How to Ferry a Raft Across a River

To "ferry" means to cross a river. Use the following techniques to maneuver your raft in either direction across the river.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• River Raft First Aid Kits
• Life Vests
• River Raft Oars
• River Raft Paddles
• River Raft Repair Kits
• River Rafts

1. Decide which direction you need to ferry to. You may need to avoid a hazard or beach yourself on the opposite bank. Make your decision as early as possible to avoid having to fight the current too much.

2. Slow the forward momentum of your raft by paddling or rowing backward.

3. Point the front of the raft toward the hazard to be avoided or toward the bank opposite of the one you wish to reach. In other words, point the bow toward the direction you don't want to go.

4. Side paddle toward the direction you do want to go.

5. Increase the speed you move sideways by increasing the angle of the front of the raft toward the shore opposite of the one you want to go to. The more sideways the raft is against the current, the faster it can move sideways. However, note that the more sideways you are, the faster downriver you'll travel.

Tips & Warnings

• Use ferrying techniques to avoid rocks and other hazards downriver. Be alert and react early.
• Turning the bow upstream gives you more paddling power against the current but also impairs your visibility downriver.
• Imagine the force of the current striking the side of your raft at your ferry angle and the force it will exert against such an angle. This is why you point the bow in the direction opposite the direction you wish to go: to harness the force of the current to your advantage.
• Always wear a life vest when rafting.
• River rafting is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

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on 11/22/2005 Make sure your vest is really snug around your waist. To test, pull up on the shoulder part. If the vest moves up and down, it could come off in turbulant water. The vest should not budge when someone pulls up on it.