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Safety Question - Legropes on a River Run?

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Created by Lobes > 9 months ago, 27 Apr 2017
Lobes
885 posts
27 Apr 2017 2:10PM
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Hey everyone, this weekend my crew is doing a long distance (40 km) paddle expedition down the Kemp-Welsh river.

We are having a mild disagreement about whether its safer to use a leash or go without so I was looking for input from the forum.

As some background Kemp-Welsh river is about 2 hours drive South of Port Moresby and is in a fairly undeveloped area with spotty phone reception. There are people who live there but no hospitals, ambulances or any sort of emergency services. We are launching at the top of the river from a bridge the highway crosses. The intent is to paddle all the way downstream to the river mouth where it empties into the ocean and we may expect some surf. A car will drop us off at the bridge and then they will drive to meet us at the river mouth. We have arranged with local villagers to provide an escort boat with outboard motor but this will only meet us from about the halfway point.

None of us has ever been on this river before but we have had several conversations with local people about the nature of it. I'm told it is a large river and is navigable by small boats with outboard motors. The width is 200 meters but in places it gets down to about 40 meters. There is not really any shallows or sand bars and no white water sections. We have had a lot of rain lately and are hearing the river is CURRENTLY IN FLOOD and moving quite fast. Locals estimate we could paddle down it in approx 2 hours but I'm not sure how accurate that estimate really is. There will be 4 paddlers on a 10', 10.5' and two 12' boards.

My question is: Should we use ankle leashes on our boards or is it safer to go without? I'm concerned that if no leash then one of us could fall in and the board will be quickly swept away. The alternative is to be leashed but there is a real danger here that a leash could snag on a tree or obstacle and present a drowning risk.

Looking for advice and viewpoints on both sides and especially from people who have done river SUP before

Thanks


PS: No we don't think there are any crocodiles in the area, was first thing I checked LoL

Piros
QLD, 6879 posts
27 Apr 2017 4:36PM
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Fast water runs are dangerous 100% no leggies. If you get wrapped around a branch there is no pulling you back. Talk to the kayak guys that run the river , you need to set up safety guys at nasty drops ,eddies and bends in the river. When a river is in flood you will get pushed into the trees on the bends . No one can pull themselves back against the force of the water if you are wrapped around a branch. We did it once on Sups never again.

DavidJohn
VIC, 17408 posts
27 Apr 2017 10:52PM
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I'm thinking yes to a leash as long as it's a waist type with easy to get to quick release like the white water guys use.

PTWoody
VIC, 3982 posts
27 Apr 2017 11:07PM
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We do plenty of river paddling. If the current is fairly gentle then leg ropes are fine. If it is fast moving and especially where there is any chance of strainers, i.e. fallen trees or other obstacles in the water, then it's no leash or a waist leash with quick release as DJ suggests. Those ones are not so easy to come by but if you value breathing air and for a long time to come, then it's worth the effort to track one down rather than use some sort of makeshift mock up that's more likely to kill you.

Lobes
885 posts
28 Apr 2017 9:35AM
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Thanks for the feedback guys. We have decided not to use legropes. We are also arranging to have the escort boat follow us for the entire paddle now.

We think the river will be fairly gentle but truth is we have no idea and its still raining so better to be safe than sorry.



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"Safety Question - Legropes on a River Run?" started by Lobes