The design of the boat makes a lot of difference. I have an ODC by Creekside and it handles well. I have an anchor system with a 10 pound ball and have never had any problem. Sometimes the ball will hang up and if the water is too fast to pull yourself back up to unhook it, you need enough rope to get to shore or else you cut the rope. The ODC doesn't hold as well an an Outcast. My brother has an Outcast and when we float a river we both have the same anchor system, but his holdswell becuase of the design. Mine slows down but doesn't really hold. Unless you're doing serious rivers there's no real safety problem. I've floated the Sky, Snoqualmie, Methow and Yakima with no problems, but I wouldn't do some of the pen rivers with mine.