Canoeing is one of the more relaxing and pastoral of the outdoor sports. It can take you to wild places where other boats could never go, and it can provide you with a sense of peace, serenity and quietude. But canoeing can also mean outdoor adventure and excitement. If nothing else, canoes are versatile. They can be used for a lazy paddle on a still marsh or lake; outfitted for a relaxing afternoon of fishing; packed up for a family camping adventure; or used to test your paddling skills on a set of whitewater rapids. Regardless of the venue, mastery of a canoe does require a certain set of skills and some basic safety awareness. This program focuses mainly on canoeing in the context of relaxed family fun.
Get in the Boat
The first step in canoeing is to make sure that you're suited up with a life vest (figure A), the essential piece of safety equipment for almost all boating activities.
Next, master the proper technique for getting into the canoe. If you're starting out from a dock or a steep bank, first pull the canoe around so that it's parallel to the dock or bank. This will make it easier to step in. From bank or put-in where it's shallow, you may simply want to wade out slowly until the water is just above your ankles, then step in.
Canoes can be prone to tipping, so use some caution as you get in. Stay low and move slowly as you prepare to step in. Lift one foot and carefully place it on the centerline inside the canoe (figure B). Steady yourself, then lift the other foot into the boat, also placing it near the center line.
If the canoe is rocking back and forth, kneel or crouch down to lower your center of gravity (figure C) as you get settled in. Move slowly to your seat and sit down.
Paddling Basics
The person sitting in the front -- or bow -- of the canoe is positioned slightly back toward the center, providing some legroom. The person sitting in the back -- or stern -- is positioned further back for better paddling efficiency (figure D). The person at the stern does the majority of the steering and the more strenuous paddling. The person in front will also paddle and help gently angle the bow in the desired direction.
The two passengers in the canoe paddle on opposite sides (figure E). This keeps the canoe moving fairly straight and in the proper direction and, since they are leaning in opposite directions as they paddle, keeps the canoe balanced in the water.
Although there are only three basic paddling strokes in canoeing -- propelling, turning and bracing -- there are numerous variations on those. For simple canoeing, however, it's not necessary to know all of the variations.
Canoe tip: It's much easier to steer a canoe as it's moving through the water. In canoeing terminology, moving "through the water" means that the canoe is moving faster than the current, not just idly drifting along with the current. If both paddlers stop, the canoe can go "dead in the water," making it difficult to maneuver.
RESOURCES :
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.)
A comprehensive site with equipment and clothing for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, paddling, fly fishing, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
REI
Sumner, WA 98352-0001
Website: www.rei.com
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) -- paddling; canoeing
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) is an informational Web site about outdoor activities.
Below is the link to their section on canoeing.
Web site: www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/paddle.htm
Canoe and Kayak magazine online
The online version of Canoe and Kayak magazine.
Web site: www.canoekayak.com/
American Canoe Association
Web site: www.acanet.org
Links re: International Scale of River Difficulty
Web sites:
www.canoeclub.barrie.on.ca/mwscale.htm
http://members.aol.com/boatful/ratings.htm
US Geological Survey page on U.S. streams
Web site: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration (NOAA) River-conditions info
Web site: www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hic/current/river_flooding/index.shtml
Canoeing : The Complete Guide to Equipment and Technique
Model: 0811724263
Author: David Harrison
Stackpole Books
Website: www.stackpolebooks.com
Basic Essentials Canoe Paddling, 2nd Edition (Basic Essentials Series)
Model: 0762706627
Author: Harry Roberts, Steve Salins
The Globe Pequot Press
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Phone: 203-395-0440
Fax: 203-820-2329
American Whitewater
Web site: www.americanwhitewater.org
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