LITMIR.BIZ

      Paddler Information

      The most widely publicized paddler self-evaluation was created by the Keelhaulers Canoe Club of Ohio. Their system brings the problem of matching paddlers with rivers into perspective but seems to overemphasize non-paddling skills. A canoe clinic student who is athletically inclined but almost totally without paddling skill once achieved a rating of 15 points using the Keel-Haulers system. His rating, based almost exclusively on general fitness and strength, incorrectly implied that he was capable of handling many Class II and Class III rivers. A second problem evident in the system is the lack of depth in skill category descriptions. Finally, confusion exists in several rating areas as to whether the evaluation applies to open canoes, decked canoes, or both.

To remedy these perceived shortcomings and to bring added objectivity to paddler self-evaluation, Bob Sehlinger* has attempted to refine the paddler rating system. Admittedly, the refined system is more complex and exhaustive but not more so than warranted by the situation. Heavy emphasis is placed on paddling skills, with descriptions adopted from several different evaluation formats, including a nonnumerical system proposed by Dick Schwind.**

      RATING THE PADDLER

      Instructions: All items, except the first, carry points that may be added to obtain an overall rating. All items except “Rolling Ability” apply to both open and decked boats. Rate open and decked boat skills separately.

      1. Prerequisite Skills. Before paddling on a moving current, the paddler should:

      2. Equipment. Award points on the suitability of your equip-ment to whitewater. Whether you own, borrow, or rent the equipment makes no difference. Do not award points for both open canoe and decked boat.

      Open Canoe

      0 Points: Any canoe less than 15 feet for tandem; any canoe less than 14 feet for solo.

      1 Point: Canoe with moderate rocker, full-depth, and recurved bow; should be ≥ 15 feet in length for tandem and ≥ 14 feet in length for solo and have bow and stern painters.

      2 Points: Whitewater canoe. Strong rocker design, full bow with recurve, full-depth amidships, no keel; meets or exceeds minimum length requirements as described under “1 Point”; made of hand-laid fiberglass, Kevlar, Marlex, or ABS Royalex; has bow and stern painters. Canoe as described under “1 Point” but with extra flotation.

      3 Points: Canoe as described under “2 Points” but with extra flotation.

      Decked Boat (K-1 or 2, C1 or 2)

      0 Points: Any decked boat lacking full flotation, spray skirt, or foot braces.

      1 Point: Any fully equipped, decked boat with a wooden frame.

      2 Points: Decked boat with full flotation, spray skirt, and foot braces; has grab loops; made of hand-laid fiberglass, Marlex, or Kevlar.

      3 Points: Decked boat with foam-wall reinforcement and split flotation; Neoprene spray skirt; boat has knee braces, foot braces, and grab loops; made of hand-laid fiberglass or Kevlar.

      3. Experience. Compute the following to determine preliminary points, then convert the preliminary points to final points according to the conversion table.

      Number of days spent each year paddling:

      Conversion Table

      Note: Experience is the only evaluation item where it is possible to accrue more than 3 points.

      4. Swimming.

      0 Points: Cannot swim.

      1 Point: Weak swimmer.

      2 Points: Average swimmer.

      3 Points: Strong swimmer (competition-level or skin diver).

      5. Stamina.

      0 Points: Cannot run mile in less than 10 minutes.

      1 Point: Can run a mile in 7 to 10 minutes.

      2 Points: Can run a mile in less than 7 minutes.

      6. Upper Body Strength.

      0 Points: Cannot do 15 push-ups.

      1 Point: Can do 16 to 25 push-ups.

      2 Points: Can do more than 25 push-ups.

      7. Boat Control.

      0 Points: Can keep boat fairly straight.

      1 Point: Can maneuver in moving water; can avoid big obstacles.

      2 Points: Can maneuver in heavy water; knows how to work with the current.

      3 Points: Finesse in boat placement in all types of water; uses current to maximum advantage.

      8. Aggressiveness.

      0 Points: Does not play or work river at all.

      1 Point: Timid; plays a little on familiar streams.

      2 Points: Plays a lot; works most rivers hard.

      3 Points: Plays in heavy water with grace and confidence.

      9. Eddy Turns.

      0 Points: Has difficulty making eddy turns from moderate current.

      1 Point: Can make eddy turns in either direction from moderate current; can enter moderate current from eddy.

      2 Points: Can catch medium eddies in either direction from heavy current; can enter very swift current from eddy.

      3 Points: Can catch small eddies in heavy current.

      10. Ferrying.

      0 Points: Cannot ferry.

      1 Point: Can ferry upstream and downstream in moderate current.

      2 Points: Can ferry upstream in heavy current; can ferry downstream in moderate current.

      3 Points: Can ferry upstream and downstream in heavy current.

      11. Water Reading.

      0 Points: Often in error.

      1 Point: Can plan route in short rapid with several well-spaced obstacles.

      2 Points: Can confidently run lead through continuous Class II; can predict the effects of waves and holes on boat.

      3 Points: Can confidently run lead in continuous Class III; has knowledge to predict and handle the effects of reversals, side currents, and turning drops.

      12. Judgment.

      0 Points: Often in error.

      1 Point: Has average ability to analyze difficulty of rapids.

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