Adam Evans : Outdoor Instruction' provides tailor made courses for coaching and guiding in the outdoors. We offer skills training and awards in multiple outdoor disciplines for groups and individuals wanting an experienced and personal touch. With Outdoor Instruction you will only ever be trained, coached or guided by Adam himself. We believe passionately that the outdoor environment offers experiences and adventures for everyone at any level. Be it a multi-day technical expedition, skills coaching course or introductory taster session. They all teach us valuable lessons about our friends, the environment, and most importantly, us. The outdoors produces skills and memories that last a lifetime and change peoples lives.
Great test, great video. This is extremely helpful, as I only recently discovered that my canoe floats about like your first one. It's got enough buoyancy to save itself, but not me as well. :) This gives me a great place to start with adding airbags. In watching your video, it appeared to me that the chine bags maybe did not add much buoyancy so much as they displaced water that would have otherwise wound up inside when you righted the boat. Likely added a little buoyancy when you were climbing in, if the gunwale went under the surface at all. I bought my first Kevlar-Aramid boat this past year for wilderness tripping- so this is a vital piece of knowledge and skills when traveling ALONE out there. In the interest of space (I need room for gear and food for a week at a time), I think I will try a small bag in the bow, where I normally stow my gear, and a medium bag in the stern, pumped up tall the way you demonstrated with the second boat. Hopefully I'll be able to lift the bow up on the stern bag, and roll it back reasonably dry- but I'll have to let my luggage drift out of the hull first. (40 lbs of gear tied in the boat would be just too much). Sorry I'm rambling; just thinking this through as I type- better now, than when bobbing in 4 degree water, right? Happy paddling!
I once had a plastic milk bottle bailer on 900mm of 8mm polypropylene which got tangled round my friends ankle while swimming towards a pinning that bent the boat 90 degrees ,fortunately (due to training) I had a knife very handy ! otherwise he would have been trapped in exactly the wrong place , I now view any loose rope as a hazard ,and my bailer is on a very short bungy clip.
You're supposed to pick up one end to flip it and by picking one end up most of the water will be out. As far as bailing water I have a siphon hose with a small ball inside a valve on one end, just shake it up and down in the water a few times and it will continually suck the water out until there's not enough left to get suction.
Have you actually used this siphon bailer yet? To me, it sounds dubious. You could only siphon water out of a boat if the level of that water is higher than the water upon which the boat is floating. In order for the water in the boat to be higher than the outside water, the hull material itself (not its displacement) would have to provide enough buoyancy to float the boat, the water, and the paddler higher than water level. I've never seen a hull anywhere near that buoyant. It would work on shore, though- or am I missing something?
good vid. I'm very capable of doing it the traditional way, but lifting it onto my thighs and lifting it overhead, BUT... I'm not getting any younger, so this looks like a decent technique. thanks
Oh man your videos having been real handy, I’m from the U.K. and moved to Georgia in the USA and the amount of water across this state got me really into canoeing
If you do not have the upper-body strength or dexterity to manage this method, especially in deep water away from the shore, then bring self-rescue equipment with you: 1. A paddle float attaches to the paddle blade. This is a self-rescue item usually used by kayakers but I have used it with my canoe when capsized in deep cold water. It works quite well and acts as an outrigger to keep your canoe from tipping over while you climb in. Google "paddle float" 2. In addition to the paddle float, you can use a carabiner to attach a short rope ladder to a thwart so you have something to step on in order to lift yourself up. As with any new skill, especially emergency skills, study and practice so you are ready when the unexpected happens.
Thanks for the kind words. The only way kit carried assists floatation when the boat is full of water is if the equipment itself is tied down tight in the boat. Otherwise it floats up on the inside upon the water. However I have devised ways of the equipment bags to assist with emptying techniques.
@@outdoorinstruction I'm thinking that an air bag would be useful for the boater to climb onto the canoe - so the boater would be less likely to to the canoe over when he is getting back in.
Genius! Now almost 70 and although I used to just flip the canoe overhead the traditional way, this will make lifting a canoe overhead much easier for me. My back and my muscles thank you for sharing!
just bought my first canoe its definitely a fixer upper. do i absolutely have to have those air bags or is it just in case i go over board and the whole thing doesn't sink to the bottom
Highly unlikely the boat will sink as almost all canoes have inherent buoyancy in the plastics. However rescue is much much harder without added flotation. There are two types of paddlers, ones that have fallen in and ones that will fall in.
I'm a day sailor and keep 10 foot painters loose in the bottom at both ends in case I have to swim after she tries to breeze off. A 10 foot advantage and couple of wraps about my foot for a step up might help me fix my bailer.
Me too! ❤ I've always grabbed the rails at either end, but grabbing the seat and using it as a head rest might prove to be my next evolutionary moment.
I have a rather long question, the native Americans here used ceder canoes here in southern oregon , around Agnes, where the illious river meets the Rouge. my question is, giving the nature of these rivers, would it be foolish to try and head up one with an aluminum 15 foot canoe? I have no experience with canoeing and native Americans where extreme people.
There’s lots of variables in this question! In short you are a free human being to do as you please, however I would consider the issues of things going wrong or getting injured. Everyone eventually falls out of a canoe when poling, so wear a helmet, where a BA / PFD, know how to re enter the boat and perform self rescue. You’d be wise to be with others in case of an issue. I can’t comment on the river or the boat but I’d definitely learn on simple waters first and build up.
wondering why you mount at the front rather than the back? when I take a swim, I make my way to the back of the boat, to avoid putting myself between canoe and a potential obstruction. appreciate your thoughts. thanks for sharing, atb
I actually have bow and stern lines on white water. But if I had to choose I’d go for bow as I can see the line on the deck and that it’s not getting tangle. I’ve been coaching advanced white water this week and the swimmers often came up in all manner of places around their boats so it’s not possible to predict where’s safest to mount a line
They won’t be as buoyant and neither will have the capacity to keep the gunnels above the water when sat in afloat and filled. Both serve assist access and stop people being trapped underneath with no air
@@p.istaker8862 slightly more floatation less rugged. Blocks are great for centres doing simple trips. Bags are better for paddlers and the more air the better.
I’ve used 2mm climbing accessories cordage here, it’s high quality thread. I used 3mm on my white water paddle. My instincts say leather would not take the physical abuse in water and would degrade quickly. But it would not hurt to try.
I’m definitely not an expert in such things. However I’d give it a go, if it doesn’t work it can easily be snipped off and a different cord used. Go for it and let me know!
@@outdoorinstruction I don't personally need it right now, and was just kind of thinking of other materials .. But if I can successfully finish my very first BB Canoe I might try it.
I am currently in the process of outfitting my boat and love this setup. This is my first time outfitting a canoe. I like the clean profile of this. In your opinion, when I need a painter, would there be an issue with me just pulling the needed amount from the bag and somehow attaching it to the grab loop? Maybe clove hitch it?
Thanks for your comments. There’s lots of ways of popping rope on your boats and I have a simple philosophy of 1 is it safe 2 does it work. Using a shortened swim line via a clove hitch sounds fine for open water painters to me. I’d not use that system on a river as the swim line would be difficult to deploy. But as long as you remember to revert to full lines it should be fine. I personally prefer having both painters and swim lines on rivers.
@outdoorinstruction Thanks for the feedback. I'm currently watching your other video, "using painters to improvise a swim bag attachment." I'll probably do this instead. After I gain more experience, I can decide what best works for me.
@@REXpeditions take a look at using painters on open water and using them to assist as well. The right length makes all the difference. I have a few ideas around lines and painters to play with, take a look and play with ideas
If you were going to be doing this over distance, say crossing a lake, would you have the towed boat secured to the windward or leeward side of your boat?
Great question. It would depend on the direction of the wind and my direction or travel then thinking about the trim of the boats and also the power of the paddlers being matched. So not a straight answer unfortunately. I would use the wind to help both my travel and correction.
@@mattbee7885 yep. I have the two 10mm 1000kg lines mounted in bags at bow and stern. I also carry a smaller slimmer throw line on a belt (so it’s always with me) to put into action if needed.
Most lightweight kevlar canoes can be flipped right up to your shoulders at the yoke. I would only use the technique you demonstrated with a heavy canoe.
I used to do that method too, this is easier on any boat. Unfortunately we do not use many Kevlar boats in the Uk, they don’t withstand the types of river. I was asked to test a composite boat on a very used piece of river and it cracked on day one.
@@outdoorinstruction There are many composite canoes being built in Canada and the U.S. that are designed for whitewater. IXP, Tuff Stuff (innegra/basalt), kevlar/innegra are used now because royalex is no longer available. Plus nobody wants an 80 pound canoe anymore. However, you are right. Lightweight kevlar models are not suitable for running rocky rivers. I've owned two kevlar models and they surprisingly can take quite a bit of abuse. But yes a full on crash with a boulder will not end well.
@@yooperventures2830 I’ve also been told that canoes in the Uk are very expensive compared to North America… £1700 min… so we tend to buy one boat, make it tough and do everything with it. Maybe one day I’ll get a specialist light weight boat
Can anyone tell me how much and where you can stow gear in the event you want to use airbags in a whitewater canoe, for a several day trip? Talking about food, tent bedding, stove.....
Brilliant video.. I open canoe and sail.. I have psychological/ physical conditions.. So its so very important for me to be safe out there.. Im constantly assisting the environments Both on and off the waters.. If the conditions ( weather) aren't right. I'm not going onto the waters. When on the waters im always looking for a ( emergency) exit point(s) I practice the - Slow steady and surly Constant risk assessments.. Doing professional courses/ awards Eg..... British canoeing ( I've been told to do my open canoe leader award) RYA - level 1&2 ( again been advised to take the RYA leader award. Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge Practice Practice Practice Safety Safety Safety Fun Fun Fun
@outdoorinstruction is that the correct word I've got dyslexia And word blindness ( AVPD - Audio/ visual processing disorder) So can't actually "see" what I'm writing 99% of the time. ( think colour blindness but in what I hear and what I say and see gets mixed up.. But I'm always open For good folks to Politely correct me..
Really good, thank you Adam. It reminds me of a skiing example I read about (not my sport). A leader takes a group of leadership trainees off on their trip, stops at the top of a snow platform, really dodgy. Asks if the group are happy with where he has taken them; to a man they are really uncomfortable with it. "Why did you follow me then?"
That’s a really good example, I would be digging into what they mean by uncomfortable. Because if they felt objectively in danger, then that’s a definite problem. if they felt uncomfortable due to stretching their ski technique, and having to adapt to the conditions that could be an optimum learning experience. But if we’re training trainees part of that is getting people to ask questions..
@outdoorinstruction The greatest fear of all Is the unknown . If we cannot ID identify something. We cannot qualify it As pertentally Friend or foe. So we ask one to. Advance to be recognised We should apply the Skill/ will matrix. It's also about the coaches/ instructors Building up a 100000% trusted relationship with their pupils A healthy strong relationship is built on 3 things.. TRUST HONESTLY RESPECT Take 1 away and it all fails. without honesty, there can be no trust nor respect Without respect there can be no trust nor honesty Without trust there can be no respect nor honesty. The "triangle" collapses.. I've studied human psychology..
Possibly Because The trainees Expected the coach to not deliberately take/ put them into a position of danger 8n the first place. We as pupils expect coaches to be able to carry out what their qualifications say they should be able to do. Act professional and abide by codes of conduct at all times.. Lead by example.. I've spoken up about negative Experiences I've encountered.. I'm waiting to see Who will listen to me If not, then it completely Goes against everything, that we are told to do.... Reach out Speak up..
What a great idea. I'd encourage having slightly thicker painters so they are very strong in case you need to pull on them to unpin your boat.. having this pre-set up would be wise.
I appreciate you 'hating' carrying kit that only does one job but, if it's your own canoe pinned mid-river and you want to set up a belay on the bank to rescue it, your sling is not much use to you attached to the pinned boat. I carry ALL my rescue kit on my person for that very reason. Food for thought?
I absolutely agree that caring rescue kit on your person is essential. I carry inside my BA enough equipment to make a 4:1 pulley system. On top of that, I carry another two sets of 3:1 in or on the boat to help speed up rescue response times.. thanks for your input and I really appreciate your comment and thinking.