Who goes in which canoe? (Trivial)

[demotedreally]

There are 5 of us and we are going to canoe in a lake this morning (in France). None of the kids have canoed before, I have a lot as a child/teen, DH maybe once or twice. He is much stronger than I am these days, I am a better swimmer and lifesaver.

Kids are 10, 8 and 6. 10 year old will probably get it and be quite good, 8 middling and 6 just there for the ride.

How should we split them?

How many canoes are you hiring?

Put the better swimmer and lifesaver with the more vulnerable/less able children.

Do you have double canoes to hire?

How are the relationships between kids and parents? I would say put stronger adult swimmer with weakest child swimmer but I also know in our family that would lead to one pair having a falling out before we even set off so I would split by who would annoy each other less

Don't go on bouncy water will you! Which would you save 😳
I'd put the husband at the back, you near the front and either a tiny one at the very front and two in the middle
I'm not a good paddler though lol 😆 but my DH is and this is how he usually splits is up

If two canoes

Mum 6 yr old and 8yr old
Dad 10yr old

I'd put Mum and the 8 year old, experience and inexperienced. Dad with the 10yo & 6 yo, 6yo isn't going to do much and Dad & 10 yo will have more strength vs technique.

Assuming that the adventure is supervised with a rescue boat and buoyancy aids. I wouldn't worry too much about swimming/ life saving ability that's the rescue boats job.

Thanks for all comments. I should have been clear there are 2 canoes (kayaks) probably. Each take 2/3 people.

Life jackets yes, presumably someone would rescue us if we fell out and couldn't get back in but they won't be following us around.

I'm leaning towards me and the little ones and DH with 10yo

Only if DH and the 10 year old won’t go shooting off into the distance. If you capsized with the two younger ones, what would happen?

Maybe add the youngest in with the 10 year old, if that gives you the strongest swimming child with the weakest?

(I have v fond memories of capsizing in the dordogne with my mum age about 11, and heroically swimming to shore with a paddle.)

Either adult and 8 yr old
other adult and 10 and 6 yr old

Why have you with the 6yo? Put them with Dad and 10yo to slow them down a bit. Also means you don't have the two weakest swimmers.

This brings back memories of many enjoyable summers & one not so enjoyable where ds2 refused to paddle

I would say dad, 10 & 6
You 8

There will be place to pull up to the bank for a rest & picnic so can always swap around.

Have a fabulous day

Thanks! The two oldest are probably equal swimmers and 6yo is not bad. 10yo is more practical minded by a long way, she can deal with all sorts of problems. 6yo will probably want to be with me but we shall see.

Parent, 10, 6
Parent, 8.

If you capsize, the 6&8 will require more help than 8yo.

(Although, in two years of regular canoeing on calmish waters, weve never capsized. Ours is a Canadian though, not a kayak.)

We've tried family canoeing a few times and it's very stressful! Lots of arguments about steering and there's always one weaker canoe that gets left behind.

I'd try to set it up so the skill/strength of the canoes is equalish. With life jackets I wouldn't worry too much about the swimming aspect. I'd have firm words beforehand about staying together!

Enjoy!

This is the right answer. And if you're the lifesaver, I would say you with 10 & 6.

Canoeing update:

Noone drowned, everyone had fun. She started off with 10yo and 6yo, but he struggled to get going, 10 was not on good form really. 8yo and I got going really well so we took 6yo over to us and then it went much better.

Good time was had by all!

Glad you had a good time!