I've read Chris's posts for quite some time. I'm certain he managed to convince everyone watching that he fully intended to check out the water temperature.. or something like that.. and that this wasn't an accident!

Just idle curiousity: were you both wearing flotation vests?

Sue

As far as using the sparker, were you moving the striker and scraping into your tinder? The less disturbing way is to hold the striker steady and draw the fire steel towards you.

Sorry for the slow reply, lots to do , no time.

Yes, I was moving the striker into the tinder. Thanks for the tip, I"ll try it ASAP.

Firelay Yes, I was using the tepee style. My problem was trying to use a small birds nest style tinder pile. Dried grass, shavings from dead limb with vaseline coated cotton ball, kept destroying the tinder pile from shaking.

No, vests under our seats. Slow moving river max. about 5 ft deep, half the time canoe was scrapping bottom.
I know the depth being shallow is NO excuse. vests from now on.

The weather was dry but windy. Plenty of dry tinder and firewood close at hand

Thanks for everyones replys and tips, I've learned so much here.

Thank you for your answers.

I am going to learn from your spill. If I am chilled and shaking and need to start a fire I am going to use the log and inverted V fire lay and wrap my cotton ball around a stick. I’ll gather my firewood, build the fire lay, wrap and light my cotton-ball fire-stick, and light the fire. Then I’ll add kindling until the fire is big enough for fuel.

Does anyone have a better idea?

I’d rather figure out what I need to do before it happens than try to figure it out when I am not thinking clearly.

Check this version of a hypothermia survival kit.

http://www.watertribe.com/Magazine/ChallengeHowTo/Contents.aspx?ucPtr=WhenGodsPlay.ascx

Great link!

Thanks!