Canoe Basics

Unloading Your Canoe

Very few paddlers have ever learn the proper way to unload a canoe at the beach or portage. From dragging fully-loaded canoes all the way to the parking lot to observing the "canoeing-challenged" trying to paddle their fully loaded canoes down the beach, to the water which is still 5 feet away.

Improper unloading and handling, which includes stepping in a canoe that's on the ground and worse yet, dragging a fully loaded canoe over the rocks is just plain irresponsible both on the part of the paddler. Considering that you will be relying on that canoe to get home, why would you treat it so poorly?

Proper care of your canoe is very simple and requires no special skills. It also usually requires less time and effort than beating up your on canoe. However, if struggling and dragging your canoe over rocks, from lake to lake, much sooner than later you'll need a new canoe and new canoe sales keep canoe builders and their employees with food on the table and a roof over their heads. Have fun!

Step1: Grab your canoe by the grab handle when it's still floating. Notice the canoe is floating and all the gear is still inside

Step 2: Pick up the canoe and begin to pull it towards shore. Very easy to do and takes about 3 seconds.

Step 3: Keep walking inland - your feet will stay much drier in that direction. As you are carrying the canoe bow, you can't see how close the bottom of the canoe is to the ground, but there's no noise as long as the stern is floating on the water.

Step 4: The second you hear the canoe touch the ground, STOP. Set it down. Dragging it beyond this point of initial contact is unnecessary.

Step 5: Grab the first pack by the "ears" (or the grab-handles just below the ears in a modern pack and get it out of the canoe.

Step 6: If you can't reach the rest of the packs, repeat steps 1 thru 4. Then grab the next pack by the ears, not the straps. Doing so will prevent you from wrecking your straps and dumping gear out.

Step 7: Take everything out of the canoe. Now you are ready to pick up the canoe for the portage.

As you can see, this is not difficult to do. It doesn't even require practice.

Adapted From: Red Rock Wilderness Store