Anybody ever flip a framed dory?

Hi Everybody.  Let me just start by saying that I love reading this forum and am always learning new stuff, thank you all for sharing your expertise!  One thing that I haven't found much info about, however, is what it is like to flip a drift boat in the rapids.  Now, I know that this is clearly something that one should avoid, but as I become more proficient on the oars, I want to begin to row more challenging water.  As an individual who favors being prepared, I am trying to get an understanding of how this will go down, should the worst come to fruition and I find myself in the drink.  It seems that there is lots of info about how to right a raft if it is flipped and there is even specific gear for it (fliplines, flipbelts), but I cannot find similar info for drift boats, let alone wood drift boats.  First let me tell you what I am rowing.  It's a basic 16ft framed drift boat built from a Tatman kit 3 years ago.  The bottom is asymmetric and there is not any dry decking built in.  Now, I hear that many dories are self-righting, but I assume that those are the ones that have dry decking built in for whitewater use?  I have also heard that many dories, if rolled, will sink.  Is this also true of a wood dory, or will the wood be buoyant enough on it's own to at least keep the thing near the surface?  Is it worth attaching flip lines near the oar locks if I'm heading out on challenging water, or should I assume that if I flip, that's pretty much it for the old River Rambler (my boat)?  Have any of you ever rolled your drift boats in challenging water?  Thanks for sharing your experience with us, hopefully it will help us all be prepared for the worst while experiencing just the best!  Cheers,


Greg Max

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Permalink Reply by Herb Jacobsen on December 26, 2010 at 4:27pm

The middle fork has always been my favorite.  I first started boating there in 1973 and have had some interesting trips over the years.  Unfortunately I have not been back for a few years. 

 

We encountered a lot of private parties over the years that were over their head within the first mile or two.  Unfortunately for them it gave us some chances to do some treasure hunting.  I did manage to return a few items as they were marked with names and addresses.  It was interesting to see stuff on the bottom of the river as we floated by.

 

For the most part we had good trips with the only problems being sprained ankles from the rocks on shore and stuff like that.  I found that the waves and holes were not as much of a problem for me as the boils were.  Several times I had boils catch the boat and send me off in a direction I really did not want to go. 

 

Yes, we ran open boats and had to bail at times.  That was just part of the deal.  The boats were either wood or aluminum.  I ran a "spam can", over there for two seasons and then went back to wood.  I had 3-17X52 Tatmans that worked well for me.  Prior to that it was a couple of 16X48 Keith Steele Hi-Sides.   The picture is of a 17X52 that was on its 18th trip down the MF.

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