We had the Wenonah Adirondack out today, and decided to play around with some capsize recovery. Turns out, the heal hook method often used with kayaks worked pretty slick for both of us. I’m bigger and heavier, and it worked well for me to get in first. I had her hang on to the gunwale on the opposite side and let that side rise up as high as it wanted as I faced the canoe just in front of the rear seat, I hooked my ankle that was closest to the front of the boat under the thwart, and rolled into the bottom of the canoe. Then I grabbed the gunwales on either side of me to enable me to control my weight distribution, and allowed just a little water into the canoe as she hooked under the front seat and rolled herself into the bottom of the canoe just behind the front seat. I think we were both surprised at just how quick and slick that method worked! Anyone settle on anything different? We’re working this stuff out prior to a boundary waters trip in October.
4 Likes
I put my hands in the chines - kick and roll up and over the gunwale. You end up sitting on your butt in the bottom of the boat facing the middle. Congratulations on getting back in - being able to to that together isn’t easy.