TLDR: Dams are dangerous, don't boat over them.
Some low head dams are tempting to go over. They seem small, fast, and navigable. They aren't worth the risk. Pictured is the Fox River's Carpentersville dam. There are 3 components to this specific dam that present serious hazards to a kayak.
Some low head dams are tempting to go over. They seem small, fast, and navigable. They aren't worth the risk. Pictured is the Fox River's Carpentersville dam. There are 3 components to this specific dam that present serious hazards to a kayak.
1. The edge. Often times this is a bulge of rock that creates the rounded effect. In higher water, this is actually less dangerous. In lower water, a boat will often scrape this edge. If a boat doesn't hit it straight on, it can cause a quick flip before the boater hits the rest of the dam
2. The ripple. This is a shallower section going down the side of the dam. Because of the smaller slope, it looks navigable. Often times it's very shallow, but very fast moving. This means that if a boat hits it going anything from perfectly straight, it's an easy side flip. There is a powerful sweeping current, constantly forcing a boat and paddler forward, no matter how shallow it is.
3. The Hydraulic. Hydraulics are what drown people. It's a circular effect in the water where the top part of the river has a reverse current which pulls a boat back towards the dam. It's a strong current that's very difficult to fight.
Basically, if trying to run the dam, you have to hit it going 100% straight. If you don't flip hitting the edge or getting caught in the ripple, you may be able to paddle hard to pass through the hydraulic.But that's a big if. Paddling over a dam is less about skill and strength, and more about luck. It's just not worth it.
Make no mistake, there have been plenty of needless drownings on the Fox: https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140421/news/140429807/
Here's a video of a similar dam trapping someone with a wish for a Darwin award:
2. The ripple. This is a shallower section going down the side of the dam. Because of the smaller slope, it looks navigable. Often times it's very shallow, but very fast moving. This means that if a boat hits it going anything from perfectly straight, it's an easy side flip. There is a powerful sweeping current, constantly forcing a boat and paddler forward, no matter how shallow it is.
3. The Hydraulic. Hydraulics are what drown people. It's a circular effect in the water where the top part of the river has a reverse current which pulls a boat back towards the dam. It's a strong current that's very difficult to fight.
Basically, if trying to run the dam, you have to hit it going 100% straight. If you don't flip hitting the edge or getting caught in the ripple, you may be able to paddle hard to pass through the hydraulic.But that's a big if. Paddling over a dam is less about skill and strength, and more about luck. It's just not worth it.
Make no mistake, there have been plenty of needless drownings on the Fox: https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140421/news/140429807/
Here's a video of a similar dam trapping someone with a wish for a Darwin award:
The killer part of every dam is the Hydraulic. Water will shoot straight down after going over the edge. It cycles back up in the boil, but then there is backwash that will pull objects back towards the edge. It is there that they get sucked back down again.
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