Extract of the Most Important Stuff · River Boating Safety - Kayaking / Canoeing / Whitewater...

7/27/2020

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SCOUTS BSA: TROOP 1028/1029 1

River Boating Safety -Kayaking / Canoeing / Whitewater Merit Badges

Eric Cutright, SM Troop 1029, July 2020

Extract of the Most Important Stuff

SCOUTS BSA: TROOP 1028/1029

Directions in a Boat

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Securing Gear

• All gear must be securely stowed in case your boat flips or capsizes– Tie gear to boat with short ropes to avoid entanglement

– Use kayak deck hold-downs

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Getting Into and Out of a Boat

• Maintain three points of contact and keep your center of gravity low

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Stay “In the Box” to Avoid Tipping

• Keep a strong shoulder position with elbows low and in front of your body – this maintains balance and helps prevent fatigue / sore muscles

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Keep a Good Posture

• Adjust the seat straps and foot pegs to sit up straight – no reclining and knees barely bent

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Turning Left and Right: Normal

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Turning Left and Right: Emergency (Quick) Moves

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Moving Sideways

• Sculling draw – to move sideways

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Take Rapids Head-On !!!

• Do not get yourself pointed sideways going over rapids, you will likely capsize or get dumped !!

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Reading the River: River Anatomy

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Reading the River: Horizon Lines

• Horizon lines indicate a shelf or waterfall – beware !

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Reading the River: Downstream Vs are OK

• A V pointing away from you is usually a good line

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Dark, deep water in

middle of VWhitewater forms lines

of V


Reading the River: Downstream Vs are OK

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Downstream V

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Reading the River: Upstream Vs are BAD

• A V pointing towards you indicates a rock

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Upstream V


Reading the River: Upstream Vs are BAD

• A V pointing towards you indicates a rock

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Reading the River: Vs and Ledge Summary

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Reading the River: Picking Your Attack Line

• Stick to middle of river and don’t get trapped against shore or strainers, give yourself room to move !

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Proper Floating Technique

• Keep upstream from the boat (it will knock you over)

• Hold on to your paddle!

• Float on back with feet up to avoid foot entrapment

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Mandatory Leader / Caboose Boating Formation

• Everyone must have a buddy boat, stay close !!

• Cannot pass the leader or fall behind the caboose !!

• Regroup after major obstacles for a head count

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Caboose

Leader

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Safety Signals

• Boaters use paddle signals to let approaching boats know of the hazards or the best path to take from a safe distance

• At major rapids, a lead boat will determine and take the best attack line

• The lead boat then turns around and “parks” out of current to signal following boats

• All boats regroup after major obstacles for a head count and buddy check

• Directional signals always point to safety, never to a hazard !!

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Safety Signals

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Extract of the Most Important Stuff · River Boating Safety - Kayaking / Canoeing / Whitewater...

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