Re: [Paddlewise] caught in a strainer

>One of the things I learned as
>>a beginning whitewater paddler was that if caught on a rock, deadhead,
>>strainer, etc to LEAN INTO IT.  >
>I've never whitewater kayaked, so here's a question... I've heard of people
>being crushed by their boats when they get wedged between the boats and
>immoveable objects-- I can understand why you wouldn't want to be
underwater
>at this point, but what keeps you from being hurt by your own boat in this
>situation?

    It's because you're leaning the boat.  Toward the rock.  The downward
water current slides Under the boat, effectively lifting it a little.  You
can generally hold yourself off the obstruction with little effort.  Even if
you do fall out, water is not immediately entering the boat so there won't
be as much pinning force.
    If you lean upstream as you hit the rock the water current is hitting a
downward tilted facet of the boat and will flip you immediately.  And the
boat will catch the water, become very heavy, and become a pinning engine.

    Also, if you look at the obstruction, there is often a little "pillow"
of water rising where the water is hitting it.  Often this is enough height
for the boat to slide away from the rock..


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