First time going canoeing...

[AdamDuritz99]

Well this next Wednesday i'm going canoeing. I've never been, Is there anything I need to know before I go?

peace
sean

 

[Azraele]

Don't fall out of the canoe.

Have fun.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

DO NOT MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVES IN THE CANOE. Also, anything (cameras etc) that can take water damage should be bagged appropriately. Look up J strokes on Google.

 

[MajesticMoose]

You don't need j-strokes, their a pain in the bum(for the uncoordinated like myself) and unnecessary. Being your first time in a canoe, I'm sure you'll probably be in the front. If you do get put in the back, all you need to do is learn to use the paddle as a rudder. just remember if you do that or use it as a brake on either side to turn sharp you'll lose a lot of momentum. One more thing, in rapids, head for the down-stream "V", and if you get stuck on a rock and have to get out, do so on the upstream side only.

 

[Squisher]

Your first impulse will be to lean to the side when you go to stroke....bad move. Keep your shoulders over your hips especially at first, then as you start to have more feel for the canoe you can start to but more body into your strokes.

 

[Brutuskend]

One important tip everyone else missed.

DON'T STAND UP!

 

[kami]

Geez guys it's not THAT easy to tip a canoe. Now a kayak on the other hand...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Kami, I took a big swim once in a Grumann aluminum canoe. It has a round bottom. Last round bottomed canoe I ever went in

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: kami
Geez guys it's not THAT easy to tip a canoe. Now a kayak on the other hand...

Agreed, I've only been canoeing once, and I did tip over but it was because I was doing something dumb. It really isn't that easy to tip one over, although we did have one with an angled bottom.

Make sure you put sunscreen on before you go, and buy a pair of water shoes. Mine are LL Bean, but I'm sure you can get them elsewhere. Basically they're a pair of canvas shoes with a rubberized bottom. They dry much faster than regular shoes and are much nicer when you are trying to push your canoe off a rock.

 

[Supermercado]

Canoeing is fun. Not only should you not make any sudden moves, but make sure the other person in the boat knows not to, as well. When I went one time, the other guy in the boat decided he wanted to get out when we were close to the shore.... Well, he tried and we both ended up in the drink.

 

[AdamDuritz99]

Hey guys, thanks for the great tips.

I looked up j stroke at google and read about it. Though I'm sure it's not that complicated doing it, reading about it sure was. I'm just going to ask someone to show me.

peace
sean

 

[LaBang]

Keep everything in dry bags.

The person in the rear is supposed to control the direction of the boat. You do this by something called the j-stroke. It's a foward paddle and then you feather the paddle at the end of the stroke to turn the boat. Neither person should have to switch sides much. THe rear person also is supposed to tell the front person what to do.

Have fun.

 

[ErmanC]

Every time I get in a canoe, I end up in the creek.