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Canoe Capsizes: Three Swims. 1 In Big Water, 2 A Silly Swim, 3 The One That Nearly Killed Me.

Ray Goodwin

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Three swims in white water: big water, a silly one and the one that nearly killed me. These three are spread over from 2008 to 2023. With each I have done an analysis of the situation, the factors that led to the swim and the consequences. I always reflect on what I do and there is no better time than when it goes wrong.

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20 Comments

@RayGoodwinCanoe Creator 2 years ago Pinned

If you enjoyed this then consider making a small donation to support the channel at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RayGoodwin

@twostroke350 2 years ago

When you're down for long enough to think "I need a bigger bouyancy aid", you know you've been for a swim. It's happened to me twice, once on the Washburn and once rafting on the Hvita on Iceland (in that case, I was thinking, "It's dark, I don't know which way is up and I really hope that's where this BA is taking me."). It gave me a much better idea of how much less flotation aerated water gives you.

@snozz 9 months ago

Great coaching - firm enough to get your needs across and clear instructions but then strong support after the capsize.

@Welshboyo76 1 year ago

Yet another great video Ray , thank you 😊

@RobertMcSherry 2 years ago

Your paddle should always be in the water, for a potential brace.

@KartsHuseonica 2 years ago

Fascinating video. Excellent lessons 👉👌

@davidedwards2764 2 years ago

Just a thought from a guy who's run a lot of big water rivers in a canoe in the American West where breaking through large diagonals at the top of the rapid is fairly routine. I would have started further out in the middle of the river above the rapid with the canoe pointed fairly hard towards the right and driven across the river right at the lip with a lot of momentum to get into that eddy behind the diagonal. The speed of the boat moving to the right helps counter the huge tendency for the diagonal to surf the canoe out into the middle.

@PeterTranterjnr 1 year ago

Excellent footage and learning guide. Well done Ray.

@jaysway2346 2 years ago

Thanks for another educational video.

@canoebadour 1 year ago

Bloody hell. Great post. Glad you made it 👍

@chriswillson99 2 years ago

Awesome video mate. Really interesting. Thanks for sharing!

@welshpaddler 2 years ago

I was paddling in that bow seat albeit in the house! Great advice about allowing time. On a few occasions, we have been windblown and sat it out knowing we had factored in this kind of problem.

@glennthompson3642 1 year ago

just watched your 3 swims video,glad you are okay,your videos are very informative,thanks.

@jamiefrompaddle365 2 years ago

Really enjoyed hearing these yarns Ray, nice. moral of the story for the first two.... Tandem canoe guiding is hard. Number 3 is just a great story with loads of learning moments, the biggest one being that tandem ww canoeing is hard

@grahamrowe6278 2 years ago

We had a good level to Ray... I'll have to check what we did there.

@electrichospital 2 years ago

I enjoyed the analysis. I tend to always think if I did it again it would go better. The communication with the paddling partner is the hardest part. Especially if they try going river left when you were headed river right. Some partners have a way of un-stabilizing the canoe even on flat water.

@jonfisher9214 2 years ago

I ended up underwater going down a set of rapids when I was white water rafting. It's really disorientating. I kept my arms around my head kind of like a boxer would to block hits. I had no idea what way was up or down and was spun around until I hit the bottom. I kicked up off the bottom and faceplanted the underside of the raft. I let it slide past until I felt the edge and then threw my arm over and into the raft. I got pulled back in by my guide, who was impressed I'd still got my paddle in the other hand. That was the last time I went white water rafting!

@AnonYmous-ii4tc 2 years ago

Great video! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
One additional thing I learned here: to also make a plan with your paddling partner of, "what will we do if we miss that line?" To help make sure we have the same contingency plan... If you can see far enough ahead, anyway.

@susannewilliams 2 years ago

Very very helpful indeed. Gosh, that crease, what a monster. Glad you were reet.

@mr.nicholsstorytime1270 2 years ago

Great video. Thanks for the pointers on reading the river. I'm curious as to why the paddler isn't going to his knees to get a lower centre of gravity rather than sitting on the seat.