had been a world class athlete who felt he might have a chance at an Olympic medal. This fellow thought that C-1 sprint would offer him the best chance so he obtained an Olympic boat. My friend told me it took him two weeks before he could get in the canoe, paddle it 6 feet away from the dock, paddle it back, and get out without capsizing.

Pete, if you have not already read it you might enjoy The Boys in the Boat (a CT book-thread reading suggestion)

http://www.danieljamesbrown.com/book.../#.WaL4pD6GPcs

That is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and learned a lot about crew and shells, and some odd historical asides. Including the crew term “Catching a crab”. I caused a rower in an eight man crew to “catch a magnificent crab”.

The last time we participated in the anything-goes Wye Island race we didn’t register. And we started off paddling the course in a backwards direction, to the consternation of the race officials at the starting line, who kept asking for our race number and shouting “You are going in the wrong direction”. . . . .”Yeah, thanks, we know”)

BTW, we has a lot of history in that race from previous years, including 1[SUP]st[/SUP] place finishes in “Mixed gender tandem kayak, “Mixed age (father & son) tandem kayak” and “8-person canoe”. To say nothing of “8-person mixed age, gender and level of sobriety canoe”; one of the few boats to remain upright during the Hurricane Charlie race.

We were, at least, in actual race mode for those medal awarded finishes, but we were nonetheless infamous; a photo of the 8-man mixed team Clipper Mariner was featured on the next year’s program 3 years running. Including on the year’s program for our final “race” of infamy.

Heading backwards, unregistered and un-numbered, we found a nice sandy beach a couple miles from the 12.5 mile race finish, just around a turn, and unloaded a variety of folding tables, snacks and several coolers full of ice cold beer. Just above the turn we staked out three “Burma Shave” signs in large easily readable font, reading “FREE”. . . . . “”RACE” . . . . . “BEER - - >”.

We were positioned on the inviting beach just around the corner from the “BEER - - >” sign. We had lured a number of earlier starting, less serious and more thirsty competitors to put ashore for a free beer when the leading 8-man shell came flying around the corner.

One midships rower paused staring at our coolers with parched throat, “caught a crab” and the whole shebang faltered to an oar clattering halt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_AqOPdgj3c

Our distracted contestant crewman was not concussed, or ejected from the shell; they recovered nicely and did not put ashore to partake, despite my wading out chest deep holding cold beers aloft in each hand as further temptation.

Lots of rec racers did put ashore for a FREE RACE BEER, including an older gent paddling a solo canoe. He kept us company until the last of the racers had passed, and then some just to be sure. When we finally arrived back at the finish line everyone was gone; including the several hundred cars, trucks and trailers that had been parked in a field at the launch.

Well, not everyone. One lone race official remained in the now late day emptiness.

A lone race official who had stayed to award our new friend his first place medal for the “Solo Canoe Men’s 50+” age group. He had somehow been the only entry that year in “Solo Canoe Men’s 50+”, finishing it a (new longest record) time of just under 7 hours.

He insisted on taking home the “BEER - - >” sign to show his wife why he was hours late returning.

 

[Higgster]

Wet exits can be fun, or devastating. About 10 years go, I was in my OTCA on a small lake in PA where I have a summer cottage. My son was in front, my grandson and in the middle. Power boats came out, and the rest is history. My son and I ended up wet, my grandson and dog were looking at us from inside the canoe. For some reason, my son felt it necessary to have his cell phone in his pocket; bye bye phone...
2 years ago, I was trying my son in law's Argosy. Power boats again. I went one way, my week old glasses went the other into 20' of weedy bottom. Glad I had my prescription sun glasses. Had to drive home the next day making sure to be in daylight.

 

[Guest]

No Title

Quite a few times paddling whitewater.
Finally got whitewater paddling (still tempted on occasion) out of my system, and the number of "fish counts" dropped very dramatically.

To the best of my knowledge, I have dumped 3 times in the last 10 years. I have "good excuses" for every one. :^)

1. Paddling a Bell Wildfire; looked back upstream to check on my wife. High centered on a rocky shoal, and did a 180 degree spin real quick. Splash!

2. Paddling a Whitesell Piranha, whitewater solo; sitting on top of it's Perception saddle, stretching my legs. Saw something on river bottom; leaned over to look closer, sunglasses fell off top of my head. I reached out; grabbed for them. Splash!

3. Paddling a Mad River Flashback model II, whitewater slalom solo.That is NOT a boat noted for a high degree of initial, or secondary stability. It was my first trip in that boat; I'd never even test paddled it.
Went down a fast chute, but it was so shallow I couldn't hit any strong paddle strokes.
Caught(about chest high) a large tree stump (trimmed down strainer) that was hanging out about 7 foot over the river.
Splash! Happened dang quick!

I hate dumping; big hassle to me...........

BOB

 

[ShiftlessDriftless]

Twice on flatwater, both times not paying attention. The last one we hit a submerged log while floating downriver sideways and talking. The gunnel dipped and my partner and I jumped out. We were up to our necks and the dog was still sitting in the canoe, looking at us like we were idiots.

My most recent capsize wasn’t quite flatwater, as it was a windy day on a big lake when we went to retrieve a dog ball that escaped away from the pier toward a nearby cliff. We were handling the 1’-1.5’ waves great until we got tossed by the clapotis near the cliff. I learned “clapotis” on this site and thought, yep, that’s what got us… My friend grabbed the ball and I grabbed the canoe’s rope and we swam the tens of yards back to the pier. The dog probably thought we looked like idiots again.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I read in another post that Glen M. hasn't flipped a canoe on flat water since 1984 . . . .

That was the only time I recall ever dumping unintentionally in flat water, but even that was an unusual event. I was paddling my new Lotus BJX, which has the tippiest initial stability of any canoe I've ever paddled, about 25" at the waterline with a highly flared V hull. I was feeling bold, so I stood up in the canoe to see over the river bank on a freezing February day in the Catskill Mountains, lost my balance, and fell into chest deep water not far from shore.

I've dumped many times in whitewater, but probably less than average. I always had very good balance, even as a novice. I did fall in once on a swift water interlude on a whitewater run when sitting up above my saddle, much as Joker described. I was chatting and not paying attention and hit a sub-surface rock that flipped me. I actually hit my side quite hard on another rock and was severely bruised for several weeks. This was in about three feet of water. But I don't count that as a "flat water" dump.

The very low frequency of flat water dumps could make one re-evaluate the necessity of wearing a PFD. Or not. Because of my early career whitewater experiences, I went though many flat water years of: "I wear a PFD even in two inches of water!" As I got older and more susceptible to heat stroke in hot climes, I began to take off the PFD in what I considered safe waters -- a balancing of risk decision. Now that I'm getting really old and my balance and knees are declining, I put the PFD on more often again. I always have a wearable PFD, and sometimes three PFD cushions I sit on as well.

 

[lowangle al]

It seems like not paying attention is what gets you. One of the enjoyable things about canoeing is that you don't have to be as attentive as when driving a car as a mishap typically won't be as costly.

My new rule of thumb on wearing a PFD is that if I would feel comfortable swimming where I was paddling I don't need to wear it. If I stick to it, it means I will be wearing it more often than in the past because I rarely paddle in warm water.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The one place I needed a PFD most was where I was comfortable swimming. On a flat lake - ~70° water. Kind of OT, because I was sailing, not paddling. Short version.....boat knocked over by unexpected gust....in the water for about 40 minutes. Perfectly comfortable swimming while getting the boat upright (particular model wasn't known for ease of recovery). Before it was all over and I was back in the boat, my swimming ability would have been fatal without the PFD. Even when water is calm and comfortable, time is your enemy.

Somebody told me several years ago - "if you ain't swimming, you ain't learning". I'm always trying new things and push my learning curve, so.....yeah, I fall out of the boat a lot. Just paddling a decent solo or tandem canoe in "normal" conditions though - nope. Still, I wear the PFD pretty religiously.

 

[Kmcmichael]

I practiced freestyle canoe for a few years...there is no way I could keep count!

Everyone does the occasional fish survey. I saw Bob Foote fall out at a festival in SC, to a standing ovation!

I do remember the last time. My 85 lb. dog jumped out of my Magic before I could brace.

 

[Guest]

I practiced freestyle canoe for a few years...there is no way I could keep count!

I am not a freestyle practitioner by any stretch of the imagination, and I wasn’t counting the times I have tested the secondary stability of a new canoe and pushed past the limits. Usually my limits, not the canoes.

Those secondary stability experiments were usually* on warm, calm flatwaters near to shore with an empty boat, knowing that the only way to determine my limit of the secondary stability was to go beyond it and possibly swim.

*Usually. But not always. I had a new to me solo canoe, which I had previously paddled only for a half hour jaunt on a scummy pond. I had not tested the secondary stability. My first real trip in that canoe was floating Hot Springs Canyon on the Rio Grande in Big Bend, a test trip day float before tripping down Boquillas Canyon.

That is a gentle stretch of river and all was going well until I approached Hot Springs, where for reasons and ill-preparedness I still cannot explain, I decided that right now would be an ideal time to check out the secondary stability. I managed to get the right hand gunwale nearly to the water. And to keep it there for a long time.

And a longish distance, like 50 yards, free-floating downriver. Not by choice; once I got the canoe over as far as it would hold I discovered several flaws in my sudden execution.

I was seated, not kneeling. I was holding my paddle in my left hand, and only my left hand. There is a little riffle where Tornillo Creek comes in at Hot Springs. There is a guaranteed audience at Hot Springs. I had not secured anything in the canoe.

The instant I tried to put both hands on the paddle to brace back up I turned turtle. The bankside audience was treated to a view of a canoe bottom, slowly floating into sight cocked over / before suddenly flipping over just before the riffle. Mad skills that.

I lost my hat, my pipe, my sunglasses and some dignity.

And learned a few lessons. Yes, bracing is one. And securing gear was another. I have lost very little in inadvertent capsizes since, a bailer or sponge at worst.

With one expensive exception; stainless steel water bottles will sink like a rock if filled all the way to the lip. Leave some headspace or take a sip before launching.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Just did it again yesterday. The Outrage will take some time to get used to it. Gonna need more practice with that brace.

 

[Seeker]

I don't canoe as often as I like, or nearly as often as many of you... one long trip a year in NY, several weekend trips here in LA. It's all flatwater. But I haven't spilled since my Boy Scout days in the 70s. I think one of the big "secrets", for me anyway, is my willingness to get my feet wet. It's so warm here in LA, pretty much all year, that I don't need to get in/out of the canoe with dry feet. And in NY, there always seem to be convenient beaches to approach side-on. All my canoes are wood or wood/canvas, and I never beach them straight-in to shore if I can prevent it. I think most of the accidents I've seen involved people getting into or out of a beached canoe with the bow up on shore and all tippy as a result.

My stitch and glue Eureka tried to throw me out several times, but once I figured out what it was, she's fine. (She just likes to lie on one chine or the other... not halfway between two of them.) My OT Yankee is a nice old lady, calm and steady. I'll see how the Chestnut Chum goes later this month when I finally get her in the water.

My cousin's idiot lab almost upset 3 of us a few years back.

 

[yellowcanoe]

You'd think after 20 years of being a Freestyle instructor with the accompanying dunking from pushing the limit that upsets would be due to trying something new
Uh no.
Two weeks ago I was getting out of a low bow seat and caught my footon the gunwale pulling over canoe and 100 lbs of contents and sternman
In about eight inches of water

 

[frozentripper]

This seems especially true for canoes...