Emergency Boat Paddle

Once you're zipping down a fast-moving river, it's too late to stop and read online about what to do if you drop your paddle. That's why, before going on an outdoor adventure, it's helpful to read articles about survival, or about what to do in case of an emergency. There are various calamities that can happen when you're out in the woods and some of them are much more dire than others. Still, when a mishap occurs it can feel like the most dismal incident. Losing an oar or paddle while cruising down a river might not be the worst thing that could happen but, if you're going through rapids, it could be a serious issue. But take comfort in knowing that, should you lose a paddle, you're surrounded by many more. If you can get the boat to the bank of the river you can easily turn a tree limb into a new paddle.

Yes, reading about what to do in emergency situations outdoors can help you in the future, but often, the advice of others is no good. It's not that what they tell you to do in a bad situation won't work; it's that you might not have the things you need to heed the advice. If you have a backpack with helpful items in it, and then you lose your paddle, you can probably make a new one from a tree limb.

Once you get over to the bank, look for a tree limb that's not too heavy, yet sturdy. It should be close in length to the original paddle. The ideal tree limb is one that forks off at one end. A branch that resembles a capital "Y" is perfect. Knock off any loose bark and dirt from the branches.

When you've selected a tree branch all you have to do is tape it. Use duct tape - or another type - to wrap the branch. Start at an area on the limb right before it branches off. Begin wrapping the tape around that area. Continue wrapping the tape down around the forked area of the branch, so that you wrap the tape around the two forked branches, together. So, after starting just before the forked area, wrap until you get to the very end of the two forks. The tape between the two forks in the branch serves as a surface area to paddle the boat.

Don't have very much tape in your backpack? If you have a plastic bag, a tarp, or a piece of plastic, you can still make the oar. Wrap the plastic or tarp material tightly around the forked area and tape it in place. The new paddle might not be as nice to look at as your former boat paddle but it will certainly work just as well.