The canoe looks perfectly symmetrical... how in the world do you tell the bow from the stern or does it matter

Question

The canoe looks perfectly symmetrical... how in the world do you tell the bow from the stern or does it matter

Answer 1

usually the back seat will be closer to the point.this is so that the back paddeler can guide with less resistance

Answer 2

You go by where the seats are placed.  The stern is where the seat is closest to the end.

Answer 3

im not sure if it really matters what way its going but you can usually tell by the placement of the seats. the bow seat is usually farther away from the front of the boat to allow for leg room while the stern seat is right up next to th eback because there doesnt have to be any leg room.