2torial #0487:
Learn2 Canoe (continued)

Load and launch

Tie one 15-foot (4.5-meter) rope to either end of the canoe. This gives you something with which to tie the boat to shore. Be sure to coil the rope and stow the coil inside the boat to keep it from snagging on rocks or other obstacles.

Load up. Put the boat in the water until it floats parallel to the shore and (from the side) slip your gear under the thwarts in the canoe's center, making sure to distribute the weight evenly. If the water close to the shore is too shallow to float the canoe, you may have to walk into the water to load. Don't add gear while part of the boat is on shore: you’re more likely to tip it over when pushing off and you won’t be able to tell if you’ve loaded it so it’s balanced.

If you're loading from a dock, or otherwise can't load from the side, have the person who will sit in the front climb in and stay in a crouched position while the other paddler hands the gear in from shore.

Backpacks and coolers sometimes have their own straps that you can fasten to the thwarts. If not, tie them to the boat with rope, crisscrossing the rope over the gear and through any straps or handles, then tying it off with slip knots (see 2torial #0540: Tie Basic Knots).

Board. Paddlers should board one at a time, helping each other steady the boat. To climb aboard a floating canoe from the side, place one hand on each gunwale to support your weight, then step into the boat's center so your weight is distributed over your hands and feet. For better balance, stay in a crouched position until you're settled in your seat.