A three-man film crew recording a rafting expedition has lost completed tapes of the first part of the Whitehorse-to-Dawson trip and have had much of their equipment damaged after capsizing in the Yukon River last Thursday.

Carmacks RCMP Cpl. Brian Pilatzke said this morning the filmmakers retrieved a bit of their equipment over the weekend, but had still not found some of the finished tapes.

While the boat was recovered near Minto on Sunday, the filmmakers have asked that any boaters who come across floating boxes in the river grab them and return them to the nearest RCMP detachment.

The tapes are in a duct-taped cardboard box.

It was shortly after the Caroline Skiff riverboat capsized that a call came into police, at 11:36 p.m., when a driver noticed the crew from the Carmacks bridge crossing over the Yukon River.

'It was between a minute or two, max,' Pilatzke said of the time between when the boat capsized and when police were called.

Another call came in from the rafters who were behind the film crew, closer to Whitehorse. The rafters called by satellite phone when the three filmmakers didn't come back to meet them as planned.

RCMP quickly began the river rescue and got the three men out of the water.

It was learned the 10-metre boat had gotten caught in a current and the crew couldn't get the motor started before it hit a pillar at the bridge.

After it capsized, the trio got on top of the boat and waited for help, RCMP said.

They all had life jackets, Pilatzke said.

No one was injured, but all three men were treated for mild hypothermia.

Police are reminding all boaters to be cautious and take any necessary precautions when planning to be out on the water.

'Approved personal flotation devices and thermal protective wear should be worn at all times,' RCMP said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

'Extra food, medical and camping supplies should also be packed in case of an emergency and friends or neighbours should be advised of itineraries, destinations and expected return times.'

Police are wishing Yukoners a safe boating and fishing season.