Whats the best way to paddle a canoe?

Question

I am going on a canoeing retreat which involves 9 miles of canoeing. I know nothing about canoeing or how to paddle but it sounds like fun. i looked around online but saw a bunch of different paddling techniques but they were not explained very well. Whats the best way and how? thanks!

Answer 1

Can't add much to what campaholic said, but one main reason that beginners go off to one side or another when trying to paddle together is that the paddle shaft isn't vertical as it's planted in the water. Focus on having both hands over the water when taking forward strokes and keep your elbows locked at like a 30 degree angle while rotating your torso and then relax when you recover for your nest stroke.  When your top hand stays inside the canoe, you take more of a sweep stroke that will  tend to turn the canoe to the opposite side ins which you're paddling on.  The closer the blade is to the centrline of the canoe, the straighter it will go.  The further away from the centerline of the canoe that the blade gets, the more the boat will want to turn.

Now I'm getting technical on ya.  Just go have fun and be safe.

Answer 2

You'll have a great time - relax and don't over think it.  Here are some basic, main concepts that should get you off on the right foot:

1.  Loose hips.  When you get in a canoe for the first time, it might feel tippy.  It's never as tippy as your initial perception!  Keep your hips loose, so that your body stays up over the boat... so if the boat tips to the left, don't tip with it.   Canoes have both "initial" stability (what it first feels like) and "secondary" stability (how far it will lean over before it really flips.  Many boats have low initial stability, but amazing secondary stability.  Have faith in the boat.

2.  Torso twist.  Canoe strokes aren't about repetitive ARM motions... it's about relatively STILL arms and repetitive twists at the waist.  Do this and you won't tire as easily as many others will.

3.  Wear your pfd / lifejacket.  People drown in bath tubs; so this extra bit of precaution is a good idea.  

4.  Safety First: Sun Block, hat, plenty of water to drink and some food!  You'll need something to eat to keep you moving.  

5.  Keep your patience. You'll likely be in a tandem boat, and if your paddling partner doesn't know about canoein either, you could struggle with boat control at first.  Patience is king.  (When you are off course, and you're both new, the tendency is to blame the other person.... but you won't know which of the two of you is doing whatever is causing you to go off course.)

6.  The heavier person should sit in the back of the boat.  Trust me, it'll make controlling the boat a lot easier.

If you want some good reference material, there are plenty of articles that go into more detail on technique.  Have fun!!!

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showA...

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showA...

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showA...

http://canoekayak.com/features/technique...

This guy references whitewater paddling, but this applies to mellow water too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XPKv-8VD...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ndmrgp4E...

Answer 3

YOUR DUMB!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

ya, can't tell you much more than campoholic. but just on her second point. maintaining a fairly rigid arm and rotating your torso means you'll be getting a nice controlled, powerful stroke. It's known as the paddle-box and the trunk rotation is great for your abs :)

also i'd recomend a buoyancy aid over a lifejacket because lifejackets are near impossible to swim in and make it even more awkward to climb back in the boat.

Answer 5

There should be an experienced paddler in each canoe.

The person in the rear steers, and needs to pull at the same time as the person in front.  Otherwise, each person tries to pull it by himself, and you'll be slower and more tired.  Pull together, you'll be faster, and stay fresh.

Put the paddle in straight, and pull so the blade is perpendicular to the direction of motion, not angled or edge on.

Answer 6

We need more details. What kind of river or lake or ocean? Do you have a canoe and equipment? Are you going solo or tandem or 'war canoe?

You should try to get some instructions or at least some practice.

Get a good paddle of the right size. Practice paddling while you kneel. Use your torso to pull the paddle through the water. Stop your stroke at your hip! Learn to stop the canoe, turn left and right, move sideways and backward!

Answer 7

1.  front (bow) and back (stern) paddlers paddle on opposite sides of the canoe and paddle in unison.

This stops the canoe from tipping to one side and shares the load, so it's not as hard on your shoulders.  It looks more professional as well.

2.   Get the power by rotating your body as mentiond in the above post.    If you are taking taking a stroke on the left side, start with your body rotated to right, with your left shoulder forward and left arm out straight.

3.  Entry (catch)- have the paddle enter the water with the blade forward of the grip.  like your are stabbing something in front of you.   Have your lower arm staright with the shoulder forward and your top arm bent at the elbow with your upper hand just above your eyes.   The most efficient part of the stroke is when the paddle is about straight up and down and your are pushing water straight back.   Too many people have the blade too far behind the grip by the time they have any effort into the stroke.  All their energy is pulling the canoe into the water instead of forward.

4.  Turning - turn the canoe by pulling (draw stroke) or pushing (pry stroke) the canoe toward or away from the water.   Think of pulling water under the canoe or pushing it directly away - though in reality your pulling the canoe to the water.    Again, it's most efficient when the blade is direclty under the grip.  Don't be afraid to get your upper hand outboard of the canoe.  There are good reasons to have the person in the back do most of the steering, but both people help turn the boat.   Realize the moment of a turn will last a few strokes, so just get it turning in the right direction.

(If you are in the back, and paddeling on the right a draw stroke (pulling water under the boat) will draw the back of the canoe to the right, making a left turn.      Prying (pushing) will do the opposite.

5.   Paddle efficienltly not hard.   Paddeling harder just exagerates the problems.  Be patient and stick with it.