Whitewater and rivers

Eddy line

Also: eddy line, shear line

The eddy line is the boundary between the main current and the eddy. Two currents meet here, and the boat is turned.

Wikibooks calls it the shear zone. When crossing it you must edge the boat, otherwise the opposing current can catch the tube from below and flip the boat. Rule of thumb: always edge to the inside of the turn, i.e. towards the new current.

Sources and further reading

• Wikibooks: Kajak/Strömungsformen (German)
• Paddleways: Whitewater Glossary

Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.