This time in Shuwah ... predominately equipment failure from what I heard. Crappy cleat anchor release that slipped in rapid and hung and took the boat down stern first.

One more reason to have gravity releases and a sharp knife out of the sheath next to your anchor at all times ... wait, the article that came out a few days back that I was interviewed for stated those very things.

Don't be a tightwad when it comes to properly equipping your boats.

Now he's looking at a $800 offer to get it out for him.

Bummer...

Hope they got out okay and retrieved some of their gear

Like a giant bait diver...

Darwin.

All sounds okay people-wise, no idea on gear loss.

Got buddies out there fishin, and we are headed out that way tomorrow for a few days. They waited for the guys that lost there boat to finish fishing the elbow above shuwah so that they could fish it for a bit. Then saw the guy comin back up stream with his lifejacket on. Figured somethin went a rye based on how the guy looked so they pulled over to see if all was well. Guy said his achor rope popped out going down through and sunk it quick like. Lost everything but a coffee can with some stuff in it. Skipped over the rest of the drift to take the guys to Whitcolm, cold and wet but they are okay. Be safe out there!!!

Same thing happened to a buddy last year, though he thankfully didn't lose his boat. When he realized what was going on (in about .3 milliseconds...) he managed to uncleat the rope, and let it all run out through the pulleys, losing only the anchor and rope.

+ 1 on the knife (I have one on the gunwale just behind my right oar lock)

and NO knots in the end of your anchor rope...

I floated by there about 1:30 and the boat was upside down in the rapid. By the time I got past the culvert hole some of their stuff was floating by me. The boat popped loose and Mike Z grabbed it and tied it off on the gravel bar at the culvert hole.

Good to hear Ma'Nature didn't decide to make an example of them....
Respect,live n learn....Know your limits...

Mike is a good guy. Glad everyone is OK. I think I'll be taking the knot out of my anchor rope.

Bob: Not to sound like a Dumbass, but can you specify what a gravity release is? I have a v lock. Should I upgrade to some type of cam anchor lock? What is the best set up?

Thanks

Damn. I was just untied the knot in my anchor line friday night before fishing the duc this weekend. Had a really bad feeling about it. Glad I did. Good to hear everyone was okay though.

"Gravity" drops require that the rope be held at an angle upward for rope to release. Clam cleats that come stock on so many boats simply pay line out and then are wedged in ... as they wear, they become very dangerous.

Before the advent of the Lee-lock that is the easiest to obtain these days, every hardcore on the coast ran a similar unit (and his oarlocks as well) from a fellow by the name of Carnevalli (sp, may be a 'a'). His son later founded all the R-A-M mounts. Many of us still run the oarlocks and many grabbed what few new sets still were in circulation as his health failed.

When I come to an area thatI definitely can't afford a wild anchor, I tie a big slip knot in the line just outside the cleat. If it does go out it will only drop about 6 inchs and stop at the pulley. I've been hung up on wood twice and got the boat in a configuration that about filled my waders and not with water!!! Both times it was caused by trying to anchor in too fast of water to hold. Then trying to get the anchor back up before slaming into a sweeper. That knot keeps me from makeing a third mistake.

Bob,
What type of system are you using on your raft?
I've currently got a foot release, but I'm not enamored with it. If there is a better system for rafts, I'd appreciate any input you can provide.
Thanks,
Brian

In regular boats you make fast the bitter end of your anchor rode. I guess in drift boats, you do that, you will have a bitter end...

Std. roller system on the raft, but the clam cleat was replaced with a leelock gravity cleat. Can't say I've seen one on the floor before in a raft?

Thanks for the info Bob.

Dam,glad everyone got out safe.Good luck,
SZ

Just picked up a new side pulley LeeLock at the Sportsmans Show.

They even have a nice little plug from Bob in their brochure.

They have special show pricing if anyone else is looking to upgrade.

I upgraded to the same LeeLock gravity cleat on my DB last summer....money well spent.