What are some cringe-worthy 'don'ts,' that you've witnessed?

[brunsky]

I'm new to the forums, so first hello. My name is Andy according to my friends. I'm relatively new to paddling aside from a handful of trips on an inflatable. This season will be my first in my very own, non-rental boat. I got a Jackson Ibis, and plan manily to stick to calm waters for the first couple years.

I've read a whole hell of a lot more than I thought I would, so I know a fair numbers of the 'do's.' My question is, what are some things that you've seen in your time that are definite cringe-worthy 'don'ts?' Hopefully this can be a guide for myself, and any other newbie lurkers to keep you experienced lot from feeling like burying your head in the mud?

Also, if there are some 'do's' that you adhere to that aren't widely known, feel free to throw those in there as well.

Ps. I did do a search for previous posts of this nature, and couldn't find what I was looking for.

[Richard]

Don't think you know it all. Beginners tend to believe they are better than what they really are. Been there, done that.
Solution: sign up for ACC schools. Never paddle alone (at least to begin with). Paddle with experienced ACC members.

[Clif]

what he said. Prepare for uh ohs even when you think.. no prob.
Dry clothes, fire starting aids, throw rope.. rope of some type, all good to have if you have the room. Expecting that thing to happen even on a comfy run that can turn it into an adventure of the unwanted type. Broken paddles, water on the rise and pushes you past your skill level,

[Owl]

As a kayaker, I learned early on not to linger in an eddy when there were open boaters behind me.

[brunsky]

Thanks for the replies.

Don't think you know it all. Beginners tend to believe they are better than what they really are. Been there, done that.

It is possible to be somewhat informed without being overconfident (read; complacent). I belonged to a currach club when I lived in New Orleans in my early teens. I was even captain of a team in a few currach regattas; We rowed Lake Pontchartrain in LA. I understand there's a bit of a rift between paddling and rowing. Regardless of past experience though, I do my best to be humbly observant of those who know more than me.

Solution: sign up for ACC schools. Never paddle alone (at least to begin with). Paddle with experienced ACC members.

This is the reason I'm here. Most of my friends either have little interest in paddling, or they don't have a boat, and none of them have much experience. I heard about ACC from a co-worker who, when I told her I bought a kayak, mentioned seeing some of you guys at the roll sessions at the Jones Center. My boat is still on layaway at Lewis and Clark so I haven't been able to join in, but I intend to once I get it paid for.

what he said. Prepare for uh ohs even when you think.. no prob.
Dry clothes, fire starting aids, throw rope.. rope of some type, all good to have if you have the room. Expecting that thing to happen even on a comfy run that can turn it into an adventure of the unwanted type. Broken paddles, water on the rise and pushes you past your skill level,

A broken paddle is what I really fear. I bought my back-up paddle first thinking, "I'll paddle around with this until I'm ready for something better." After contemplating it a bit, I decided to get a small canoe paddle as a spare until I was ready to put more money into a good paddle.

As a kayaker, I learned early on not to linger in an eddy when there were open boaters behind me.

I wouldn't have considered this, but I can imagine why it's not a good idea.

[deakin]

My cringe worthy thing was being told you could drink the water in the Buffalo without filtering or boiling. I think I'll pass on cryptosporidium...

[Cowper]

I got a Jackson Ibis, and plan manily to stick to calm waters for the first couple years.

My first don't is, don't wait a couple of years to venture beyond calm waters if that is something you want to do. Life is too short! (If you totally prefer calm waters, that's a different deal.)

But here is one of my favorites: Don't camp on the Buffalo, unless either you are 100% sure there is not going to be a drop of rain within 150 miles, OR, you do BOTH of the following - 1) Choose a gravel bar that has an continuously uphill path to higher ground, AND 2) pull your boat up higher than your tent. (But DO camp on the Buffalo!)

[Randy Dodson]

DON'T paddle or swim into wood

DON'T try to stand up in moving water til your butt's draggin on the bottom

Watch out for and avoid bouncing limbs/branches

DON'T give in to peer pressure. If you don't feel comfortable running something....don't

DON'T let your boat be upstream of you during a swim

I've either witnessed or done all of the above. I once witnessed a young man come very close to drowning on the Mulberry years ago when his shorts hung up on a tree branch.

There are plenty more don'ts but I gotta go now.

[Clif]

Saw a group of younguns stop on a very neat sandbar once. Nice shade and place for a break. BUT the main channel and current was just off the bank and rushing into a low limb, one of those "bouncing limbs/branches" and a big down tree strainer beyond that. Neat sandbar.. poor place to push off. Current went right to these hazards.

Plan ahead. What could happen? Avoid potential probs.

[brunsky]

I'm getting the notion I should always be very aware of trees.

[Deuce]

I'm getting the notion I should always be very aware of trees.

Only the ones that look like they're aching to hold you in their arms (branches in the water), AKA strainers. They can kill you dead if you're not keerful. Some are more easily avoided than others. Just have to be vigilant.

[Eric Esche]

Don't put yourself or others (particularly like kids, grandkids, or grandparents who are more suspectable) at risk of hypothermia by putting on the river in the fall, winter, or spring wearing cotton clothes and having no splash or dry gear and no spare dry clothes and towels in waterproof containers. Doesn't matter if it is not supposed to rain. Mr.Murphy says it will be cloudy and windy all day if not raining. Things happen and boats turn over, and folks get wet. IF the air temperature and water temperature in Degrees F do not add up to 100, you are at risk of hypothermia, and not just an uncomfortable day. With a moisture regain of 36%, wet cotton will wick away all your body heat vs a moisture regain of 0.5% to 2% for synthetics like nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and polyethelenes. Water barrier fabrics like PVC and polyurethanes are still better than cotton, but breathable water barrier fabrics like GORE-TEX, HIVENT, TRITON, e-Vent are still the wisest choices for river wear. Wool fabric is a little better than cotton, but not much as it's construction will still promote wicking away of your body heat as it dries.

And wear a hat of some type and some gloves that cover your wrists. You can loose 50% of your body heat from your head and wrists.

Been on several trips where folks who should have known better would have been hurting badly if not for the extra clothes that were in my group emergency barrel, along with firestarters, stove, tarps, and hot drinks in thermoses.

And Be aware that your unplanned stop of an hour or two to recover from a dunking, can throw the trip plans out the window for your entire group on the shorter winter days, making you wish you had also packed good waterproof lights in your emergency gear.

Eric Esche

[Deuce]

As a kayaker, I learned early on not to linger in an eddy when there were open boaters behind me.

He wasn't in an eddy, but last summer I popped someone in the nose with the ash deck of my canoe. He let me know he was okay, but it was quite a love tap. This was on the play wave at Rockport. Hope that wasn't you, Owl.

[fzburk]

I'm coming from more of a sea kayak perspective, but I've seen quite a few major mishaps. The four rules I've come to follow:

1. Never Paddle Alone
2. Stay with your equipment
3. Know your conditions
4. Know your limitations.

There is also a little voice we all have. When it talks and says 'don't do it' it is best to listen.

[WPC]

Don't take experience of seasoned fellow paddlers for granted. In addition to listening to their advice, watch them paddle. You can learn a lot by watching the moves they use to position their kayak where they want it to be when paddling. Diane