Yup it would be a serious struggle, I also dropped in after visiting Gat Park. There were a group of sea kayakers who were easily making it up the eddy but that is a different story.
The level pumped up to 58.5 overnight and the eddy should be in.
I had meant to write 58.85 there; Whoops! I figured that this would be high enough based upon memory and this beta from
https://cityofottawawhitewater.blogspot.com/"58.5 - the eddy is in, but rope needed to reattain the top
58.7 - you can paddle up the eddy with effort
59.0 - the eddy is full with little effort needed to paddle up, the waves are steep and retentive"
I think I'll watch for 58.9 in the future and then bring my longish boat if it is around that number.