Canoe, Kayak Glossary

Beam This is the width of your canoe or kayak at the widest point. It is generally measured to get an idea of how much room you'll have in there. Blem Simply put, a used canoe or kayak. Short for 'blemished,' it technically means a boat that has a physical imperfection or scratch. Finding a good blem that is appropriate for your needs could literally save you hundreds of dollars. There are a lot of great used boats out there. Bow

Some of these are easy, but they are also easy to mix up. The bow is the front of any water vessel. In a canoe, the bow paddler is generally concerned with forward motion and lookout, while the stern paddler provides direction.

Final stability

This refers to a boat's resistance to tipping once it has reached the point of its initial stability, explained further down. Novice canoeists or kayakers want more stability all around.

Gunwales

These are the longitudinal structural supports from bow to stern. They are either inside or outside the hull.

Initial stability

This may seem obvious, but you'll want to inquire about this term if you are thinking of buying a canoe or kayak. It refers to a boat's resistance to leaning due to wind or weight shifting.

Keel

Keel refers to the structural element of the boat underneath the hull that provides lift, tracking and stability. Most molded canoes won't have them because they aren't much necessary in canoeing, but are indispensible on other boats. Aluminum canoes will always have a keel because it does double duty by also protecting the seam from rocks and other potential hazards. The keel line, on the other hand, is just the cross section view of the vessel's bottom, as seen from the side.

Off-side, on-side

The off-side is the opposite of side you are paddling on. On-side, naturally, is the side you are currently paddling on. Starboard and port seem silly on rowboats because you're always facing the same direction.

Rocker

The rocker refers to the curve of the keel line from bow to stern. Greater rocker, in this sense, means more curve and therefore more maneuverability in choppy waters. Canoes with less rocker will track better, but will be more difficult to operate in rougher water.

Secondary stability

This is the boat's tendency to right itself once it started leaning due to weight or wind. The initial stability is the boat's resistance to leaning.

Skeg

This is a fixed rudder, included for purposes of better tracking and stability. On some canoes it is adjustable.

Stern

This is the back end of the boat. The paddler here is responsible for directing the boat and providing forward motion.

Tracking

A boat that tracks well will hold a straight course without much effort. Less rocker means better tracking, but you lose some maneuverability.

Trim

This term refers to end-to-end balance of the boat. A trim boat is level at both ends, achieved by properly adjusting your cargo and paddlers.