{"id":12775,"date":"2024-08-08T12:42:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T19:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=12775"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:57:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:57:26","slug":"river-moves-and-scenarios-a-rafting-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/river-moves-and-scenarios-a-rafting-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"River Moves and Scenarios – A Rafting Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wrap, surf, dumptruck\u2026 These everyday terms can mean something quite different to a whitewater rafter. Whether you\u2019re joining us for your first day on the river or your 100th, these are a few rafting moves you might want to be familiar with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

River Moves & Scenarios<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you approach a rapid, your guide will be looking for the preferred route. Guides will visualize a line tracing the route to maneuver through the rapid and follow it as you move downstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Guides and sometimes guests will get out of the raft to get a better look at an upcoming rapid. Guides will scout larger rapids to determine the best way to run them, and guests often scout rapids to determine if they are comfortable running the rapid, or if they would prefer to walk around it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Scouting
Rafters hike up above the Tunnel Chute Rapid on the Middle Fork American River<\/a> to confirm that they want to run it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Ferry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To ferry is to move across the river without much downstream movement. This is typically done to set the boat up for a successful \u2018line\u2019 through the next rapid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boof<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A \u2018boof move\u2019 is when rafts intentionally bump into rocks to hit a cushion of water, resulting in a big splash and redirection of the boat. The term is an onomatopoeia – seemingly based on the sound you would make to describe the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eddy out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eddying out means leaving the river’s main current and paddling into an eddy. Think of it like a time out in a sports game – a quick break before getting back to the rapids. Rafters will eddy out and rest in the calmer water to wait for other boats in the pod, or to pull over and get out of the raft safely on shore.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Boats
Rafts eddy out on river-right while they wait their turn to run a rapid on Goodwin Canyon<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Wrap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rafts moving downstream can run into obstacles and rocks scattered throughout the river. Sometimes a raft sits an obstacle sideways and wraps around it, held in place by the force of the downstream current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Less like the fish, and more like a bird – when a raft gets held up on a partially submerged rock causing the boat to stop its forward motion and just sit on top of the obstacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Portage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some rapids are considered too big or too risky to run, prompting rafters to get out of the boats and walk around the rapid on shore to get back on the water in a calmer location.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Lining
AO guide Joe<\/a> uses a length of rope to portage a raft down Lumsden Falls on the Upper Tuolumne River<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Stuck<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is one term that means exactly what it sounds like. When the raft ends up in a situation it cannot free itself from on its own, whether it be on a rock, other obstacles, or in a hole, it is considered stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A flip happens when the raft hits a wave or obstacle in a way that causes the boat to flip completely upside down and toss its rafters into the water. (When Your Raft Flips \u2013 What to Do & Not Do<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surf<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When an obstacle creates a \u2018hole<\/a>\u2019 in the river, it often creates a large recirculating wave above it. Rafters, kayakers, and paddle boarders will often paddle upstream into the wave and \u2018surf\u2019<\/a> as a surfer will do on an ocean wave.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Surfing
Rafters on the Tuolumne<\/a> are all smiles while surfing a rapid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dumptruck<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A \u201cdumptruck\u201d occurs when the raft remains right-side-up, rather than flipping, after hitting a rapid or obstacle that causes all of the rafters to fall out into the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must-make move<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you approach a rapid, there are often a few \u2018moves\u2019 you need to complete to successfully run it. Hitting these moves can mean the difference between a clean line through a rapid, or getting stuck or flipped by nearby obstacles. If you think of it in terms of driving, a must-make move could be merging to the right lane to take the correct freeway exit. Miss it and you have much more work ahead of you!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Whether you’re a first time rafter or a whitewater veteran, understanding these rafting moves and scenarios will enhance your overall experience on the river. Being familiar with terms like surf, ferry, and eddy out can help you feel more prepared and confident the next time you\u2019re out on the water. Happy rafting!<\/p>\n\n\n

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More content from our Educational Rafting Terms Series:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n