Unwrapping It: A Mini-Worshop on Boat Recovery for River Canoeists

 My paddling friend Yiu-Yin called me to say she has just taken a paddling course that included work on recovering broached canoes on the river. She suggested we get together to do some dry-land practice. We thought there might be other paddlers who would like to come along to see how various rope recovery systems are set up or get some hands-on practice.

For those of you who are new to the problems you could be facing if you broach a canoe in a rapid on a trip, we can have a discussion of the problems you will face, and the logistics, equipment and risks associated with recovering it and its cargo. It would be great if some experienced trippers who have been faced with such challenges came along to talk of their experiences, both good and bad so we can learn from them. We'll set up some progressively complicated mechanical advantage rope systems on my front lawn so participants can get hands-on practice. If someone has a vehicle with a towing eye or accessible frame structure, we can set up a Z-Drag and tow it up the street from a tree near the curb to demonstrate the leverage such systems can produce. If anyone wants to heat things ups, we can get into the classic debate on whether on river trips it is better to tie packs in, tether them, or leave them to float free if the canoe comes to grief.

This is an informal, interactive, hands-on skills-building experience that any canoe tripper will find useful. If you have nothing else planned for this Sunday morning, come join us for some rope-slinging fun that will bewilder my neighbours.

We will meet at my house in Scarborough at 9:30 am. And should wrap things up (pun intended) before noon.
Registered participants will be provided with my address.