Canoe Basics

Types Of Canoes - Canoe Types And Usage Definitions

CR - Casual Recreation Canoes - Best design for all purpose paddling on flat water. Good family recreational boat. Generally stability is featured above performance.

CS - Cruising Canoes - High-performance, medium-volume flat-water boats built to maximize speed and hull efficiency. A good choice for the skilled paddler who enjoys moving a boat across the water as much as reaching the destination. They are fast enough to give the paddler an aerobic workout.

DR - Down-River Canoes - Not white water canoes, but because of their rugged construction and rocker they can handle class 2 or 3 rapids when paddled by an experienced paddler. These canoes are quick and responsive and capable of handling a moderate to heavy load.

DT - Day Tripper / Weekend Canoes - Medium-volume canoes meant to carry two paddlers and a weekend's worth of gear - about 600lbs. They're lightweight and fairly quick on the water.

SP - Sportsman Canoes - Used most frequently for hunting and fishing. They're designed to be stable, rugged platforms for carrying sporting equipment. Good choice for paddlers whose primary concern is stability.

SY - Specialty Canoes - Canoes that don't fit neatly into any category, such as historical replicas or other unique styles of canoes and rowboats. Canoes that may be best suited for decorative purposes also fit into this category.

TR - Touring Canoes - Long, slender, and generally faster than canoes for casual recreation they have medium to high volume and perform best underway on flat water but are versatile enough for easy current.

WT - Wilderness Tripper Canoes - Rugged construction and high capacity, these versatile canoes are good for extended canoe trips to remote wilderness areas.

Wood/Canvas - The most traditional type of canoe covering, these canoes are a lot more rugged that the name implies. Because the canvas is not permanently bonded to the hull, 20-25 years down the road these canoes can be restored to their original condition by re-canvassing. More resistant to abrasions, wood/canvas models are best suited for wilderness tripping and down river paddling.

Wood/Epoxy - Often referred to as "wood glass" canoes, these crafts are built using the same traditional method as wood/canvas. However, instead of canvas they use clear bonded epoxy on the outside of the hull. There is an invisible layer of fiberglass cloth between the wood and epoxy so that the natural beauty of the wood is visible on the outside. The entire canoe is then varnished. Lighter weight and easy maintenance are two advantages of wood/epoxy construction. Best suited for lakes, ponds, and deep rivers.