Choosing a Canoe Paddle

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on choosing a canoe paddle.

Choosing a canoe paddle is not a difficult task. How the paddle feels in your hands can be as important as other factors such as shape, size and grip.  A good paddle isn’t magic, but a bad paddle of the wrong size can be like trying to paddle with a 2x4.

Canoe paddles are usually about 52" to 60" and offered in 2" increments. Bent-shaft paddles are generally shorter with wider blades and are commonly 48" to “54.” There are several ways to choose a paddle length.

When you are on the water, sit inside the canoe and measure the vertical distance from the tip of your nose to the waterline.  This should be the same distance as the distance from the paddle’s grip to the throat where the shaft hits the blade.  In a store, kneel with your butt about 6” from the floor as if you were in a canoe.  Place the paddle grip on the floor and the throat of the paddle should be between your chin and nose.  If you are at home, measure the floor to nose distance as above and add this measurement to about 20” representing the blade length.  For bent shaft paddles deduct 2” from the above and for wider boats add 2” to the length.

Lighter paddles cause less fatigue for long trips, but balance, strength and flexibility should not be overlooked.  Flatwater paddlers look for flexibility in a paddle, but whitewater canoers look for a stiff paddle.

Wood paddles are most popular with beautiful finishes available and responsiveness.  They do require some upkeep to maintain their appearance and longevity.  Aluminum or plastic paddles are less comfortable than wood, but can be good spare or beginner paddles.  Fiberglass and other materials can be seen for more specialized paddling.

Blade shapes can be specialized, but paddles blades 8” to 20” are most common.  A palm or pear-shaped grip fits naturally into the palm of your hand and is popular.  T-grips let you wrap your fingers around the handle for precise control and solid grip making them popular for whitewater paddlers and young people.

A straight shaft is good for general paddling and allows a variety of strokes.  Bent shafts can be good for flatwater paddling as the position of the blade is set for maximum efficiency remaining vertical in the water during the post powerful part of the stroke.  Shafts can be round, but oval shafts offer a more comfortable grip.

You will find that most major companies have a buyers’ guide for paddles.  This should enable you to make an informed choice for your paddle purchase.  There is no substitute for trying the paddle on the water to see if it fits your personal needs.  “Try before you buy” is always my motto—if at all possible.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

Canoe Paddles: How to Choose
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/canoe-paddle.html

Cannot go up the creek without one: Choosing a Canoe Paddle
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?13

Choosing a Paddle: Sizing
http://www.madrivercanoe.com/education_portal/index/learn/choosing_a_paddle_sizing

Nature Quotient.
eBook @Amazon.com

Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
eBook @Amazon.com

Check out this episode!

Canoe or Kayak

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on choosing a kayak or canoe.

Dedicated canoe enthusiasts will tell you, “Of course, there is a difference.  It’s hard to even compare the two.” 

Avid kayakers often will tell you, “Why do you even care about what a canoe is?  A kayak is the only kind of boat you will ever need to know about.  Canoes are for those old people who don’t know any better.” 

Europeans often use the words canoe and kayak interchangeably.  If you go to the Web site of the International Canoe Federation you will find canoe referring to many events using kayaks.  Go to the American Canoe Association Web site and you will immediately see: “Kayak and Canoe Recreation.”  The site proclaims, “Dedicated to helping people enjoy the outdoors using kayak, canoes, and rafts since 1880.”  They do not make an obvious effort to differentiate between the boats.

Look up the definition of a canoe on Wikipedia and you find a definition something like, a small boat usually pointed at each end and usually open...but can be covered.  The kayak definition on the same site is a small human-powered boat usually with a covered deck and propelled by a double-bladed paddle.

It can be argued that the history of the kayak dates back more than 4000 years to the native hunters of the sub-arctic regions of North America and Greenland.  The history of the popularized canoe in the United States shares a romantic history dating back a few hundred years to the American Indian.  Both boats were largely a product of their environment and living needs.  The bones, driftwood and animals skins were the available materials for the Inuit hunters who were literally “sewn” into their boats in the cold sub-artic climate.  The birch-bark or hollowed-log canoe of the early Americans utilized the materials available and served the purpose of transportation in the early river systems.  The contemporary canoe or kayak is made of modern materials that are being constantly improved and fit the needs of today’s paddler.  It is an open boat symmetrically shaped around the centerline and should be able to be paddled in with direction although there are a number of variations of this design.  Aluminum has been quickly replaced by fiberglass, plastic, Kevlar, and carbon fiber.

The sport of paddling can be enjoyed by propelling any of a variety of specially designed boats?  Each has its own special purpose.  The obvious difference between kayaks and canoes is that a kayak is normally propelled by a double-bladed paddle, while in a canoe, the paddlers uses a single-bladed paddle.  Each is designed to fit individual personalities and lifestyle.  If you do not know immediately what you prefer, put a paddle in the water by renting each one to try your luck.  A canoe is flexible with no frills and very utilitarian.  The kayak is usually geared more toward performance and precision with its sleek lines.

The family canoe can come in a size big enough to carry the whole family along with their gear on a trip.  Canoes can even include the family pets and excel traveling on calm water.  They are maneuverable for their size, but can easily fill with water with high waves and rain. There are great for leisurely nature watching and camping.

Kayaks also come in different sizes, but cargo space is usually more limited than in a canoe.  Crew size is also limited to mostly one or two people.  Kayaks can be fast and zip through rapids keeping the paddler dry with a more intimate contact with the water.  Kayaks normally put the paddler frequently at or slightly below the water line that provides more stability.  For turning and tracking canoes largely rely on the keel and taper of the sides of the boat.  Kayaks often include rudders and skegs to increase tracking and turns.

“Try before you buy” is the main recommendation I also make to people.  It’s hard to make a “wrong” decision if you do this.  I personally think that if you do not have a definite need to carry a great deal of gear or people, you will enjoy the freedom and flexibility of the kayak.  But, give each a try.  Advances in boats may surprise you and the ease of paddling and closeness to the water may draw you wanting new paddling craft.  Whichever you choose, each boat provides an excellent way for you to interact with nature.

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

How to Buy a Used Kayak or Canoe
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Buy-a-Used-Kayak-or-Canoe-/10000000177635992/g.html

Kayak Types
http://www.smart-start-kayaking.com/Kayak-Types.html

Which Kayak Is Right for Me?
http://www.roscocanoes.com.au/KAYAKS/FAQ%60s/Which%20kayak%20is%20right%20for%20me-244.aspx 

American Canoe Association
http://www.americancanoe.org/

Nature Quotient.
eBook @Amazon.com

Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
eBook @Amazon.com

 

 

Check out this episode!

Touring Kayaks

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on touring or sea kayaks.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate kayak models.  Kayaks are becoming more and more specialized to meet the needs of paddlers.  Sea kayaks are normally considered a subset of touring kayaks, but for the purpose of our discussion I’ll consider them both together—calling them touring kayaks.  The sea kayak is just usually a longer version of the touring kayak. 

The easiest way to define a touring kayak is that it is longer and narrower than recreational kayaks making it better for rough and open water. Touring kayaks were developed for the sport of paddling on open water in lakes or the ocean.  They have a covered deck and can use a skirt that goes around the paddlers sealing cockpit from spray and the threat of filling with water. They are usually over 15 feet long and 26 inches or less wide.  Their keel is more pronounced giving them better tracking and efficient gliding.  They trade the maneuverability and stability of the recreational kayak for faster cruising speed, cargo capacity and gliding for long trips. Sea kayaks are frequently used for coastal or sea journeys that can extend up to several weeks and they have room for camping gear, food, and water.

The hull of the touring kayak is normally made of some kind of plastic or can be made from a composite material such as fiberglass.  Composite boats usually cost more but have the benefit of usually being lighter in weight. The more rigid hull of a composite boat can provide a more responsive boat and it smooth surface may make it faster in the water.  The plastic hulls are more forgiving should you paddle too close to rocks and minor damage can be repaired easily. Composite kayaks can crack more easily do to their rigid nature making them more expensive to repair.

Whether you should have a skeg or rudder on your kayak is debatable.  Rudders can be used to control the direction of your kayak with foot pedals inside the cockpit.  The skeg is a retractable keel that can be raised or lowered on the bottom of the boat. Skegs are mainly used to assist with tracking or going in a straight line, but it does not control the turning direction of the boat.  Shifting your body weight and using your paddle changes the direction with a skeg.  Some think the rudder can have mechanical problems and get in the way when they are pulled up on top the kayak.  Skegs need a storage box inside the boat that takes up space that could be used for other storage.

The size of the kayak cockpit relates to your safety, comfort and ability to control the boat.  Your hips and thighs need to be in contact with the boat to give you control for rolling and edging.  This isn’t an issue in flat water, but rough water can provide a challenge to boat control.  A snug fit makes you more “one” with the boat and provides better control.  Just be sure it is not so small that it traps you in the boat preventing a quick exit should you capsize and not be able to roll the boat upright.  Most people prefer a cockpit a couple inches wider than their hips and about the length of their inseam.

I always say “try before you buy” for any type of kayak.  Individual differences and preferences will determine the right kayak for you.  Get the expert advice from an established dealer and then paddle the boat before you make the final decision.

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

How to Buy a Used Kayak or Canoe
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Buy-a-Used-Kayak-or-Canoe-/10000000177635992/g.html

Kayak Types
http://www.smart-start-kayaking.com/Kayak-Types.html

Which Kayak Is Right for Me?
http://www.roscocanoes.com.au/KAYAKS/FAQ%60s/Which%20kayak%20is%20right%20for%20me-244.aspx

Nature Quotient.
eBook @Amazon.com

Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
eBook @Amazon.com

 

 

Check out this episode!