On the Chapleau River

The Swift-Narrows

Here you are above the Swift-Narrows and heading down through. Go slowly and stay in the center of the channel in these last 100 yards above the Swift-Narrows. When you are in the fast water keep the motor running and in forward gear so that you can steer the boat as you go through.

Now you are below the Swift-Narrows and looking back at it.

7milefromair (35K)

The Swift-Narrows seen from the air.

The water flows north. On this photo it flows from right to left because it picture was taken from the west side of the river. The water ends up in James Bay.

The narrows are only a short piece of swift water. It is best to keep the motor running at a moderate speed as you go through. Remember what Humphrey Bogart said to Katharine Hepburn in "The African Queen". He said "you've got to move faster than the water, otherwise you can't steer".

If you follow the instructions below, you will have no trouble. At worst, you might bend a prop or bump the shore. By the way, we WILL NOT charge you for a bent propeller. But go carefully just the same.

Going down-stream:

When you have made the final turn (the river bends to the right), you will be about 100 yards from the narrows. Leave the motor in forward and slow down to a slow troll.

Stay in the middle of the channel.

When you are about to go through the fast water, speed up the motor enough so that you can steer the boat through the narrow stretch.

Please remember though that about 300 yards further down-stream there are more rocks. These rocks are in the middle of the narrow straight stretch where you have the high hill on your right. Your best bet is to stay closer to the right-hand shore when you are alongside the rocky hill. Once the river widens aagain, you are okay.

Coming back up-stream:
This is easy. Use as much power as you need to make good headway against the fast current and be quick with the tiller, to keep the boat in the middle. Once you are through the fast water, slow down to a troll and remain slow for 100 yards above the rapids. That way you can't do much damage in case you graze a rock.

Other rocks:
The entire area above the Swift-Narrows is clear sailing. Certainly between the camp and town, both along the front river and the back river.

But you should always stay in the middle when you travel through narrow channels at speed. There are always likely to be rocks close to shore, even in places that we consider clear.

Below the Swift-Narrows, one of the worst rocks is the one to the north-west of the little island. I mean the island that is marked in about the center of our map. That rock is just under water most of the time.

Watch out in the part of Henderson Lake to the east of the two big islands. The map shows that also. That entire side should be viewed with suspicion. Remember, you can't do much damage when you are moving slowly.