My opinion you do not need a skirt for the east branch of the Spanish River . This trip was the first one we ever did . We had 2 canoes and I had our 9 year old and my wife had our 12 year old with her . We started at Duke Lake and paddled to the Elbow in 4 days . Besides not knowing what we were doing we didn't have or need a spray skirt . We were able to run all the rapids and had a great time . If you go past the Elbow you will have some rapids that need to be portaged but like any rapid , stop and carefully scout it before deciding that you will run or portage .
Unless I'm reading your discription wrong I wonder what kind of canoe you have that takes on water in gentle rapids . Some canoes are more bouyant and run much drier than others . Perhaps this is your problem . scouter Joe

thanks guys this is all good stuff we have dicided to rent a ww canoe all of this stuff is taken care of but I have dicided to make my own padle if any one has any sugesgens on what type of wood to use for a laminated one that would apreceated but put it on my other form

http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/view ... hp?t=13350

thanks

_________________
don't worry be happy

Brian
Just did the east branch 1st week in July, all the rapids were run , none real challenging. We had 2, 12 year olds and 2, 16 year olds with us. I think the challenge is to view the rapids as a ski hill and get the most fun out of them! Also if you catch a lot of eddy's your chances of getting in trouble are lessened.
There is a great place to surf the canoes below Lower Athlone. And don't forget to bring your fishing rods, the Pickreal fishing was great! (yellow jigs in the eddies)
Jerry

IMO there is nothing even remotely close on the spanish to justifing a spray cover in an normal water levels anyway. If your taking on too much water there is most likely something else at play; ie boat too small, too much gear, paddling style.

I would choose the west branch over the east as mentioned in above posts. Also I would take a plastic boat, not because it is a must, but simply to make the rapids more fun. I know that I would have to portage more on the spanish with a fiberglass canoe. Paddled the west branch 2 years agowith a plasic canoe, the portaging might have added up to 50m on the west branch though we did carry gear around a couple drops after the forks in the graveyard section (which demand respect).

Painter length, tips in lining, pin kits, rope tricks, zed drag, rescue knifes, scouting, a bunch of knots I should practice, paddle type/length, back forward cross, sweepers strainers holes.

I would like to thank all with your contributions to various threads. I have been slowly digesting the moving water section and all of you seem to be experiencing far too much enjoyment. I'm picking a low water, less challenging month although I guess rain and dam flow from Biscotasing will have a role to play. I will definitely skip harder portions of the river and I'm marking my maps and making notes. Eyeing up a Raven for the trip.

Thanks again.