Canoeing: The Basics!

Brief History Canoes were developed over the course of thousands of years by the native people of America. The word canoe originated from the work ‘kenu’ – meaning “dugout.” The Carib Indians of the Caribbean islands and the Native Americans for the Pacific Northwest would care and dig out large trees, hence the name dugout. The North American Indians from the East and Midwest are responsible for crating the more well-known version of the canoe – a frame of wooden ribs covered with the lightweight bark from birch trees, and sometimes elm or cedar trees. Birch bark was the perfect choice to build canoes because not only was it lightweight and smooth, but it was also waterproof and resistant to rot. The joints of the canoes were held together by the roots of the white pine and then made waterproof by applying hot pine or spruce resin.

Types of Canoes: 1. WOOD/CANVAS: Wooden frame with canvas wrapped around the frame. Disadvantages: = fragile, maintenance required (varnish), expensive. Advantage: = beauty, smooth riding.

Types of Canoes: 2. CEDAR STRIP: Disadvantages: = fragile, for flat water, expensive Advantage: = fast (cuts through water), light weight.

Types of Canoes: 3. ALUMINUM: Disadvantages: = noisy, gets hung up on rocks, heavy. Advantages: = stable, increased carrying capacity, easy maintenance, unsinkable, inexpensive, durable.

Types of Canoes: 4. A.B.S. (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) Disadvantages:= Doesn’t float well, flex slows down the speed. Advantage: = Flexible, “indestructible”, little maintenance.

Types of Canoes: 5. FIBERGLASS: Disadvantages: = Wears out, Hard to patch holes. Advantages: = reasonable weight, low cost, low maintenance.

Types of Canoes: 6. KEVLAR Disadvantages: = Very expensive. Advantages: = very light weight, indestructible, fast.

Types of Canoes: 7. POLYETHYLENE: Disadvantages: = Flex slows it down, hard to repair in field, heavy Advantages:= Very tough and durable, inexpensive considering how strong it is, very flexible, (you can bend it around a tree and it will spring back to its shape).

Types of Canoes: 8. INFLATABLE: Disadvantages: = Slow, small, punctures easily. Advantages: = compact, light, inexpensive.

Basic Canoe Anatomy

More on choosing a canoe...

How to enter a canoe NO BRIDGING Stay on the Keel (middle of the canoe)

Keep knees below the Gunwales

Canoe Paddle 1. GRIP: Where the top hand is placed “T - Grip: = for quick turning. (good for river trips) Oval grip: = for comfort ( good for long day trips) 2. SHAFT: The long narrow part of the paddle. 3. THROAT: The lower part of the shaft where your lower hand is placed. 4. BLADE: Portion of the paddle that pushes against the water. OVAL BLADE: = quieter, good for long trips. SQUARE BLADE: = more bite, but noisy and more tiresome.

Parts of the Canoe Stroke 1. PLANT PHASE: The starting point. where the blade enters the water. 2. POWER OR PROPULSION PHASE: Moves the canoe through the water. 3. RECOVERY PHASE: Returning the paddled blade to the plant position.

Power Strokes FORWARD STROKE: “TORSO PADDLING” NOT ARM PADDLING. Both arms nearly straight. Plant blade beyond knees, paddle should be in vertical position. Recover by “Feathering” blade horizontal with blade close to water surface. J-STROKE: A forward stroke with a turning stroke at the end. At the end of the stroke (while paddle is still in water) turn top hand thumb DOWN. Push blade away from canoe. BACK STROKE: Propels canoe backwards or decrease forward speed. Reach back and plant blade. (Both hands out over gunwale).

Turning Strokes DRAW: (STATIONARY DRAW) Pulls canoe toward paddle. Reach out as far as possible. Extend top hand out so paddle is vertical. Pull paddle in until paddle reaches canoe. Turn top thumb away from canoe and slice blade out through water to start position. PRY: Pushes canoe away from the paddle. Powerful, quick stroke. Slice paddle under canoe and pry off the gunwales. Finish with a underwater recovery. Stop the pry when your paddle is vertical. SWEEP: Blade sweeps surface of water in a half circle. Good to use in shallow water. Used by bow or stern person. Not as powerful as other turn strokes.

Canoe Steering: J stroke & C stroke Tandem Canoe Essentials

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