Reminds me of the time I took Beaver to Mulchatna river to pick up hunters for Bob Tracy late In the season. This event started with ….freezing wx 30 deg ice coming down Mulchatna river. After pulling up to bank freezing spray covered floats. When I stepped out foot slipped off second step left leg went inside steps me outside step fell on my back on float, can’t believe I didn’t break my leg, and rolled into water between floats grabbed spreader bar to try and regain what the hell was going on here. Crawled out of water to beach….Bob Tracy standing on beach with hunters turned to hunters and said here’s your pilot.

Things went downhill from there….
Bob turned me around and pushed up on shore and jammed water rudders on bank. Unknown to me he broke the water rudder cable which I didn’t notice. Loaded up pulled off the bank, it dawned on me early that I had no steering and was floating down the river with no steering. Every time I applied power to try and run up on a beach torque would pull around 90 deg or more. So floating and spinning down river getting closer to the trees on each circle , Wind coming down river. After several attempts and circles I eventually had to apply takeoff power pointing down river and let torque pull me 180 deg. To up river heading and push forward on wheel to stop torque…. Finally got enough airspeed to get air rudder control and took off up river. Landed at big river lakes in route to ANC and tied cables enough steering to get to dock on Lk Hood. Talked to Bob later he said he thought I was a goner….when I went out of sight down river. Not worth that last charter of the season........

[emoji106]

What I would give to have that on video.

Ah, yes....fast water river ops.....never a dull moment.

MTV

When I had to deal with fast water or awkward wind v current,
I mounted a banner/glider tow hook on my Maule on floats in AK.
Tie off to the bank or bushes with parachute cord, then when I was sure motor was running I could pull release and hope to be in control.
I could use the cord again next time there or pick it up on a different day.

maules.com wrote:When I had to deal with fast water or awkward wind v current,
I mounted a banner/glider tow hook on my Maule on floats in AK.
Tie off to the bank or bushes with parachute cord, then when I was sure motor was running I could pull release and hope to be in control.
I could use the cord again next time there or pick it up on a different day.

Sounds like that would surely work. Guess I wasn't thinking that far ahead Operable water rudders were more than adequate for the conditions....but I did not have them since cable busted unknown to me. Plus my uncontrolled exit of A/C after beaching which finished with me in the freezing water hanging on to the spreader bar wondering what the hell just happened. My thought process was not 100 %
If I had noticed the jammed rudders and broken cable before leaving the beach...I could have powered off the beach... left turn up river and into the wind with plenty of air rudder control ......but I didn't notice
No harm (damage) no foul