A couple of things here. 

All of the QJ positive comments on Chapman’s were well founded.  We used Doug in June and very much enjoyed our brief time with him.

One thing he mentioned was the rangers growing insistence for canoes carrying a floating throw bag.  He handed us a couple for the two canoes and sent us on our way.  In all of the trips to the Q I have never even seen one on board a non-motorized craft.  It sounded like a good idea anyway, so I bought a small one for my upcoming trip.  Although it seems a bit less important on a solo adventure?

Anyone else carrying one?

Regards,

MossBack

Mossback,

Doug emphasized the same thing w/my party in late June.  In fact I'll need  to stop at his place tomorrow and pick up another one as I'll be doing a 10 day solo. In my case, I suppose I might be throwing it to the other solo paddler traveling with me if he overturns.  He's so old he might easily just fall asleep on the water (wouldn't be the first time I've seen that happen).  Hmmm...  perhaps I should buy one for him, too. I ain't no spring chicken myself!

That's the only rationale I can think of as to why a solo paddler might need one.

Jimbo.  8-)

Good Luck on your trip Jimbo as well as the "old codger" you're going with.  ;) ;D ;D ;D

I get it with ANYONE but a SOLO paddler?
If you go over, trying to throw a floating bag while IN the water would be just about impossible.  :-?

Same with another SOLO paddler trying to rescue someone in a TRUE solo. I could see the person in the water inadvertently dumping you. :-/

I hope they don't make it a RULE for ALL canoes, insisting is one thing, demanding is another.

In a pinch, you could tie a rope to a canoe paddle and toss it out.

solotripper wrote on Aug 31^st, 2017 at 11:55am:

Good Luck on your trip Jimbo as well as the "old codger" you're going with.  ;) ;D ;D ;D

Thanks, ST!  I'll pass your regards on to MagicPaddler.  He's already en route!

[Of course he may lynch me with that floating throw rope I buy for him if he reads these posts before we depart.  He is a well-known "tree-hanger," after all!]

We'll likely be in or around Cirrus Lake, if anyone is in the vicinity and cares to check in.  You won't miss our flag unless you're blind.  I suspect keeping Magic restrained to mainly just one lake will be my real problem for the next 10 days.  Just two weeks ago he covered around 21 lakes in a little over 6 days!  I don't think he did much sleeping either IN the canoe or out of it!

Jimbo   8-) 

Jimbo,

I do not know what kind of time constraints you are on before your trip starts, but here is a link to what I bought from Amazon.  Small, light and $20 delivered to your door if you have PRIME.

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Good luck and safe passage on your trip to Cirrus.  Four of us were there in Mid-June.  Fishing was slow and the bugs and rain were “interesting”.  Still had a great time.

Regards,

MossBack

The 50' floating rope has been a rule for all canoes in Canada for some time. Plus a bailer, and if I remember right a light at night??

The bailer can just be a sponge and the rope also works as a nice ridge line for a tarp. Just make sure it's floating and 50'.

Not really too hard to be legal. The rope doesn't have to be in a throw bag but it's nice way to carry it. One 50' painter that floats would work too.

It has been a long time and I'm curious and forgetful on certain things. Did/do the rules specify that they need to be handy? As in, is a pot buried deep in a pack legally considered a bailor?

I seem to recall a Kapok(?) cushion type floating device being considered a dandy PFD at one time.

  The two rangers I ran into a few years back didn't ask about any of the mandatory items.

I was wearing a PFD as usual and had 2 painter lines, bow, and stern. Not 50' single, but combined. Forgot a bailer but had a sound device and waterproof flashlight which you need for a big canoe.

I'd wager that most paddlers don't have EVERY mandatory device. You read the regs and you see how people might get confused?

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I know some will dispute this and maybe it changed in last few years, but these regulations do not apply to US citizens in US owned craft. Go to the laws, not guides and summaries.
And I don't question their value. Nothing forbids them and might save your life.

Ya but, if you rent a canoe from a Canadian outfitter… Eh, whatever.

I always carried a whistle on the PFD I don't normally wear. Way back when this was an issue, I realized why a pealess whistle made much more sense. I believe filling the throw bag with water is what makes it throwable. I use cheap, light 1/4 inch poly in an old tent steak bag. Fits in the bailer with room to spare. The bailor really helps organize things in the thwart bag and gives it shape. My bailor is a cut-off half gallon milk jug that I find I use quite often. It was, IMHO, the second best LE type suggestion ever (right after barbless).

The best lessons come from other people's mistakes. Anyone else watch Alone on cable? There was someone a few seasons back splitting wood with her other hand  half way down holding what she was splitting. I cringed. She swung and missed the wood. I think that easily preventable injury was what took her out of the game.

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Quote:

The best lessons come from other people's mistakes

That's why I appreciate anyone who takes the time and effort to do a trip report. I've learned a lot of GOOD stuff from other's ways of doing things.

But the MOST valuable are as you say the mistakes of others. I've made plenty but tried to learn from them. IF my screw-up can help someone avoided the same thing and maybe get a laugh or two, then it's worth the effort to tell the tale.

"I know some will dispute this and maybe it changed in last few years, but these regulations do not apply to US citizens in US owned craft."

that is my understanding as well.

We did get checked by Quetico rangers this year, but they never looked at equipment except to check for barbless hooks, and of course checked out our paperwork.   Likely it is just the Canadian outfitters that have to comply.

I just about guarantee that there isn't one person in a million who can throw a throwrope out much more than 20 or 30 feet - 50' is ridiculous.  I always carry one on river trips, and they can be handy to use to tie up your boat when its a long way from the shore to the nearest tree, but mine is 25' I think (or maybe 30', but no longer) - I have used it a few times to fish out swimmers, and I know I couldn't possibly throw one much more than 20' accurately.   The boats we rented for Bowron Lakes provided some really crappy 50' throw ropes with the cinch so crapped up with sand and gunk that they couldn't be deployed in an emergency - took me about 5 minutes to work one free to use to tie up a boat.

Quote:

I just about guarantee that there isn't one person in a million who can throw a throwrope out much more than 20 or 30 feet - 50' is ridiculous.

  That floating yellow poly-rope they use in throw-bags and many people use for boating needs is hard to tie, tangles easily and as you say just about impossible to throw unless you have something heavy on the end.

I think anyone who thinks they can throw 50' of it to a person with any degree of certainty with just a throw bag, should try it out before they actually NEED it.

  About kin to the people who THINK they can put on and fasten a PFD when they're are IN the water already. Try it and let me know how easy it is. Add in wind/waves and cold water, you better HOPE someone can throw that 50' of throw rope :'( :'(.

Throw rope versus throw bag: Mad-Mat says 20-50' and West Marine advertises "easily 50-75 feet" for theirs.  I'm just trying to understand this.

Quote:

I'm just trying to understand this

  You see climber's, Special Forces guy's deploy rope in a bag. The weight of the rope in the bag keeps it from tangling like a coiled rope is prone to do.

  I think it's the same idea with the throw bag vs coiled throw rope. The rope in that bag had better be stowed properly or else it won't play out and you lose distance.

I'm a big believer in testing out equipment BEFORE you need it, if POSSIBLE?

  Those throw bags are reusable, so if you're going to carry one, I'd take it out into the yard and see first-hand how far you can throw it?

I'd also do it in windy conditions. Then I'd learn how to store it right and toss it again to check my work.

  IF as West Marine says, it will easily go 50-75 ft, that's great. I just wouldn't bet someone's life on that claim without verifying it for myself.

I found this. Go down to Safety Equipment Requirements and read the first paragraph.
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[quote author=Jim_J_Solo link=1504153821/15#15 date=1505239471]I found this. Go down to Safety Equipment Requirements and read the first paragraph.
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Wow! That's going to cut into throw bag sales. ;)

I don't know which part to read.

"The Regulations do not apply to non-residents who operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for less than 45 consecutive days. Please note that a proof of residence will be required on board at all times."

Or

"If you are not a resident of Canada and are using a pleasure craft licensed or registered in Canada, all of the required safety equipment must meet Canadian safety requirements."

BillConner wrote on Sep 13^th, 2017 at 10:41am:

I don't know which part to read. "The Regulations do not apply to non-residents who operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for less than 45 consecutive days. Please note that a proof of residence will be required on board at all times." Or "If you are not a resident of Canada and are using a pleasure craft licensed or registered in Canada, all of the required safety equipment must meet Canadian safety requirements."

Foreign pleasure craft (pleasure craft that are licensed or registered in a country other than Canada) need to comply with equipment requirements of the country in which the vessel is usually kept.

Yes. I missed that in this link. That was the issue I pointed out above. Your own canoe, CA regs do not apply.