100%. I’ve boated with folks who hated that I “pulled” on the oars. I came from the drift boat/fishing world where “working” an eddy line or position holding was key. They believed I slowed down the group by ferrying to keep my line/position. From just an efficiency standpoint, I don’t like to push, except when I need a bit of momentum. I just travel at the speed of the river. I also think these folks don’t like to swivel their head, or run the boat backwards. Long live the downstream ferry
@enterone8012 жыл бұрын
I have been trying to preach and teach this move for over a decade now to my rafting family lol, I'm so glad to see this video. I showed my pops once the power of this when we were in our own boats but in a commercial group on the Middle Fork SR. THREE commercial boats had gotten themselves stuck or wrapped in lower powerhouse (height was about 3.9') and I was next coming in to that rapid with that, so needless to say, they were clogging up lines. I said to my dad, watch this, and I zig zagged the entire rapid using downstream ferry's to tuck behind rocks to have powerful lateral motion and I basically put on a clinic for my dad (and the commercial guys) on how to weave lines through a rapid. Didn't even come close to any of the boats or other rocks and it was great practice. Every oarsman should learn and practice this technique. I learned it from reading some old rafting books on rowing whitewater (learned a lot from them, can't remember the names though). The reason a forward ferry doesn't work is because you are simply nowhere near as strong forward ferrying vs. back ferrying, where you have your legs and back assisting you.
@DaveWomackontheriver2 жыл бұрын
I think this is a great skill to always be working on. I practice all the time by 'rowing switch,' or just pulling stern-first through lots of rapids. It teaches you how to scan over your shoulder very quickly, and (more importantly) it keeps your passengers are dry if they're getting cold. The wife really appreciates that aspect of it.
@TimHoryna Жыл бұрын
Dee Holladay taught me this is how to run Skull Rapid on Westwater Canyon on the Colorado above Moab. Totally correct. Start right, pull downstream left, bust the lateral, laugh at the hole!
@c1kfreeman11 Жыл бұрын
I LOVE your videos. I am new and learning, I feel your direction is the right way to row the boat.
@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the nice note!
@garyschomberger22912 жыл бұрын
Nothing like the thrill of looking over your shoulder and pulling a super clean line!
@elffirrdesign20632 жыл бұрын
Damn straight! what I was taught 50 years ago! Back then it was a skill to show off knowing what end goes first for that perfect set up.
@rachellanigan48262 жыл бұрын
Great concept! Going to try it on Blossom Bar this weekend.
@zackkozel22262 жыл бұрын
Couldn’t agree more with the comments in the video. My boating mentor taught me this skill be exiting rapids with a down stream angle to keep momentum up in flat water.
@chrisbarton14812 жыл бұрын
Keep up the good work Zach! I am new to boating and have found your channel to be excellent, very educational. Thanks!
@megr77342 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this! It validates the way I used to ferry (not a rafter anymore).
@coreyhenricksen1512 жыл бұрын
I was going to say this is a great move to use for Skull on Westwater.
@TypeIIAdventures2 жыл бұрын
Indeed!
@robertvolker44842 жыл бұрын
Wait, wait river right for the small vertical dihedral crack on the wall, then start pulling down stream ferry river left through the lateral wave. Back in the days of easy permits, had back-to-back day trips where this lesson was learned the hard way. First day tried to push and flipped (big swim, got scary). Second day at Skull, just greased it (smiles, that's not so hard).
@micknelson32962 жыл бұрын
I’m definitely going to practice this. Thanks
@paulmadden95192 жыл бұрын
Great video! I love the on river footage to supplement the whiteboard 👍
@SapperMan7242 жыл бұрын
Another excellent and informative video. Thank you!
@dennispennell73712 жыл бұрын
This technique works great on the entrance to Horn Creek Rapid in the Grand Canyon. Good stuff.
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
Yep it's a great technique for a bunch of Grand Canyon rapids
@MarlinMark4442 жыл бұрын
ZAK!!! have you rowed a drift boat? Ferrying is the boat is the only method. love your videos and you are very experienced. But hard boat rowers can teach you a lot.
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
I rowed a driftboat once at the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival and won the dritfboat race
@erincd122 жыл бұрын
Gonna use this at Skull Rapid on Westwater coming up
@andybiggert83122 жыл бұрын
Your describing the Powel move that is often used on the Grand Canyon. House rock Rapid start left at the top, pull down steam to the right, to miss Huge hole bottom left. Crystal start top left pull to the right down stream or hit the middle of Chrystal hole. The same for bedrock. If you start right trying to pull right you’ll never make it. Thanks Zach
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
Yes in the Grand Canyon it's called "Powelling" - pretty much everywhere else it's called a "downstream ferry."
@tomtucker83872 жыл бұрын
Great video. You mentioned snowpack and how we are going to have high water in Idaho. Where can I go to get current snowpack updates and predicted water flows?
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
Here is one source: www.whitewaterguidebook.com/idaho/middle-fork-salmon-river/middle-fork-salmon-river-flow-information/
@travismortenson2 жыл бұрын
Great video, Zach! In regards to high water and available water data, do you prefer gauge height or CFS (or a combination of both) to determine where a river is at? You had a great point in another video about how water can be higher or lower depending on where the gauge is at and streams between the gauge and you. So, the eye test may be best.
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
It depends on what is commonly used to measure flow on that river. I use cfs for some rivers and feet for others following the convention of that particular river.
@travismortenson2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Zach. Appreciate your reply and these videos.
@chrisutley67562 жыл бұрын
Nailed it
@taramalmquist66407 ай бұрын
What Patagonia jacket is that?
@GearGarageTV7 ай бұрын
I don't think they make it any more
@maxangeleri83522 жыл бұрын
I am fairly new to rafting and was just thinking why don't people set up their boat so that they can spin their body around when needed so that they can decide to pull when they would normally push. I know switching position in a rapid would be difficult and maybe dangerous, but I was just curious if anybody ever finds themselves with their bow facing the direction where they want their stern and just spin their body on their seat instead of trying to turn the whole boat? I just realized that this method would require a second seat, so maybe this wouldn't even work.
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
It's been tried but doesn't work too well in practice
@maxangeleri83522 жыл бұрын
@@GearGarageTV thanks for your reply and thank you for your videos! I think I've watched all of them and they're really well done and entertaining and often humorous. I'm just getting into rafting and bought my first boat and your videos have been really helpful and much more informative than all the books I have bought. If you have a patron page I would be happy to donate send you some donations for all your work you do. Or just a Venmo account.
@Jbri00512 жыл бұрын
Commercial boaters like to push because they want to finish the trip as soon as possible so they can drink more beer.
@GearGarageTV2 жыл бұрын
False
@stephensmith585610 күн бұрын
I think you are conflating two very different terms. Downstream is where the takeout is. This move you are describing is a cross stream angle on a lateral wave. Great video though.
@GearGarageTV10 күн бұрын
I have never heard the term "cross stream angle on a lateral wave" in the real world
@stephensmith585610 күн бұрын
@@GearGarageTV look at the actual direction of the current in a lateral wave and note the angle of the boat to it. Call it what you want but I think "downstream ferry" is misleading.
@GearGarageTV5 күн бұрын
It may be misleading but it is the term most people use
@rachellanigan48262 жыл бұрын
Great concept! Going to try this on Blossom Bar this weekend.