How to Paddle a River Raft

While paddling a river raft doesn't work quite as well as rowing a raft with oars, it's a fun way to get everyone working as a team to guide the raft down a river and through whitewater rapids.

Things You'll Need

  • River Raft First Aid Kits
  • Life Vests
  • River Raft Oars
  • River Raft Paddles
  • River Raft Repair Kits
  • River Rafts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position paddlers evenly on both sides of the raft. Paddlers should kneel on knees, sit on thwarts or straddle the buoyancy tubes when paddling.

    • 2

      Hold the paddle with the inside hand on the top of the paddle and the outside hand, knuckles facing out, gripping the paddle low on its stem.

    • 3

      Lean forward and insert the paddle into the water. Dip the blade completely beneath the surface.

    • 4

      Straighten your top arm while pulling back on the paddle with your lower arm to draw it through the water. This is the standard forward paddle.

    • 5

      Reverse forward motion to backpaddle. Dip the blade and pull the upper arm back while extending your lower arm.

    • 6

      Have the right side of the raft (from the paddler's perspective) paddle back while left side paddles forward to turn the bow right. Reverse this procedure to go left.

    • 7

      Reach out with the paddle, dip in deep and pull toward yourself to draw stroke, pulling the raft in the direction of your paddle stroke.

    • 8

      Dip the paddle in close to the raft and push away to pry stroke, or move the raft sideways away from the direction of your paddle stroke.

    • 9

      Communicate with your rafting team and work together.