The canoe and you

Enjoying your canoe

Start by promising to your partner that you will remain friends after the canoe excursion, regardless of any miscommunications, frustrations or verbal slips. Canoeing, when both paddlers are inexperienced will try a relationship because it is not easy to get into a rhythm. Even when paddlers are both experienced, a certain amount of time is required before they really sync.

If you're apprehensive about your ability to perform, perhaps it would be best for you to take the bow (which is the front). Your job will be primarily forward momentum and looking out for rocks and things. The paddler at the stern will be responsible for a little forward momentum, but the main job is directing the canoe.

A couple hints on paddle strokes

Your forward stroke is the most basic stroke and the one you should focus your attentions on at first. Just remember to grip your top hand on the handle, not the throat like a baseball bat. Your lower hand will hold the paddle about midway down the throat and it will do most the work. To turn, if you're sitting at the stern, reach the paddle far in front of you and paddle back in a 'C' shape, not straight. The 'C' should be facing toward the boat. For a more forceful turn, paddle the same 'C' shape from stern to bow.

The touring canoe

Touring canoes generally refer to a broad category of canoe built for comfort with a lot of storage space. Their design and light weight makes them better for open windy waters and less experienced canoeists. Its cousin, the tripping canoe, is designed with more rocker for better maneuverability on whitewater rivers. Rocker, in the boating sense, refers to the slope of the keel line from stern to bow. It is what you might rock the boat on. Touring boats have straighter keel line to better stay on track.

Playboating decked and whitewater canoes

Because canoeing isn't just about casually floating and watching sunrises or sunsets, you may also want to consider playboating decked canoes or whitewater canoes. Both of these canoes very closely resemble kayaks but are paddled with a single bladed paddle. They naturally have more rocker and are designed to take a beating. Playboating canoes will have a flatter bottom and are very short. Both are ridden in a kneeling position.