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Choosing Your First Canoe

When it comes to going for a canoe trip, no one wants to miss out the excitement and fun. But all the fun depends on the type of canoe you choose for your trip. There are different types of canoe for different types of purposes and before buying one, you should be very clear regarding the kind of trip you want to go for. This article will help you to decide better!

While choosing a canoe, you need to decide whether you will be paddling slow or fast rivers, creeks or just flat lakes. Generally all canoes can meet your requirements, but if you are planning to paddle with the entire family or wish to paddle in whitewater conditions, then you need to look onto the specificities or details of canoe. There are specific types of canoes for specific needs.

The first thing that you should look for is the length. Other things being equal, the longer the canoe, the faster it will be. And if you want the best shallow water performance, opt for asymmetry below the waterline. It is important for you to note that asymmetric canoes are often fickle (unpredictable) in tricky currents. For this reason, you're best advised to avoid these craft for use on white water or on twisty, muscular rivers.

Racing canoes depreciate logarithmically with time, even if they are never paddled. In the mind of the beholder, a faster rocket is already on the drawing board! "Blems" (blemished) always are a good deal. The first trip down river you'll scratch and gouge your canoe anyway. The $50 to $100 you save at the outset will pay for a fine paddle or PFD.

Well, above are some tips that will help you selecting the best canoe for your camping trip. It is very important to get hold of a good canoe, so that you can enjoy your trip to the maximum.

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Sailing a Tin Can--my First Time Sailing a Canoe

It has been almost 40 years since I first sailed a canoe, and now is the time to share the experience.

I was with my Boy Scout troop out of Miami. We went for a canoeing trip into the 10,000 Islands area of Florida, a place where the land and sea fight for preeminence over the very southern tip of the state.

We paddled a mélange of canoes out to an island, maybe just a couple three miles or so. We made camp on ground barely above the high water mark, scattered with coral and transient soil. Plants consisted mostly of sea grape and whatever weedy stuff grows in such inhospitable conditions good only for crabs, mosquitoes and the ubiquitous sand fleas.

By that age I had pretty much reached the point where I was too independent to be a Scout anymore and this would prove to be my last trip hanging off the umbilical of a Scout Master, especially one who (in my youthfully arrogant thinking) was better off sitting in front of the tube watching a Dolphins game than trying to lead a hardened outdoorsman like myself. I had already spent many days in the Everglades and practically lived in the drained-swamp pine barrens surrounding our southern Dade County home by then. (Within a couple years of this trip I would find myself held by the foot by trap in alligator-infested, chest-deep water in the Big Cypress Swamp; but that’s another story.)

During one of the many lulls in the camp action, I took off with the canoe assigned to me and my tent mate, a Grumman, if memory serves; aluminum, for sure. Packing a spinning rod and a mullet gig, I went in search of adventure, and maybe some fresh fish for dinner. After sticking myself a black mullet and baiting a hook, I settled down in the bottom of the canoe in my usual repose: horizontal—napping. After a bit, I had a strike. Shark! It pulled hard and began swimming to deeper water with a tin canoe and teenager attached. I hung on and adjusted my rod angle so the boat would stay inline with the fish, knowing a broach would be uncalled for when a shark is on the line.

He pulled.

I pulled.

He pulled harder.

I hung on, (harder).

And then the line parted, but not after he pulled me and canoe into open water.

How cool.

I paddled back to camp with an air of success having caught, and released, a huge shark. Well, so the story went.

The next day we headed home. As we broke camp, I noted the wind was in just the right direction. Having sailed a little on my Uncle Carl’s boat I had a little familiarity with the whys and wherefores of sailing. Not much, mind you, but it was that little bit of knowledge that engendered the idea—sail—don’t paddle. I convinced my tent mate (smaller than me) that this was the way to go. We lashed two sticks—probably two tent poles—together, square-rigged, and tied to them an Army poncho. We lashed the mast to the forward thwart and he would have to act as the step to keep it vertical.

With steering paddle in hand, (now, I’d never seen this before, only surmised it) we left the beach, hell-bent for leather. Well, not right away. For awhile we sailed while others paddled ahead of us. They laughed. I knew better. Tentmate/mast step complained that we’d get in trouble. I assured him we were being good Scouts and told him to stop bawling and just hang on.

Then…we got wind….

It wasn’t much, but we started accelerating, leaving the paddlers behind. He held on for dear life, I held onto the paddle and steered.

Wow.

The flapping poncho filled and tightened as the wind picked up. The sound of water rushing over tin and rivets increased as the mast step got louder in his complaints. We were leaving a wake...the paddlers fell behind. I heard not a word from Scout Master, who was probably aghast at the site of two of his young troops showing him up in such an obvious (and plainly heroic) manner.

I guess we beat the rest of the Troop by close to an hour. Tentmate was scared we’d be in trouble and he complained about being held hostage and I reminded him he wasn’t a hostage, but Pressed, like the British did to American sailors, and should be proud he was part of a grand adventure.

Scout Master was mad we’d left the others behind and castigated me for being irresponsible and what would have happened if we wrecked and all I could think was he was better off living indoors with others of his kind and he was red in the face and I was sure it was because he was shown up by a boy not yet old enough to drive who was twice, no—thrice—the outdoorsman he’d ever be.

And, that, my friends, is how I came to sail a canoe the very first time...and things haven't been "right" since...LOL!

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Kids and Canoe Safety

A canoeing trip for the entire family is a great way to spend a lazy summer afternoon. Before packing up and heading to the nearest river, however, give some thought to preparing your kids for this special adventure to make sure they have a safe, fun time. Like adults, they could benefit from special coaching or preparation before boarding a livery or family canoe and pushing out into a rushing stream.

Make sure your kids know how to swim. Hopefully they have taken lessons and received basic swimmers' certifications up to this point. If not, you will need to keep a eye on them to be sure they don't fall in the water.

Check their safety equipment. Are the lifejackets inflated properly? Do kids know how to use them or other life-preserving equipment if needed? Take a few minutes to show the proper use of these items so kids won't get confused or overwhelmed in the event of an accident.

Take along sunscreen and sunglasses. Kids' skin and eyes are more delicate than those of adults, so it is important to protect them from sunburn or eye damage, especially if you will be in the water for a couple of hours or longer. Have them apply sunscreen right before boarding the canoe. Apply it again each hour afterward. A cap with a beak to help deflect the sun's rays from children's faces is another helpful idea.

Bring a bottle of water and perhaps a snack. This will keep young children from clamoring for the ride to be over so they can get something to eat. You can put these items in a tote bag, or stash them under the canoe seat, but try to keep the kids from eating them until later in the trip, as a snack will give them something to look forward to.

Have them visit the restrooms before getting in the canoe. Splashing water can make little ones want to go to the bathroom. Simply being in the boat for a couple of hours can make it difficult for them to hold out. Since there is no way to use the bathroom on a canoe, make sure they visit the restroom right before boarding.

Teach them water safety. Don't let the kids horseplay in the canoe by splashing each other with the oars, standing up in the boat, leaning too far over the side, or making gestures t passing boaters. Navigating a body of water requires careful attention and respect for the passage and for others. Kids need to learn early in life how to navigate a canoe trip so they will be able to take more such trips in the future and perhaps manage the canoe on their own someday.

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How to Choose Between a Canoe or a Kayak

If you’ve thought about purchasing a recreational boat to do some paddling with your family or friends, it can sometimes be a tough choice as to whether to get a canoe or a kayak. There are certain points to consider before you make this decision.

Canoe or Kayak?

Whether or not you purchase a canoe or a kayak is completely a personal choice. Both offer an environmentally friendly and affordable way to get out and enjoy the water. There are advantages and disadvantages to both so it is up to you to decide what kind of boat will work best for you.

Facts about Canoes

•Canoes are versatile and are good boats for lots of different types of fun. However though they are good for a lot of things – they are not great at anything.
•Canoes can be very comfortable. Usually there is lots of space in a canoe so there is room to stretch out your legs, maneuver around, load up lots of gear, sit or even kneel if you want to.
•Canoes are very easy to get in and out of. Many older folks will enjoy a canoe simply because of their stability. They are very easy to get in and out of whether you are in or out of the water.
•Canoes are an open concept boat and therefore they will often let in a lot of water. It is not uncommon to be bailing excess water out of a canoe.
•Canoes can get caught by the wind. Often times canoes ride quite high up and can be very light. They are very susceptible to being swayed and pulled by the wind which can make paddling an awful lot of work.
 
Facts about Kayaks

•Kayaks are much sleeker than canoes. Their sleek style allows them to paddle further, faster and without much trouble from the wind. They are capable of plowing through just about any weather condition and any type of water.
•Kayaks will often keep you much dryer. Many kayaks have closed cockpits and even sprayskirts in order to keep the water out. There are many open concept kayaks especially with inflatable kayaks that will let in more water. Often times though they will have a drain valve that makes it very easy to let the water out quickly and effortlessly.
•There are many different types of kayaks from recreational kayaks to whitewater kayaks to expedition sea kayaks. Whether hard-shelled or with an inflatable, there are lots of choices.
•Kayaks use a double ended paddle which allows for much more control, much more speed and a lot of fun.
 
Final Thoughts… Canoe or Kayak?

The choice is truly up to you. For me there is nothing like the thrill of a kayak. I find them to be much more versatile and a million times more fun to paddle. Canoes are a little more laid back, a little more relaxed and a lot slower. So in the end, it comes down to what kind of boat will work best for you and what you will mostly be using it for. If you still can’t decide, you may need to take each one for a test drive and find out which one simply feels right.

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Owning An Inflatable Canoe

Have you ever wanted to own a canoe? Although canoes are not a need and can be a moderately expensive investment, there are a few alternatives, like inflatable canoes. I know what you're thinking, but today's inflatable canoes are not constructed from your childs inflatable pool toy material. Moreover, nearly all inflatable canoes will stand up to the same riggers as traditional canoes.

Inflatable canoes are also a viable alternative for fishing enthusiast and I will outline a number of reasons in support of purchasing an inflatable canoe. Because if you crave to get fishing from the water, an inflatable canoe may perhaps be exactly what you need.

One of the most essential things you need to remember when it comes to buying an inflatable canoe is to buy it from a highly regarded dealer.
By purchasing from a reputable dealer you are guaranteed that the inflatable canoe will be warrantied and will be constructed of quality material that's made to last. In addition, you may even be able to test trial a number of inflatable canoes before you pay for one.

Inflatable canoes are tremendously versatile. The compact size (when deflated) can be tucked away in any backpack or small weekend rucksack. This enables campers with small vehicles and even hikers the capability to take pleasure in boating activities on their vacation or weekend getaway. Most, if not all, inflatable canoes come with a small battery powered pump which generally inflates the watercraft in under 5 minutes or so.

Inflatable canoes are an superb option for today's fisherman. These watercraft are exceedingly lightweight and very well-built if you intend on bringing a buddy along. As a matter of fact, inflatable canoes will get you to spaces you cannot get to with traditional canoes. This will present you the option of getting to fishing holes that are otherwise out-of-the-way.

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