WRONG WORDS CAN CRASH YOUR CANOE!

by Cliff Jacobson

Kevlar Mad River Explorer, Steel River, Ontario. Yes, we rescued this canoe! The rails popped back into shape and the hull was seaworthy. Three days work at home, and it was "good to go". Kevlar is tougher than most people think. And American White Ash rails often "bend and hold" where metal ones may "hinge and fold".

The gunnels bent about 30 degrees but held. Quite a bit of of the outer Kevlar layer was broken. But the rescued canoe had no leaks. We covered severely damaged areas with Gorilla tape then went merrily on our way.

Many years ago, I capsized in a rapid on Ontario’s Steel River. The canoe slammed a boulder, over-turned and wrapped.  Seconds before the disaster, I called  “right—go right” to my novice bow partner!  A cross-draw would have pulled the bow around and saved the day. There was plenty of time to avoid the rock. But instead of “cross-drawing”, she “drew” left and pulled us right into the rock!

My bow partner blamed herself for the mishap, but I insisted it was my fault, which indeed it was. Why? Because I had taught her to respond to the commands of “draw” and “cross-draw”, not to “right and left”. In the heat of battle, beginners often confuse signals, especially right and left.  I should have known better.

Another example:  There’s a 20 meter falls along the North Knife River (Manitoba) that requires extreme caution.  We put ashore well above the drop and prepared to line the boats to a rock shelf near the lip, where we would portage.  It was an easy line.  As a safety precaution I gave specific orders to “Use the stern line only”. 

North Knife River, Manitoba. The big falls.

The first three canoes had no problems, but the fourth capsized as it entered the current.  The man let go the rope and the canoe headed for the falls. Fortunately, my wife, Susie, leaped over a parked canoe and grabbed the floating line...just in time!

Lining around a big drop. North Knife River, Manitoba

What went wrong?  This canoe had been snugged to shore, bow facing upstream, whereas the bows of the others all faced downstream.  An attempt was made to turn the boat so that the stern (and stern line) would be upstream.  As the bow spun out, it caught a rock and the canoe swamped.  My fault again: I should have said:  “Use only the line on the upstream end of the canoe.”

Poor communication may have a humorous side, as this account from my book, EXPEDITION CANOEING, reveals:

Kwttle River, Minnesota. Once an aluminum canoe begins to "wrap", it's over!

“Two experienced canoeists were lining their 18-foot Grumman around a rapid on the Kanaaupscow River in Quebec when, without a word, each simultaneously let go of his line momentarily. The canoe, now free, slipped quietly away and out of sight down the rapid.  The disgruntled canoeists walked the shoreline of the river and carefully searched the rapid for signs of the canoe.  Nothing!  Did the craft dive for the deep currents and become wedged between rocks?  The pair had sat down at the edge of the pool below the drop to contemplate their misfortune when the canoe, bone-dry and undamaged, mysteriously floated to shore within a few feet of where they were sitting.  Joyously, the men climbed aboard and smugly waited for their friends upstream to finish the half-mile-long arduous task of lining the rapid.”

Abandoned canoe along the Kopka River, Ontario

These cases show what can happen when fuzzy thinking or adrenalin clouds clear communication. This said, why, has it taken me nearly a life time of canoeing wild rivers to appreciate the value of following my own advice?

www.cliff-jacobson.com

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My flagship book, CANOEING WILD RIVERS, 5th Edition, contains a wealth of advice on how to safely canoe difficult rivers.

*My book CAMPING'S TOP SECRETS, 2022 revision, details practical camping tips and procedures that only the experts know.  If you know just a few of these tricks, you'll be a hero to your friends! 

*My teen book, JUSTIN CODY'S RACE TO SURVIVAL! mixes a fictional wilderness survival tale with practical outdoor tips everyone should know--a first for books of this type.  Adults love it too!  Now available as an audio book!

*My long out-of-print book, CANOEIST’S Q&A (available as an e-book) contains 25 true scenarios (plus FAQ's) that define the wilderness canoeing and camping experience--a great training tool for those who go beyond the beaten path - now available as an audio book under the new title PADDLER'S GUIDE: WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO SOUR.

My 90 minute video, THE FORGOTTEN SKILLS details the most important camping skills. If you can do them all you'll be a hero to your friends!