-
To turn the canoe to the left, the person seated
in the back will put their paddle into the water and paddle
backwards on the left hand side of their canoe. (Person if the front
doesn't have to paddle)
-
To turn the canoe to the right, the person
seated in the back will put their paddle into the water and
paddle backwards on the right hand side of their canoe. (Person
sitting in the front doesn't have to paddle)
-
To make a sharp right hand turn incase there is
a rock coming up or a sweeper(tree that has fallen down and is in
your path). The person sitting in the back of the canoe paddles
backwards hard on the right hand side and the person sitting in the
front paddles frontward hard on the left hand side of the canoe at
the same time.
-
The same goes for making a sharp left hand turn.
The person sitting in the back paddles backwards hard on the left
hand side of the canoe and the person sitting in the front paddles
frontward hard on the right hand side of the canoe at the same time.
-
If both persons are paddling on the right hand
side of the canoe this will turn your canoe left.
-
If both person are paddling on the left hand
side of the canoe this will turn your canoe right.
-
When both persons are paddling at the same time
but on opposite sides from one another, the canoe will steer
straight.
-
When the person sitting in the back is paddling
and they need the person in the front to paddle, they must tell the
person in the front what they want them to do, which side to paddle
on, backwards or frontwards. If you are canoeing in a lake you
really don't have to do this unless there are rocks to steer around
and 9.9 times out of 10, there are no rocks protruding out of the
water in a lake unless it is near the shore line. But if you are in
faster waters, the person in the back will have to tell the person
in the front what side they want them to paddle on.
-
The person seated in the front of the canoe has
a important job, which is to inform the driver where the rocks are
and if there is anything in the water that needs to be steered
around. It is very hard to see when you are the driver what is
up ahead when there is a person sitting at the front of the canoe.
-
Also if you want your canoe to go sideways, the
rear person or both persons must put their paddles in the water,
turn your paddle parallel to the canoe, reach out, put the paddle
into the water and pull it towards you. So if you want to pull the
canoe to the right side, put your paddles in the water on the right
side of your canoe. If you want to pull your canoe to the left side,
put your paddles in the water on the left side of your boat.
-
When leaving the shoreline, the person that is
seated in the front always gets in first, make sure they are fully
seated before pushing off shore, then the person that is going to
sit in the back pushes the canoe out into the water and then gets in
the canoe and sits down. This is a little tricky, just try keep your
balance. If the water is low and your boat is dragging a bit on the
bottom of the river, stick your paddle down into the water and into
the ground and push your canoe out into deeper water.
-
To get out of the river and out of your canoe,
paddle hard to get to the shore, usually the front of the canoe is
the first to come to shore unless you get swung around backwards.
The person that is closest to the shore gets out first and be
careful because just like getting in the canoe this is also a bit
tipsy. While the first person is getting out of the canoe, the other
person is to remain seated or more than likely your canoe will
upset. Let the person that gets out first grab a hold of the canoe
and pull it up on the land, then the second person can get out.
-
These are a few basic steps on how to steer a
canoe, they may seem to be a bit confusing while reading about it
but when you actually get out into the water just take your time.
Like most things, you have do something before you actually learn
how.
