Low Water Boating on the Rio Grande

Low water boating on the Rio Grande can be a demanding experience. As the river drops, more rocks are exposed, which means the boater has to maneuver around these obstacles. The key to low water boating, of course, is to dodge all of the rocks. A long meandering class II rapid at 1000 CFS can feel like a class III at 250 CFS because it’s now more technical and requires more maneuvers. In order to be successful in this environment, the boater needs to look downstream and plan ahead. But that’s still not enough. In order to avoid the rocks, the boater also has to create a series of ferry angles with the bow (front) of the boat in relation to the downstream obstacles.

Let’s say there is a rock directly downstream at six o’clock. The greater the angle the boater makes between the bow of the boat and the rock at 6:00, the better chance the boater has of missing the obstacle. If the boater points the boat slightly to the left or right, at say 5:00 or 7:00, this is an angle of only 10-20 degrees (an acute angle in geometry). Most novice boaters will point the boat only slightly to the left or right because that is what a person normally does in a car or on a bike. In a boat, though, the surface is moving underneath you. Setting an acute angle, followed by a forward paddle, isn’t going to be enough to overcome the force of the current that is pushing the boat downstream at the rock.

We want to move the boat away from the on-coming obstacle as quickly as possible. To do this, we need to set more of a right angle (90 degrees), followed by a series of strong forward paddle strokes, which will direct the boat across the current and away from the rock.  However, at 90 degrees the boat is still moving downstream and the stern may still hit the rock, but this is better than hitting it sideways and directly in the middle of the boat. Striking the obstacle with the stern will in most cases turn the bow of the boat back downstream. You can do this all day long and get away with it.  

Remember, it’s better to hit rocks with the bow (front) or stern (back) than it is to hit them with the middle of the boat. When we hit rocks with the bow or stern, the boat typically bounces off, but when we hit the rock with the middle of the boat, it sticks to the rock.

Setting the ferry angle at more than 90 degrees, let’s say 135 degrees, followed by a series of forward paddle strokes, will propel the boat to travel upstream and across the current, and the boater will likely miss the obstacle completely. Setting the ferry angle at a full 180 degrees, though, points the bow directly upstream, and results in the boat still being pushed straight at the obstacle, even if the boater is paddling really hard.

Never paddle directly against the current. Instead paddle diagonally across the current.  

So practice setting your ferry angles between 90 and 150 degrees. A good way to do is to practice catching eddies. Novice boaters usually struggle with ferry angles and thus have problems catching eddies. Aim for the top of the eddy, directly behind the obstacle or the bend in the river that is creating it, set the ferry angle at 135 degrees, and paddle forward. (Setting the ferry angle at 90 degrees or less will most often result in the boater ending up at the bottom of the eddy).

Mastering the art of ferry angles is a must for every boater, regardless of whether the Rio Grande is low or high. It does more than just help you at low water, it improves your overall boating skills. When springtime comes and the rocks in the river get covered and become holes, the boater will be more prepared to maneuver around them, and it’ll strengthen your ability to paddle through these holes.

In the next blog, I’ll talk about high siding on rocks and getting off them once you’re stuck. Remember the point of this post has been to emphasize the importance of setting proper ferry angles in relation to the rocks. Now get out there and master your ferry angles.