After 20 years of rowing boats it still gives me a twinge everytime I float a river that I have not been on in a few months! What keeps me a float more than anything is respect for mother nature. I can not stress how many times I have pulled over to the side of the river and walked my boat around objects that looked passable but why bother worrying about it!! One of my mentors that first taught me to row had a phrase that I still heed, when in doubt check it out and I can tell you those words of wisdom have saved me a heap of trouble over the years. I see alot of sunken driftboats every year in my travels and every one was usually in a place that your boat could have been walked around or dropped down around with a rope. For the new guys out there remember if someone tells you at the launch that this is a tough float they are not trying to scare you they are usually trying to help you I know I see alot of new faces every year on certain floats and I usually stop to chat to get a barometer of their experience on the river and can usually get a feel for if they are in over their heads if they are asking me stupid questions I usually politely explain that they may want to avoid this section of river untill they fish with a guide or someone that is familiar with it, following someone down the river that you don't know can get you in a lot of trouble fast, who si to say they know what they are doing! Anyway how about some other Veterans sharing their ideas? All together their were 8 driftboats sunk on the pennisula this weekend no one died but come on guys lets be safe out there!!!PEACE