River Drifting Safety

With the growing popularity and interest in using SOT's for drifting rivers, I think it's important to identify and share the potential dangers.   Please feel free to use this thread to discuss potential dangers and mitigation strategies.

I'll go 1st

Danger: Boils and Current Seams - Anywhere that the current is not uniform, there exists the potential for SOTs keels to "catch" and suddenly change your direction.
Mitigation: Just being aware of the water you're moving thru can go a long way toward keeping you in your boat.  I've been caught off guard a couple of times and while I was able to respond (much to the amusement of my company) the potential for falling out was very real.

Danger: Snagging your drift anchor - There's nothing like playing "crack the whip" while seated on a plastic tub toy.
Mitigation: 1) Keep your rope free of knots so if you have to, you can just slip away from your anchor and fish the rope out to dislodge from the bank (if possible).  2) Keep a knife handy and be ready to lose your lead.  Your life is worth more than $30.

Danger: Snagging your lure on a sweeper (branches) while traversing fast water:
Mitigation:  The best stragegy is to avoid the possibility.  Unless there's an eddy handy, about all you can do after the fact is break it off.  The reason I list this is because if you pause too long to think about what you need to do, you're either going to be spooled or find yourself in the wrong spot on the river.

Misc. Dangers open to discussion:
- High centering on a rock or log in the current
- Drifting into or under a downed tree
- Falling out in or just before a rapid or sweeping corner



-Mark-

Moving water is nothing to take lightly.  I STRONGLY suggest taking a beginner whitewater course.  It will help you with the basics including: braces, reading the water, ferrying, eddying out, and what to do when you do get dumped in the water.  Not only for you, but for the ones you are with.

-Allen

Here's one rule to remember ... flash your ass at the current.     That's a pretty universal rule for the beginner and will serve you well when ferrying, eddying out, or high centering on a rock.

What does that mean?  It means to lean away from the direction the current is coming from.

So when ferrying, lean down river.  When eddying out, lean up river, since the current is going the other way.  When high centering, lean down river, and towards the rock.

-Allen

What is ferrying? 

What is ferrying? 

Traversing across current.

-Allen

What is ferrying? 

Traversing across current.

-Allen

That is so much harder in an SOT than a driftboat or SINK.

What is ferrying? 

Traversing across current.

-Allen

That is so much harder in an SOT than a driftboat or SINK.

Thighstraps!!!

-Allen

What is ferrying? 

Traversing across current.

Peddles???

-Allen

That is so much harder in an SOT than a driftboat or SINK.

Thighstraps!!!

-Allen

Peddles?

Don't rely on just peddles.  Paddling backwards, or ferrying backwards, is an important skill.  It slows you down and gives you time to avoid obstacles.

-Allen

 Paddling backwards, or ferrying backwards, is an important skill.  It slows you down and gives you time to avoid obstacles.

-Allen

VERY important skill.  Can give you time to slow down, put the "brakes" on", and move to the side of dangerous obstacles.  

Ferrying/ferry angles are the compensating angle you take to get from point A to point B while crossing current.

example- you can't go strait across a moving river, you end up down stream.

If you want to hit point B, you have to angle up into the current and move diagonally across it so you end up at point B, rather than 5 miles down stream.

Really important for crossings in the SJ's etc.....any where you have current.

Check out this class. It's perfect: http://www.aldercreek.com/kayak-instruction/whitewater-kayak-full-immersion1.cfm

Jason

Check out this class. It's perfect: http://www.aldercreek.com/kayak-instruction/whitewater-kayak-full-immersion1.cfm

Just do it!! Whitewater is a lot of fun.  And it will help you become a better paddler.

-Allen

Notes from a newbie:
 Practice your stern draw. This stroke is great to make corrections to your line, and will help keep your ass end where you want it, namely behind you.
 Plan ahead. Like others have said on this site, the SOT is not the optimum machine for drifting swift rivers. The amount of correction you can do while in the middle of a rapid is minimal at best. Before you head into any fast water, figure your line, where you'll go if you blow you line, and what you'll do if you blow you line and end up in the water.
 Don't be afraid to portage. These boats are light and drag well, I don't think this is any kind of manliness (or womanliness) contest, there is no shame in knowing your limitations and playing it safe.
 The SOT kayak is neither a ww playboat, nor a drifter, and as such it can't do all of things or handle the same water that those craft can. Know the water where you're going and be realistic about your skill level, equipment, and the challenge ahead of you.
Jonah

Thanks for starting this thread Spot and thanks to the contributions from people w/ river skills. It is a dangerous place for newbs and your tips will help keep us safe.

A few things I wanted to add are 1. Get a yak that's appropriate for rivers. The flatter the bottom the better. If there's a pronounced keel the current will grab it and pull you. Look at the hull of a drift boat, white water kayak, or white water raft and get inspired. 2. The shorter the kayak the better. IMO 9' is perfect and really look for extreme stability.

3. For those that are using Hobies do not use pedals to do anything but pedal or backtroll up current. They give almost no control when running with the current as it only works when they are propelling you. In current the paddle is your best friend. Pulling the drive (leashed) and putting the plug in the MD hole is how you want to go through fast/rough spots.

Z

Also, learn the river classification system, and do some research before you set out.  Stick with I-IIs for a while before venturing into the higher numbers. 

Most every stream has a detailed account online.  Read them and make yourself aware of the known hazards.  Be realistic with yourself about the way your abilities interact with said hazards, too.....