new to forum. a good anchor that will work to stop your canoe if overturned in a river. a house brick w/ holes in it. @ least 20 ft. nylon rope, tie to rear of boat, but put it in the middle of canoe. when an overturn happens, the brick comes out, gets caught in the rocks, stops canoe. leaped from the back and had grandson by his life jacket, when the water touched his knee. gives you time to gather up the grandson and put him on a bolder, and acess the sitution. a suggestion, tell your grandson to talk to god while checking the canoe, it has a small calming effect. tell , if you have anyone w/ you , you are going under water to cut the rope, to get on your back or follow you until you can touch bottom, then throw small person over your shoulder into the half submerged canoe, the grandson felt safe for the 400 yard float to calm water, and push out on shore. suggestion, if a child is w/ you it is important that you go over the event which just took place. they will tell the story w/ great pride of the adventure when being picked up downriver. after loading the canoe on grandmothers truck, we went to the river, thanked the river for the safe trip, all of a sudden the wind blew hard against us, 1st, breeze of the day, my wife smiled at us and said we looked like soaked , happy persons. it seemed to turn into a short story. the brick works. rich