It's about that time of year again, so here is another reminder. Trying to swim a swamped canoe to shore in cold, icy water is NOT a recovery technique.

This clip demonstrates the "Capistrano flip" performed in Force Five winds. A solo demonstration starts near the 3:30 mark.

Have fun, be safe and wear your life jacket.

Open water canoe recovery techniques

Before heading out this spring, you will probably want to practice these techniques in a pool. If I, an over-weight, out of shape 67 year old can do this, you can do it too.

Always a good thing to practice. It can be an enjoyable thing to do in the middle of August when it's hot and humid.

The videos were interesting but I wish they would have had to deal with paddles as well. That adds to the complexity.

Alan

Good to see. I'm sure paddles, packs, no flotation, and no one else around would make the solo more difficult. I'm sure drysuits would help. Definitely done in pretty gnarly conditions though; not something I'd be out there in.

Thanks for the post. A must see and learn.

quote boonie: "Good to see. I'm sure paddles, packs, no flotation, and no one else around would make the solo more difficult. I'm sure drysuits would help. Definitely done in pretty gnarly conditions though; not something I'd be out there in."

Glad you liked the post.

quote boonie: "Good to see. I'm sure paddles, packs, no flotation, and no one else around would make the solo more difficult. I'm sure drysuits would help. Definitely done in pretty gnarly conditions though; not something I'd be out there in."

Do you, or any one else, think wearing drysuits while paddling in swing seasons like that would help eliminate some of the hypothermia danger of traveling early in the seasons?

A dry suit definitely helps IF you have good insulation under it.

quote OBX2Kayak: "

quote boonie: "Good to see. I'm sure paddles, packs, no flotation, and no one else around would make the solo more difficult. I'm sure drysuits would help. Definitely done in pretty gnarly conditions though; not something I'd be out there in."

Glad you liked the post."

I did, Cliff. Thanks for posting it again. I've liked it every time you've posted it. I hope you keep posting it every year as a reminder :) I need that reminder to at least think about it. And every time, I think - OK, I need to try that sometime and see it how it goes for me. That's as far as I get though since I don't own a canoe, but at least I have seen it and have some idea of the process. It's good to see it can be done and even under tough conditions, albeit without some of the other complications. Maybe I'll try it sometime on one of my trips, but that would be under relatively benign conditions and close to shore since I'm usually solo and nobody's around. I'll bet I could do it then, but I'll also bet that it might be a little different for me solo farther from shore in less benign conditions. I'm sure it would be different planning to do it vs. having it happen unexpectedly. At least that seems to be a frequent theme in the stories of survivors, like the "Wabakimi Baptism" story in the summer 2015 Boundary Waters Journal, as well as many others I have read.

quote SaganagaJoe: "

quote boonie: "Good to see. I'm sure paddles, packs, no flotation, and no one else around would make the solo more difficult. I'm sure drysuits would help. Definitely done in pretty gnarly conditions though; not something I'd be out there in."

Do you, or any one else, think wearing drysuits while paddling in swing seasons like that would help eliminate some of the hypothermia danger of traveling early in the seasons? "

A wet suit will help and I'm sure a drysuit with good insulation would help even more. But most of us aren't likely to be wearing either and need to keep that fact in mind.

Interesting that the solo canoe had bow and stern air bags in it not many tripping canoes do.

A big help also.

Posts like this are good.

Yeah, good to see. But I doubt anyone would paddle that for a solo boat where we go. Kinda shaped like a porcelain bathtub I got out back. One of the best things of a tandem though is the possibilities. People that don't have the knowledge or training could waste a lot of precious time and energy trying. Good idea to practice with the people you paddle with. Maybe group solo people practice something simular where they can help each other out. In cold water usually by the time you get back to your canoe you don't have the ability to do much more than hold on. I know I barely could stand up when bud got me to shore.

The Capistrano flip is something that definitely should be practiced under controlled conditions. I had to do it (twice) in heavy ocean surf once. I was surprised with how well the canoe performed under very trying conditions.

A farmer John early season or solo could be the difference between lots of things. Gives you many minutes to recover. And I, for one, will have the wife put in the local pond to practice the maneuvers with me. Again, great share.

Butch

Unless you have practiced and you know that you able to do this, I would stay close to shore and head straight to shore if capsized.
I have practiced this with my magic in 75 degree water and 95 degree air temps and still had a VERY tough time.
Those floats on that canoe look real large. He rolled that thing on the surface pretty easily.
I have been in 50 degree water once and I think I would have about 5 minutes to be able to physically do this before my arms and legs lost strength and cramped.
Thanks for posting though! It reminds me to keep trying to perfect the maneuver, but at 52 it just keeps getting more difficult.