Hi Charvetti, the only paddling I've done here is on lakes. We've put in on Türlisee and Zug. Türlisee is a lovely little lake for an idle outing. Zug is quite a bit bigger and the views are tremendously good. I'm contemplating a paddle at Luzern next. But had also been researching the Ruess.
Will he wear a cycle helmet? Is he going alone, and wearing a life jacket?
It is always best to walk along the river first, and note where the tree branches are very low: if the boat collides with these, it could result in a massive puncture. It is a good idea to plan where to get out of the boat, and where and how to carry it around the waterfall.
In Bavaria I did a lot of river rafting, and the rivers here are similar. Depending on the previous several days of weather, the rivers can be deep and turbulent. It isn't so much the drowning that might kill the unfortunate, but there are usually massive rocks in the river which create the turbulence, and the victim can be injured when thrown against these. They are not a big danger to a strong boat, as they are smooth enough and the boat will rub along them, but a weak boat might capsize.
http://www.kanuland.ch/en/kanuland.html
Also consider buying the guidebooks (French and German only), for easy to follow routes:
http://www.kanuland.ch/en/guides-maps.html
Floating down river on any sort of inflatable is also fantastic (I would recommend the Intex River Run for this), especially with a few beers. In general just use common sense and follow the waterway signs. Most of all, enjoy it!
http://files.pxlpartner.ch.s3-eu-wes...0a30&CFTOKEN=0
In Munich I once went with 20 British ex-pats on the river. Never again! A canoe was half sunk in a whirlpool, the occupants disappeared, and we only found they were ok much later on. An idiot tied his canoe to his foot, as you would do in open water. He went over a waterfall with his girl friend, he was pulled under by the canoe until he could untie the rope, she was thrown clear. When he got ashore his girl friend had given him up for dead and had gone home. He knocked on the door of the first house, and they put the shutters down and didn't answer the door. In the end he left the canoe and caught the bus home, where he found the girl friend.
Oh yes, jolly good fun was had by all!
Two young women died after an accident on the River Aare at Belp, near Bern last year. Instead of steering between the pillars, through the bridge arches, the boat hit the arch support, and they were crushed against the pillar by the river and held under water by the river current and boat. Newspaper states up to a 20 ton pressure.
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/panorama/vermischtes/Zwei-Frauen-nach-Gummibootunfall-tot/story/27886148
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/leben/da...story/10559581
.
Here in Eglisau it is quite popular to float down with a ring or inflatable, or proper boat/canoe down to about the railway viadukt. In all quite refreshing and enjoyable.
Notwithstanding that, when I hear the siren, or see a rescue vehicle or ambulance go past my place I know that in all probability someone has taken too great a risk.
Here is a site with rudimentary rules in various languages:
https://www.slrg.ch/de/praevention/4...ussregeln.html
I would say
Know the signs posted indicating a danger (rapids, hydro dam etc.) and obey them.
Scout the stretch, plan multiple places to get off the river.
Keep an eye out for, and ask, other people doing the same thing.
In general, if you find yourself, or are contemplating being, alone on a river, you are probably taking too much risk.
I have paddled a fair number of rivers, including here in Switzerland.
If you assume you are at no risk whatsoever, you've overlooked something.
You don't need to be pissed, but it really helps.
When I was skiing with a group of 12 Germans, I was always the fastest. When I was gliding my instructor wanted to ground me as I flew a very risky course on landing. But I will not take up base jumping, that is suicidal, however paragliding can be safe, with good flying knowledge.
But go ahead, stay up there on your horse, and keep up the EF's reputation. Some of us give advice on how to stay alive, some of us sneer.
Now it pays to be careful, but please also realize that whenever a thread like this is posted, a whole bunch people come out of the woodwork and start quoting yearly death statistics, and by the 3rd page you have a feeling that your dad is a dead man walking.
Look on google maps, check where the hairy sections are on the route and take your abilities into account. Bear in mind that you want to be comfortable too. On the Linth for example, you are going to feel like a dingbat if you take full white water rafting gear. A lifejacket is a good idea (mandatory if your dad is not a good swimmer), but a helmet is an overkill that's going to make him miserable.
That said, an old employee of the family business had gotten two friends of his (father and son) into canoeing. He dropped them off one day for a trip down a lazy river, and went to pick them up at the agreed upon location, but they never showed up. They'd gone over a very small but dangerous dam, got sucked under, and due to the dynamics of the water flow, had no chance of getting to the surface, even if they'd been olympic swimmers. Bodies found 4 months later or so.
Have fun but be safe..