2torial #0487:
Learn2 Canoe

Can you canoe?

There's something adventuresome about a canoe. It's become a universal symbol of the outdoors, conjuring images of camping trips, youth camps, and early explorers. But while high adventure is always an option, canoeing can also be a fine way to spend a leisurely afternoon. If you've never paddled before, this 2torial will dispel some of the mystery.

Before you become an ardent canoer and buy your own boat, you'll probably want to borrow or rent one. Many outdoor recreation stores, hotels, and lodges rent canoes complete with regulation life jackets, paddles, ropes, and seat cushions--and they may help load it onto your car or into the water. Call ahead to find out what gear and assistance they supply.

Modern canoes are generally 14 to 19 feet long (4.3 to 5.8 meters) and hold up to six people. The average is 16 to 17 feet (4.9 to 5.2 meters) and holds up to four people. How many people a canoe holds depends on its weight capacity, how much gear you have, and the boat's design.

Note: This 2torial explains techniques for a two-person canoe on a placid lake or mellow river. For more instruction on paddling canoes, contact local recreation or sports stores, the American Red Cross, youth camps (like the YMCA), or adult education centers for class information.

Understand the equipment

Take a look at your canoe. You can tell which end is which by looking at the seats: the bow, or front, seat is near the middle, while the other seat, called the stern or rear seat, is closer to the back. This arrangement gives the paddlers ample leg room and helps keep the boat more stable.

Paddles. Each paddler uses a single paddle. Each paddle has a handle, which is gripped by one hand during the stroke, a long round shaft, which is grasped by the other hand, and a wide, flat blade, which is used to propel the boat through the water.

If you like, you can carry coolers, fishing poles, or your pet rock in your canoe, but there are a few things you really need in addition to the boat and the paddles, so make these your next priority:

Life jackets. The U.S. Coast Guard requires one class-3 personal flotation device (life jacket) for each person on board a canoe. According to the regulations, children, teenagers, and adults must wear life jackets specifically designed for them, so check the labels. Each country has its own standards--be sure to call the coastal authority in your country before you set off.

Cushions. Knee pads and seat cushions are invaluable for comfort--just ask anyone who has spent a day in a canoe without them. If you don’t expect to paddle from the kneeling position, you may not need the knee pads, but it's a good idea to take some anyway for a change of pace when your body gets tired of sitting. The seat cushions should be waterproof and securely fastened to the seats.

Rope. For tying up the boat, you'll need at least two 15-foot (4.5-meter) ropes. Bring more to lash down your other gear--canoes tend to tip.

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.

Paddle and steer

It takes a little practice to get the hang of paddling, but eventually you'll master a straight, easy glide.

Generally, two people place their paddles in the water at the same time, paddling on opposite sides of the boat. The bow paddler leads, setting the rhythm and alternating sides after several strokes. The stern paddler also steers the boat by using his or her paddle to compensate for any wave or wind fluctuation.

Grasp the paddle. When you paddle on your right side, your right hand will grip the paddle shaft about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) above the paddle blade. With your left hand, grip the paddle handle at the top end of the shaft. Your hands should be about shoulder width apart.

The basic strokes are as follows. Keep in mind that in this step, strokes are described as if you're paddling on the right side. When you paddle on the left, you'll reverse the positions of your hands.

The forward stroke. Holding the paddle on your right side as described, bend your left elbow so your fist is in front of your chin. With your upper body turned slightly to the right, reach forward with your right hand until your right arm is straight. Now:

• Place 3/4 of the blade in the water.

• Push your left hand forward and to the right diagonally toward a point just above where your right hand started. At the same time, draw your right hand straight back so it's parallel to your hip. Any pull on the paddle past the hip is ineffective, as it causes the boat to bob, creates a drag, and is more work for you.

• Relax your arms so your left arm drops down into the canoe, while the blade comes out of the water.

• With your left arm, twist the handle counterclockwise so the blade is almost parallel to the water, with the edge in front slightly higher than the back edge. This lessens wind resistance on the blade as you come into position for the next stroke.

• Bring your left arm back up to chin level and straighten your right arm forward, so the blade moves out and forward, into the starting position.

The backstroke. This is the exact opposite of the forward stroke. You will use this stroke to back out of the dock area or out of another boat's way, maneuver around objects, or quickly slow your boat's forward momentum.

Start the basic backward stroke as if you had just finished a forward stroke: with your left arm straight, reaching forward diagonally to your right side and your right hand (holding the shaft) relaxed at your hip. The paddle blade should be poised just above the water.

• Place 3/4 of the blade in the water.

• Pull your left hand back toward your chin while pushing your right hand forward.

• Take the blade out of the water by dropping your left arm down into the canoe.

• With your left hand, twist the handle clockwise so the blade tilts to a slight angle above and almost parallel to the water.

• Reach forward with your left hand and bring your right arm back to your hip, so the blade moves out and back, into position for the next stroke.

The J stroke. Either paddler can use this stroke for steering or turning, but on a calm lake it's typically used by the stern paddler (in these conditions, no further steering effort is usually necessary). Begin the stroke as if you were doing a forward stroke. Then, just before your right hand reaches your hip, while the blade is still in the water, twist the handle away from you and push the paddle out, away from the boat to your right.

Avoid tipping

Avoid tipping your gear and your partner into the water by following these guidelines:

• Make no sudden movements.

• Lower your center of gravity by crouching, sitting, or kneeling at all times. Never stand up in the boat.

• Add weight (in the form of gear) to the bottom center of the canoe to provide stability.

If you tip over midstream or mid-lake, either swim the canoe to the shore to recover or, if it’s too far to swim, turn the canoe right side up in the water while tipping it from side to side to get some of the water out. It will be mostly full of water but should still float. Once you’re back in the canoe, you can use a bailing bucket or sponge to drain out more water, if necessary.

Get back into a canoe by putting one hand on the far gunwale and one on the nearest gunwale. Then kick your feet to propel your weight across the boat and onto both gunwales at the same time, keeping your chest low. The trick is to get your weight centered across the boat so it won’t tip in either direction. Your full weight shouldn’t come down on the gunwales until it's spread equally over both. Turn over onto your back so you're sitting in the canoe. Turn to pull your feet into the boat. Paddle to shore to get the rest of the water out of the boat.

If you have a chance, take an empty canoe out for a practice session. Let the waves approach it from every angle so you can see how the boat responds. This will help you become familiar with your boat's limits as well as your own. Along the way, you'll discover, as many others have, that mastering the basics can really enhance the tranquil experience of paddling your own canoe.

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