Are there any absolute rules in rafting?

Rescue Instructors
1

Are there any rules you can think of for whitewater boating/safety that could be referred to absolutes? Things you could tell another boater to always or never do? Rules you would want a beginner boater to know and always follow?

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2

No non-locking carabiners on your person or raft. No glass on the raft. Always wear your PFD. Be fit enough to self rescue. Stay aware and look out for your group (don’t get drunk or high) and frequently count boats / heads.

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3

I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit. Here’s a start:

  1. Wear appropriate PPE (PFD, Helmet, Cold Weather Gear, Shoes)
  2. If you carry a rope, carry a knife
  3. Avoid strainers
  4. When you swim, keep your feet up
  5. Minimize loose straps that can cause entaglements
  6. Look out for fellow boaters with good boat spacing and keeping your head on a swivel
  7. Self rescue - be able to swim and get back in a raft
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Zach’s list appears to be more focused on those guiding a raft - I like his start to a list as well as the focus on those navigating their own craft.

I think a whistle and knife could be considered part of PPE for any raft navigator. Even if you aren’t carrying a rope, it still seems like a good idea to carry a knife. So there should probably be a list of rules for those riding in a raft and those guiding a raft.
Here are my additions:
whistle
spare paddles or oar
basic repair gear including a pump for rafters
throw bag
You shouldn’t need to rely on another group in order to deal with common scenarios you would come across on your trip like wraps, broken equipment, and lost paddle/oar.
You should also be in a state mentally and physically that you can affect a rescue.

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As far as absolutes I like all lot of the prior mentioned items. Here’s a few I can think of that are absolutes for me:

  1. Don’t swim your kids when they’re young. By this I mean don’t scare them early, they might never want to go again. Pick a river, river level that is fun and appropriate.

  2. Know your skill level. Don’t over inflate it to yourself or other boaters around you.

  3. Practice swimming in whitewater, it’s harder, more exhausting than you think.

  4. Know your ability or lack thereof to get back in your raft. This is something I am dealing with now regarding PFD design, guide webbing, picking appropriate rivers, etc.

  5. Communicate with your fellow boaters, safety, fatigue, scouting, boat order, etc.

  6. In general, don’t boat alone. I’ve done it either for the whole trip or part of the trip. You have very little room for error when you’re alone.

  7. Slow down when fatigued, hot, tired, etc. We make a lot of mistakes when in a hurry.

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The more I teach in whitewater, the more I have come to find my personal list of absolutes. For the most part, I generalize my thoughts on this topic into 3 absolutes:

  1. Be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into - this means a lot of things, but you need to understand the intensity and complexity of what you’re committing to, have the equipment appropriate for what you’re doing, and have the ability to think critically through options, issues, plans, etc.
  2. Practice the skills you might need, not just the skills you do need - of course you need the skills you always use and expect to use, but the skills that you don’t practice will be where you have injuries and true problems.
  3. Always have a Plan B - even when you have prepared for what you’re getting yourself into on all fronts, and you’ve practiced and kept up on your skills whether they’re used daily, monthly, or almost never… what are you going to do when it all goes wrong? Whitewater is unpredictable, have a backup plan and a catastrophic plan.
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No diving (headfirst into the river).

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