Self Rating System

The "Keel-Haulers Self-Rating System" presented below is only intended to provide a general guideline for the paddler and should not be considered a substitute for a realistic evaluation of one's own paddling skills. Each person is responsible for his or her own safety and for determining whether he or she has the skills necessary to run any of the rivers in the accompanying "River Classifications" list or to participate in any river trips.

Rate yourself for each category to arrive at your own personal rating. Your score should take into account the type of boat you are paddling and the partner (if any) you are paddling with. The score for a tandem team is the average of the two paddler's ratings. Then compare your rating to the river rating chart which will automatically appear when you press SUBMIT. If your score is more than 3 points lower than the river you are considering, second thoughts should be given to the risks involved to yourself and other members of your group

Self Rating Test Physical Swimming Can't swim Weak swimmer Average swimmer Strong swimmer Stamina Runs slower than 10 minute mile Run mile in 8-10 minutes Run mile in 6-8 minutes Run mile in less than 6 minutes Upper Body Strength Cannot do 15 pushups Can do 15 pushups and 1-5 chinups Can do 30 pushups and 6-10 chinups Can do 50 pushups and 15 chinups Equipment Open Boat Open Canoe Canoe with painters & bailer Keel-less, thigh straps, extra floatation Decked Boat No spray skirt or foot brace Fully equipped but no floatation Fully outfitted, maximum floatation Fully outfitted, foam walls & split air bags Experience Experience in Rated Boat Basic Paddling skills One year of Whitewater, Paddled 10 days/yr Class II or better Two-Four years of Whitewater, Paddled 10 days/yr Class III Five years of Whitewater, Paddled 20 days/yr Class III/IV Reading Water Cannot read water well Can pick route in Class II rapids Can lead in Class II and scout best route in Class III Can confidently lead in contin. Class III and scout best route in Class IV/V Boat Control Can control canoe from one side Can maneuver in Class II avoiding big obstacles Can maneuver in Class III, knows how to work with current Finesses in boat placement on all types of water Aggressiveness Does not play Timid, plays a little Plays a lot in Class III water Plays in Class IV with confidence Eddy Turns Some difficulty in Class II Makes turns in and out of eddies from either side Makes turns in and out of medium size eddies in Class III Can catch small eddies in contin. Class III-IV Ferrying Cannot ferry Can ferry upstream in Class II Can ferry in Class III & downstream in Class II Can ferry upstream and downstream in Class III/IV Hydraulic Playing & Bracing Some difficulty in Class II Can play in small hydraulic and brace in Class II Can surf large hydraulic and brace in Class III with small drops Can surf without paddle and brace in Class IV with 4 foot vertical drops Rescue Ability Self rescue in flat water Can rescue self and others in Class II Can rescue self and others in Class III Can assist in rescues in Class IV Rolling Ability Cannot roll Can roll in pool and 50% of time in Class I Can roll 3 out of 4 times in Class III Can roll 4 out of 5 times in Class IV

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