Tube deflation is definitely a solid technique for removing pinned rafts. How do you teach it? What do you teach? Where do you place tube deflation in the order of techniques to use for un-pinning rafts?
Deflating tubes can be really helpful but is also really permanent…until you get unstuck and get your pump back out.
I would put deflating tubes near the end of your boat un-pinning efforts in pretty much all situations. Moving weight around your boat, sea anchors, and a simple rope pull would be my first moves. Still stuck mechanical advantage would probably come first is easily set up. Deflating tubes comes now maybe.
Instead of teaching deflating tubes maybe teach running boats soft for low water to help avoid getting stuck. I have run into lots and lots of boaters that don’t know a soft boat is a technique for low water.
Love the technique of softening boats in tight, low water rapids. Mid chute at Rainey, low water MFS upper section, etc.
Great topic !
Deflating tubes can be really effective, but it does have it’s down sides. I teach it, but not in the same order everytime.
How is the boat wrapped ? Is it kind of flat pinned of is it really wrapped ?
Is it a paddle raft with limited gear in it, a framed raft with limited gear or a framed raft with loads of stuff ?
How old is the raft, are the D-ring in good conditions ?
Theses things will influenced the way I deal with the situation and how I teach it !
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