NORTHERN PADDLE & TRAIL
NPT Safety - Swiftwater Boating Tips
Upright is Safer - Three tips not to tip
Run
Parallel To Current.
By running parallel to the current you will avoid catching submerged rocks mid-boat, which can cause an instant tip. If you do hit a rock, your bow will likely glance off the rock, rather then pin.
Lean Into the Rock
If you do hit a rock, lean into it. It may seem counter intuitive, but leaning into the rock can help you avoid tipping over. It will raise the bottom of your boat shedding the some of the current. It also allows you to use your hands (or paddle), to balance and push off the rock.
Lean Downstream
When you cross the current use a slight downstream lean with your boat. A downstream boat lean, sheds the force of the water and helps prevent an upstream tip. How much you lean the boat depends on the speed of the current and the maneuver you are doing.
Hint:
Lean the boat not your upper body. Keep your upper body
vertical, but rotate your hips to tilt the boat. This is
known as the "J" lean, because your body forms the shape of a J.