Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program Canoe Basics
When you feel confident about canoeing you can take
it out on a lake or calm stretch of river and practice paddling
straight. But how do you
handle a canoe on open water with wind and waves?
Canoes are wonderfully seaworthy craft, but they have a design
flaw: they're topless. If
the waves pick because of the wind, don't panic.
It is very difficult to upset an empty canoe. It is people who
tip canoes over. Don't get
in water beyond your capabilities.
Follow These Tips:
Prepare Yourself
- Always wear a personal flotation device.
If you have a pet dog, obtain a PFD for him as well.
Be aware of any abnormal weather patterns that might occur later
in the day. Test out the
water temperature. Tell
others where you are going and when you plan to return.
Avoid nighttime canoeing.
Prepare Your Route
- An average paddler can travel 4 km/hr. Take into consideration the
route and portages. Avoid as
much as possible areas of open water where wind and waves become a
factor. Chart out islands or
accessible shoreline to rest on.
Watch out for areas of motorized boats.
Prepare Your Canoe And
Possessions
- Waterproof your gear in plastic bags.
Tie valuables to the yoke or seat frames.
Make sure your canoe can float if tipped.
Carry a spare paddle and a buoyant heaving line.
Bring floating seats.
Bring a water bailer or pumping device.
Carry necessary food and water.
Wear protective clothing and head gear.
Waterproof your map and know what to expect in the way of
portages. Bring a sound signaling device (i.e. whistle).
If planning to paddle at night pack a navigation light.
Set Up A Chain Of
Command -
Generally the person in the stern is in charge.
He is more aware of the state of the canoe, controls its
direction and sets the final weight distribution in the canoe.
Follow his directions and trust his signals.
The person on the bow usually determines the side one paddles on.
Know Your Partner
- Find out about the swimming and canoe skills of others in the canoe.
Carry A Bailing Bucket
- This is helpful to bail water if the waves are high.
Know Your Canoe
- Make sure your canoe has not leaks and can float if submerged.
Paddle A Suitable Canoe - Think about waves when you buy your canoe. Big wind makes big waves. Big canoes are drier in big waves.
Trim The Canoe
- A canoe should paddle somewhat bow-light.
A bow-heavy canoe is difficult to control-more so in the wind.
A well-trimmed canoe rises with waves to help you stay dry, and
it responds better in confused waves.
Unite With Your Canoe
- If you are seated, a foot brace and gunwale pads give you a solid
connection. You can respond
to the waves with your hips to control lean.
If kneeling, use knee pads (and whitewater thigh straps) for the
same secure control.
Lower Your Center Of
Gravity -
All in the canoe can drop to their knees and continue paddling.
If you're still concerned, you can always sit on the bottom and
slowly paddle to a nearby shore.
Bridge The Waves
- Open canoe racers use long, fast flared-bow canoes to accelerate
between wave-tops. In small,
compact waves, a fast canoe paddled aggressively spans wave troughs to
maintain control, boat speed, and dryness.
Quarter The Waves
- Angle the canoe into the waves so you take the brunt with the side of
the bow. Lean your canoe
away from a steep wave to keep the windward gunwale high.
This requires confident bracing on the opposite side coupled with
timing to match the wave period.
Know The Weather
- Before departing on a trip be aware of the weather conditions.
High winds usually pick up in the late afternoon.
Consider carrying a portable radio to get the latest weather
forecasts.
Paddling A Headwind Or
Sidewind -
To paddle into heavy winds and if paddling solo, shift your body forward
to the middle of the canoe to make the canoe bow heavy.
The stern, now being lighter, will be blown downwind causing
steering to more easier and controllable.
Keep your body center of gravity and your equipment low to make
the canoe more stable in the water.
Slow Down
- In confused, sloppy waves, reduce forward speed to avoid "punching"
into steep waves. It might
feel as if the canoe is wallowing, but it is less likely to crash into
waves and take on water.
Quick back strokes by either canoeist can slow the canoe just before an
exceptionally large wave to prevent the bow from burying itself in a
deep trough. Time your
stroke to allow the bow to rise on the oncoming wave and then settle
gently into the trough.
Reaccelerate to maintain boat speed.
Turn Sideways
- When you are really threatened, the driest ride is sideways to the
wave. But note this is not
the most secure. It is also
the "rolliest," and requires that you ride the canoe with your hips.
Practice this in non-threatening waves such as turning sideways
to a motorboat wake. Let the
canoe roll up and over as the wave passes.
Keep your paddle "working" in the water, and absorb the rolling
motion with your hips.
Use Natural Wind Breaks
- Most obvious is a lee shore or the lee of an island.
Even up to two miles away, waves will be less ferocious. You
might need to adjust your route.
Wind waves are built by three factors: wind strength, time
blowing, and distance blowing over open water (fetch).
You can't affect the first two, but paddlers seek to minimize
fetch.
Deck It
- Use a spray cover. Those
who like the "open" in canoeing resist decks, but they're an effective
and legitimate solution if your itinerary is likely to include heavy
water.
Avoid Waves
- Use good judgment. The
size and steepness of waves are often not obvious from shore.
Anticipating an open-water crossing, consider that waves may be
greatest away from shore, where wind has had an opportunity to work.
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