We're going to Quetico on Friday and one of our party broke his hand and it's in a brace. Anyone have a good idea how he could still paddle, even just a little bit?

If i broke my hand, i would stay home. They will cause everyone else to do all of their work, in the canoe, on the portage, and in camp. Of course, if it is family or someone you love, that might not matter.

scobec: "We're going to Quetico on Friday and one of our party broke his hand and it's in a brace. Anyone have a good idea how he could still paddle, even just a little bit?"

Call Ely Outfitting Company. They bought a paddle for a One-armed guy from Iowa who wanted to take his family to the BWCA>

http://www.startribune.com/refashioned-paddle-helps-man-missing-hand-explore-joys-of-canoeing/440893793/

Good Luck

From the inventor: http://academics.northland.edu/outdoor-ed/files/2009/06/canoepaddleforonearm.pdf

Ouch!
Any way they can duff?

What happens if a day in your friends hand gets reinjured/swollen & goes South & becomes a problem? Even without paddling, he still has to work zippers, brace himself getting in & out of a canoe, tie his boot laces...take care of his personal hygiene...are these things he can do? I wouldn't risk it, myself. He is going to need his hand for a long time, he might as well take care of it.

Swampturtle: "What happens if a day in your friends hand gets reinjured/swollen & goes South & becomes a problem? Even without paddling, he still has to work zippers, brace himself getting in & out of a canoe, tie his boot laces...take care of his personal hygiene...are these things he can do? I wouldn't risk it, myself. He is going to need his hand for a long time, he might as well take care of it. "

You sound like the nurse reapplying a dressing to my hand after a surgery. I kept trying to keep my trigger finger exposed, told her it was deer season in two days and I needed my trigger finger in the clear. I got a stern lecture and told in no uncertain terms I could not go deer hunting. I went anyhow. I survived.

hobbydog: "

Swampturtle: "What happens if a day in your friends hand gets reinjured/swollen & goes South & becomes a problem? Even without paddling, he still has to work zippers, brace himself getting in & out of a canoe, tie his boot laces...take care of his personal hygiene...are these things he can do? I wouldn't risk it, myself. He is going to need his hand for a long time, he might as well take care of it. "

You sound like the nurse reapplying a dressing to my hand after a surgery. I kept trying to keep my trigger finger exposed, told her it was deer season in two days and I needed my trigger finger in the clear. I got a stern lecture and told in no uncertain terms I could not go deer hunting. I went anyhow. I survived. "

"How nice"

Broke his hand ,,, whats the severity ? does his fingers work ? can he even crasp a paddle ? if he can hold and maintain a paddle , put him in the stern and your power stroke guy in the front and they'll feed off the challenge ;)

That's when the guy says, I'll sit this one out. Unless you can do a simple basecamp trip. Maybe a good time to try a boat permit for basswood.

I think I would start by asking the guy who broke his hand. Hand him a paddle and tell him to hold it. If he can hold it ask him to take a few strokes against some resistance.

I'm sure every break is a little different and every person is a little different.

If he can't paddle does he still have some basic functionality of this hand or is he basically down to 1 hand?

If he's limited in what he can do the rest of the group will have to make the decision if his company his worth the rest of you doing his share of the work while he sits around camp and nurses his broken hand.

Personally I'd be bummed if it were me with the broken hand but I would not go if I was not able to paddle or do chores around camp.

Yes he can paddle.

I think maybe I'd encourage him to ask his orthopedist, then follow his/her recommendations.

I would be concerned whatever he did might impair the healing process, or permanently affect the broken bone. There is a reason broken bones get pinned or casted. I love to trip but would sit this one out to let it heal properly.
At least I think that is what I would do. Till it happened to me. And I REALLY wanted to go along. But a busted hand would be tough to travel with. For everyone.

Tell him to sit this one out and let his injury heal properly. There are disappointments in life. He'll get to paddle again--next year or next trip.

My son's buddy broke 2 metacarpal bones 10 days before trip. We were a group of 5 so he got to duff in the 3 man canoe, but he did paddle a little. He took his share on the portage's and did camp chores. Doc gave him a waterproof cast before trip.

We are definitely going for a variety of reasons. He broke a single bone in his hand, and is not any pain with his brace on. Taking care of his hand will be a priority. He says he can do his share of portaging. We have an few ideas on how he might be able to paddle a little. If he can't, the three healthy ones of us will take turns paddling in his canoe and we may lash the canoes together like a catamaran when we are in open water. If its too much work, we will base camp.

I'll report back.

If he has a good-enough bow paddle it will be fine. Have seen izzy just rudder along before.