Unpinning a Canoe 1: using a Z Drag to pull a canoe (or kayak) off a pin in a rescue.

These are my personal thoughts and experience of using a Z-drag to unpin a canoe from rocks in white water using a 3:1 pulley system.
If you enjoyed this then consider making a small donation at: www.buymeacoffee.com/RayGoodwin
The Beal prussiks are: sport.beal-planet.com/index.p... I use the 60cm version to attach to the main haul rope and the 50cm as the 'clutch.'
My collie Billie makes an appearance. He got bored so was taking the ball up the hill to chase it back down again. Not very interested in rope work.
Paddling the Prospector from www.venturekayaks.com
Gear by www.nrs.com including the heavy duty rescue bag
The Rescue Service throw bag is: r3sargear.com/collections/wwt...
My website: www.RayGoodwin.com
My book 'Canoeing', is available direct from me or from Amazon.

[@krijnkrijn]

Hey Ray, checking in to say thanks for this very useful explanation of the Z-drag system. In my preparation for a 4 day canoe trip with three friends I studied your instruction and practiced it in my garden. I also invested in quality materials (carabiners, pulley’s and throwropes). As most experienced paddler I felt the responsibility to make things as safe as possible… Turned out to be a good investment. As we paddled down the Allier river last week, one of us got trapped in a (partly) submerged tree in a riverbend. His canoe made water, turned an was swept away by the current, as was my friend. The canoe was jammed under a second tree in the current some 30 metres downriver. My friend landed in the same tree. After checking if he was safe and sound we tried to unpin the canoe. This was only possible with the use of the Z-drag (and a lot of adrenaline and a saw ;-)). I wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills, it really made all the difference.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Wow. First great you pointed out the priority with you friend being safe (useful to other people) before you looked to the boat. So glad that the video has been of practical use. Your practise in the garden would have been the key to your success in the real situation. Very many thanks for commenting and letting me know. Cheers

[@terjeness6913]

Very clear instructions!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you

[@twobehappy67]

Always love listening to your wisdom in the little things!!! Thanks!!!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You are so welcome! Yep I do try to give those little extras that make a difference.

[@DavidSmith-bd1ct]

Great video Ray, looking forward to the next one.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I will get on with the editing in the next days so its ready for next week. Would hate to disappoint. :-)

[@1556peterc]

Great stuff mate, looking forward to more.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you. Working on it :-)

[@Captain_Bartolo]

Very useful, Ray! Thank you for sharing!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You are most welcome. Thanks

[@9murlon]

Just revising for my canoe leader assessment - this and your other videos are very helpful. Thanks 🙂

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Great to hear! Good luck with the assessment. Keep up the revision.

[@doliergr]

Another awesome video Ray!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you. Pig Rig next week.

[@richardmoses2105]

Great point of reference Ray 👍🏻

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Richard. appreciated

[@Adventuristic89]

Total novice here I’ve been sponging up all the info out there! You have been a great source ray thank you very much

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Happy to help!

[@whereandbackagain7059]

Great instructional video, thank you!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You are welcome!

[@MrMjt888]

Great video Ray

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Appreciated. Thank you

[@stevec-b6214]

seriously, this man knows his stuff!!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

That is kind of you. Thanks.

[@nigelgregory4777]

At last, a man I understand and can talk about winching around a camp fire, I work in heavy vehicle recovery, this was music to my ears, looking for the next one, Chears Ray. Nige.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Nige, your comments are appreciated. I do like to keep it real and take ideas from not only paddling but any other walk of life that uses these techniques. Again thank you.

[@sadielowe6210]

Professionally explained Thank you !!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you liked it

[@MichaelAnderson-zp6il]

Another great video , thanks for sharing

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TN.70]

Dziękuję za Film👍 Super porady. Pozdrawiam👋

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Serdecznie zapraszamy

[@RenoLaringo]

This is incredibly useful information. Thank you for the time and efforts. At the end of the day, nothing compares to real world experience. You sir are a precious source of knowledge. This was very clear, didactic and well filmed too.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You're very welcome! Pleased that it is useful

[@9murlon]

I couldn't agree more

[@Welshboyo76]

Loved your latest video mate . Thanks for putting that out there , although you have just cost me a small fortune on buying new Beal jammys for Lizzie and I 🙂 Hope your all well 🙂

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Ha ha. Brilliant. Glad you treating Lizzie right.

[@PaulKirtley]

Good one Ray.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Appreciated Paul. And a nice little cameo appearance from you.

[@chaswarren7239]

Really clear instruction, thank you Ray. You can now buy Carabiners with a built in micro pulley. Not as kind to the rope or as easy as a full pulley, but far kinder and more efficient than a plain crab for no extra weight or bulk. By the way to me the overhand tape knot you show is really weak, quick & easy to do, yes but an in-line overhand knot, where you tie the overhand in one tail only first, then weave the other tail back through it from the other direction is far stronger & kinder to the tape. Your filming is really clear, shows how well the French prussik works in self releasing on the pull & gripping on the hold. Excellent demo, thank you.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep I meant to include those Karabiners in the video: I had one in the kit bag. In the second video of the series kzbin.info/www/bejne/raSXfoR_ib5njMk I have included a section on these Karabiners. Yep agreed the tape knot is weaker this way but on checking figures it is sufficient with the other kit being used also I wanted knots that a non knot person could learn and master easily. Hope that explains my thinking. Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

[@chaswarren7239]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Yes I can see the point, it is very quick & easy to do, just gives me the shivers as it is so unkind to the tape (or rope) ! Thanks Ray.

[@welshpaddler]

Always liked trying these but thankfully only ever needed the 10 boy scout method. And best supporting actor goes to.........!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep Billie is looking for an appearance fee.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Great info, Ray. How easy does the over hand knots in the webbing anchor come undone, does it bind and you end up needing a spike to release it or does the webbing make it easier to untie?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

If I am doing a full on recovery then I am just relieved to get the boat back. However I have always, so far, managed to get the knots undone. I have a climbing background so will often put something else in place that is easier to untie but I wanted the simplest for the video and it is my normal system.

[@linapatel4341]

Still think my billy boy is beautifully bonkers!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I think he appears even more in the next one.

[@swampyisme]

I have that same Life jacket.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

They are good. I find mine very comfortable

[@lucassmith2504]

Great video. That wasn't a pursick knot that's klemist knot.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thanks Lucas, appreciated. Re Prussik knots: The one I am using is the French Prussik, unlike the Klemheist the one loop is not passed through the other but both looks are clipped with karabiner. A Klemheist would work equally well in the same situation but I like the simplicity of the French Prussik for teaching others. In different context I may use The Prussik knot, a Klemheist or a French Prussik. Hope this clarifies. And again thank you for your comments.

[@paulthomas5299]

Great video, which pulleys would you recommend?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

First up I am supported by NRS for gear. So they offer a really good rescue pulley: www.nrseurope.com/product/45251.02/smc-crx-1-pulley Quite a few of the climbing companies will offer pretty well the same. Key is the breaking strain marked on this one. Don't go for weaker. It also has what is called a prussik minding ability so it is easier to stop the knot being drawn into the pulley. Hope that helps. ray

[@paulthomas5299]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Cheers Ray

[@goji059]

try staying off rocks

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Will try hard.