Just got back from another amazing trip (full report is also posted).

Each time I go, it seems I have a new experience and even after many years of canoeing and literally dozens of BWCA trips, this one did not disappoint. However, the most memorable "new" experience was one I hoped to never have: a capsize in deep water!

As we neared the end of our planned travel for the day, it was time to start scoping out campsite possibilities and I had the map spread across my knees. It had been a great day of paddling in beautiful weather and the scene that spread out in front of us included a water surface that was smooth as glass. A movement of the canoe from paddling caused the map to suddenly slip off of my lap and over the side of the canoe onto the water (I know, I know, it was not tethered to the canoe). We made a U-turn to retrieve it and as we came alongside it, poor communication between my bow paddler and me had us each reach down for the map at the same time. This shift of balance to the side caused the canoe to lose it's stability and we were quickly dumped into the water!

In hindsight, I can see the mistakes that were made that caused this to happen. But one thing that was done VERY right, and a main point in me relating this story (quite possibly the very reason that I'm able to tell it!) is that PFD's were being worn! Mine is a self-inflating Onyx A/M-24 and worked exactly as designed. A few seconds after I hit the water, it inflated and held my head in place above the water so I didn't have to deal with the surprise of the capsize and trying to keep my head above water at the same time. My paddling partner had a more traditional-style life vest that worked well for her too.

I purchased the Onyx a few years ago hoping to find an option that was more comfortable than what I had been using. The appeal for me is that this PFD felt like it was barely there and that I would therefore maybe forget I even had it on and not be tempted to remove it. In my foolish past, I had frequently removed my life jacket if the water conditions were "good enough" or if it was making me sweaty. This style of PFD has indeed removed those temptations for me.

Our capsize happened pretty close to shore and miraculously we didn't lose ANY of our gear so after swimming the canoe ashore, dumping out the water, draining our now soaked gear best we could, and rearming my PFD with the spare kit I carry as well, the incident turned out to be little more than an annoying inconvenience, a source for good stories and a learning experience of some very valuable lessons:
1. An unexpected capsize can happen in even the best weather conditions
2. It happens quickly
3. With whatever style works best for you, always wear your PFD in the canoe. Always.

Good reminder, thanks for sharing the story, and glad you were both okay. This is why I'm nervous anytime I share a canoe with another person. Not that I'm infallible by any means, but putting 2 people in a canoe more than doubles the chances of something going away.

Insightful. I know so little about self-inflating PFDs.

Sounds like you came out ok. I’ve tipped 2x in my Prism but I was always next to shore. 1st time I was exiting Bald Eagle into the Snake River. I was cutting thru the shallow area with reeds etc. I stuck my paddle in the mud to push off and it got stuck in the muck, when I pulled it up it held and over I went, but the water was shallow so I threw my stuff up onto the bit of land there, emptied the canoe of water reloaded and pushed on. 2nd time I was putting in on the Little Isabella River and standing on a rock made the stupidest crossover move with my feet and went right over, the water was over my head right off that rock. I was the last one to put in trip partners nowhere in sight, so maybe no one heard my curse words.

Yes, it can happen.

In 60 plus years of canoeing the most serious was cause by an over eager lab.

While duck hunting.

Not life threatening but a high value shotgun going to the bottom. Cold wet even colder and wetter when retrieving the shotgun.

Came close a few times in the BWCA but never went in.

I have own three scary canoes an unremembered make 15-foot Alum. One had to part your hair down the middle. It went down the road. An early 80's old town discovery that was tippy went down the road to. I own a different discovery that seems just fine,

My current prism sold to me by another member who went over in Sea gull lake.

A very tippy canoe. I fixed it my making homemade stabilizers out of PVC pipe and foam swim Floaties. I rolled that over dozens of times coming up with the finale design.

Total added weight 5lbs but it went from a very scary canoe to use.
To one that is hard to roll over.

Looks funny but better the going over.

Stay safe always wear your PFD

Carbonfiber: "My current prism sold to me by another member who went over in Sea gull lake.

A very tippy canoe. I fixed it my making homemade stabilizers out of PVC pipe and foam swim Floaties. I rolled that over dozens of times coming up with the finale design. "

Was your prism still tippy fully loaded or just day tripping? I’m about to rent a prism next week for a five day trip and will likely be on some bigger waters and now wondering about this. Don’t wanna practice a recovery at this time.

Thank you for sharing your experience bottomtothetap! It’s super valuable to hear of others’ misadventures.

My prism isn’t overly tippy, I’ve had it for 30 years and those 2 times were operator errors so to speak. This June I did do a long lake crossing across Seagull Lake in 3’ rollers and a cross wind and I will admit that sucked, almost couldn’t turn it back into the wind twice but I got it, was a bit hairy tho. Wasn’t the boats fault haha. But it’s a sound boat, I have used it for fishing my local lakes and 20 or so BW trips and it’s never let me down. I can see how initially it can seem tippy, everyone is different of course. Keep it on course and it will cruise.

Thanks, scat! I’m really looking forward to paddling a solo on this trip and am hoping the prism might be a little faster and straighter than the northwind solo I tried (very briefly) last year. I’m usually in a MN2 so I’m OK with a boat that feels tippy as long as it doesn’t also feel cold and wet!

You’ll be fine, hope you enjoy it. I always tell myself on a lake crossing in wind & waves just keep your butt quiet (dont get fidgety) and keep it facing or quartered in the right direction of the wind. I use a yak paddle for a lake crossing cuz you can do correction strokes quicker. If you get sideways to the wind you gotta dig hard to get back on track so concentration on your strokes is important.

While I'm sorry you dumped, I am very happy you were wearing your pfd. Dumping can happen so quickly...you're in the water before you know it. My wife and I wear ours 100% if the time, no exceptions. I am shocked by the number of trippers who don't or are not wearing one. I'm surprised there aren't more drownings every year.

I dumped once in high school. Warm water, packs floated, more embarrassing than anything. I also dumped on a solo, rounding a corner in swift water on the Granite River. I leaned into the turn, and the water caught the canoe on the inside gunwale, and over I went. Water was cold but very shallow. Pretty easy recovery.

I have an auto-inflate pfd also. Love it for the same reasons you do. However, I have the auto-inflate feature turned off, electing to use the rip cord. I guess I've been unreasonably afraid that the vest will get wet with rain and inflate. Yes, I know that's silly. We're putting in this Thursday, and I WILL turn on the auto-inflate, in part because you're safe because of it.

Mike

I’m glad you are both safe. It happens so fast and when you don’t expect it you are wet. Look on the right side that you had good test for your inflatable PFD. I have the same one as you and I tested it last summer at my lake. I wanted to test it after it was 6 years old to see if it still worked. It inflated in about 2 seconds after I hit the water. I also take a spare rearming kit with me.

Savage Voyageur: "I’m glad you are both safe. It happens so fast and when you don’t expect it you are wet. Look on the right side that you had good test for your inflatable PFD. I have the same one as you and I tested it last summer at my lake. I wanted to test it after it was 6 years old to see if it still worked. It inflated in about 2 seconds after I hit the water. I also take a spare rearming kit with me. "

My Onyx is in it's eighth season. I had not paid attention to the expiration date and let the original cylinder and "bobbin" go for 5 years before I replaced it along with my un-used spare re-arming kit, even though the recommended limit is 3 years. My current ones were in their 3rd year and they were going to get replaced again off season, but, of course the dumping incident is now dictating their replacement anyway. Good that you've replaced yours.

3 years is probably pretty conservative (airlines go by a ten-year replacement standard for their inflatable PFD's) but I figured I'd try to follow the mfgr.'s recommendations and spend the money. I guess my life is worth it! :)

I never had a canoe tip by itself.

Always been operator error or dog caused.

Some canoe by design are tipper than others.

As of right now I own 8 different canoes.

I have use canoes for over 60 years. Hunting, fishing, trapping and tripping out of them.

I have come to prefer canoes I don't have to, or do everything just right to avoid going over.

Thus, I made stabilizers for my prism.

It is a much user-friendly canoe with them.

Bottomtothetap- I really appreciate your willingness to put this on here so the rest of us can learn from it. Not sure if my ego would allow me to do that lol!

Yes indeed, good call to share this story BttT. My only only capsize in the past 20 years was on a lovely calm day, in a back bay of Knife Lake. I stopped for lunch at a vacant camp and while trying to get back in, somehow flipped over the far side of my Magic. It happened so fast I can't even say what went wrong. It was late May so the water was chilly but I was in head-to-toe wool so I paddled onto my destination in soggy but relative comfort of the warm sunny day. PFD may have caught me from that cold water-gasp, who knows. As is often the case there was no "I'm going in!" thought, just a teleport quick flash into the drink.

Carbonfiber: "While duck hunting."

While we didn't capsize, we did swamp a canoe once while duck hunting and both of us were tossed out in the process. Found the gun I dropped in the chest deep water, but it ended our day. This was opening day so we were lucky the water was warm.

The lesson learned this time was that you don't stand up the in the canoe.