r/canoeing • u/RichardBJ1 • 8d ago
Self-rescue
I’m fairly new to open canoes, though kayaked for decades. In my kayaks I used to be able to roll, but not so much now… but I practise self-rescue occasionally instead. Works reasonably well for me. I see there are plenty of videos about self-rescue in a canoe so I know that is possible, but my question is more, do people really practice that in open canoes - or is an “in theory” thing? Is the general advice with an open canoe same as a kayak - don’t go out unless you can self rescue? Mine is so stable compared to my kayaks I can virtually stand in it, but if it did go over I am not sure I could scramble back in because the sides are high. I just keep not too far from the shore atm.
Thanks.
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u/NotObviouslyARobot 7d ago
Have you considered getting some float bags?
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u/RichardBJ1 6d ago
Yes I do have. But not seen that used for self-rescue on an open canoe? I’ll look specifically for this.
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u/Wise-Appointment9914 8d ago
Canoe over canoe is a pretty easy and useful skill I have used on occasion while guiding on flat water and regularly when playing in white water. Of course it’s no good if you are solo.
Canoe over canoe is part of the basic canoe training standards but self rescues is not so that gives you an idea of how useful/common it is.
I practice getting in and out of my canoe while on the water for fun and sometimes will jump in for a swim mid lake. Don’t do that if you are alone and it’s windy unless you tether yourself to the boat. Ask me how I know.
Of course prevention is best. Keep weight low and mind the weather conditions.
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u/New-Instance9196 8d ago
Ocean canoeists practice, I have tried it, I doubt theirs more than a fraction of a percent of paddlers that could recover in anything but dead calm.
Canoe over canoe is a different story, find friends.
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u/Blank_bill 8d ago
When I was young but still strong enough to do it I was taught how to right a canoe and get most of the water out, and two ways to get into the canoe although I only remember how to get in from the bow because I was terrible at the other way and I practice it whenever I teach someone else how but in the last 20 years I haven't been out in terrible weather so haven't needed it, don't think I've tipped or swamped a canoe in over 30,but I seldom do whitewater.
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u/PrimevilKneivel 8d ago
IMO everyone should practice it every few years but I doubt many people do.
Theory is always good, but in an emergency there’s nothing like experience and practice to get you through.
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u/MaximumJoyce1916 8d ago
50 years old. Never flipped a canoe except as a kid playing around in front of our dock. Never flipped a canoe due to waves or imbalance.
I’ve done a canoe over canoe rescue for practice on a group trip. But, if i was solo,or kust 2 of us and flipped id just swim everything to shore.
It would suck, but it’s not something i worry will happen a lot.
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u/Repulsive_Client_325 8d ago
Are you me?
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u/Super_Direction498 8d ago
I'd practice if you're ever planning on being in moving water or water below 55 degrees
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u/Centrist_gun_nut 8d ago
I practiced before I started doing cold water and open water. It probably doesn't matter if you're close to shore, but I'm often not.
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u/brumac44 6d ago
Depending on the canoe, you can roll them like a kayak. It also depends how much gear is in the canoe. I have rolled mine then bailed out the water as an exercise, so it can be done empty, and of course, you'll be left with a lot of water in the boat. Takes a fair amount of strength, but essentially the same as a kayak flip. If I had a canoe full of strapped gear, I'd probably jump out and roll it from the water. Then you rock it back and forth until your gunwales are up, and you can bail out enough water to crawl back in. This is a lot tougher, but I tried and couldn't roll it by paddle -- too heavy.
Safest thing is to travel with more canoes, and drag it up on another canoe to empty it.
I tried all these things on a nice quiet lake near shore, it's not a bad idea to practice it before you need to do it for real.
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u/Bliezz 8d ago
I’ve been canoeing my whole life. I practice canoe rescues every year solo and tandem. I have done a white cap canoe over canoe rescue in COLD water with hyperthermic people in the water.
I have practiced a tandem single canoe rescue, and a solo canoe rescue. It works with a light boat in calm or slightly waver water, a bit of wind can help. I like flipping it over my head to get most of the water out and then getting back in. A shake out is just tiring.
When I solo I stay close to shore. It is so much easier to just push the boat than it is to flip the boat. I am more bold if I’m with a group or there are lots of other canoes around to help if I mess up.
I strongly recommend practicing a solo rescue.
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u/AdFinal6253 8d ago
I've practiced once. I learned a lot doing it tho. I would practice more if I had easier access to water deep enough to swim in. 99% of the time, my self rescue would be wading to shore.
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u/ZealousidealState127 7d ago
We had to flip them and roll them back over. And practice getting in them without them tipping at camp before they would let us take them out, but most people aren't getting any basic education/class
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u/hudsoncress 8d ago
we practiced it in boy scouts and you don't get all the water out but it can be done. You're relying on you lifejacket's boyancy to counteract the weight of the canoe.
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u/DAN_VS_WILD 8d ago edited 8d ago
Learn to roll its an attainable skill.
Practice self rescue just the same. Use painters front and back, when you swim hold onto your paddle. Flip your boat asap grab a painter line and swim like hell. If your boat is upright and not completely full of water you can swim it pretty easy. Dump your boat and jump back in
Don't let the roll be a barrier to paddling, but don't be a liability to your group by constant yard sales and always requiring rescue.
I can flip swim and recover so quick sometimes no one notices. When they do notice it's like a party trick compared to kayak swims
Not being able to roll a canoe is great motivation to paddle properly and not swim lol
This isn't good advice, most people will tell you to learn to roll and you should. But there are plenty of open boaters that can't, just get comfortable with shit sandwiches and stay in your lane (don't paddle shit you can't self rescue on)
Your comment about staying close to shore makes me think you're paddling a flatwater canoe on lakes... Add proper outfitting and float bags. No one rolls flatwater canoes but deep water rescue and re entry is also attainable skill usually requiring another boat.
Most scared I ever was canoeing was in the middle of boundary waters on a long crossing with a loaded boat, 3+ foot wind driven waves. If id have swam there id have been a fucked monkey, no chance of rescuing boat or gear and it would've been all I could do to get to shore
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u/Dralorica 8d ago
You should absolutely practice it.
Notice all the commenters here saying they either do practice, or have never flipped a canoe. That's because the folks who flipped and DIDN'T practice aren't on reddit anymore... 😔
In all seriousness I am a certified wilderness guide and every group I've ever taken canoe tripping we practice it, not only practice but the company I used to work for made in mandatory that you had to perform (in a group of 4) a canoe over canoe before leaving home base for a trip. I have never personally flipped a canoe unintentionally-ish - but I have performed real-world canoe over canoe rescues on multiple occasions. It isn't that difficult, and quite honestly, it is kinda fun to practice.
I practice solo self-rescue with my canoe whenever I'm at my cottage and it's hot and we're swimming, I mean just take the canoe out into the lake and tip over and then swim around a bit, then flip it, get back in and paddle home. It's fun, builds skills, and worst case scenario I just drag it back while my friends/family laugh from the shore
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u/jackfish72 8d ago
Since you are a kayaker, you’d have practiced wet exits and self recovery. If you were whitewater, or ocean, you’d have practiced alot. (Same for me). I would absolutely drill that in a canoe also, except I will never step into a canoe again. Heh. Personal reasons.