EK ‘‘WITH A PADDL LE prevent disorganization and unnecessary searching when
Top 5 Tips to Keep the Hair Side Up
time is critical. Should roadways be clogged and the designated put-in location be within reasonable and safe walking distance, it’s not infeasible to park a vehicle and hoof it with an ultralight canoe over the shoulder. Do Your Research: Waiting until after aliens have invaded is not a good time to figure out where to hit the water. Examine your escape route by physically scouting it out. In general,
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boat ramp signs found from state to state will give you an idea
Understand Primary/Secondary Stability Boats have primary and secondary stability. Primary stability
as to where there’s a high amount of motorized boat traffic.
refers to the initial tendency of the boat to tip over when the
These areas should be avoided. The ultralight boater can in-
boat is positioned upright in the water. Secondary stability is
stead use any hiking trail that leads to water as his boat launch.
when a boat is riding on its side slightly and the tendency of
A good guide to canoeing in a given area will provide the
it to continue over to capsizing or return upright. Many boats
macro details, while friendly discussions with locals encoun-
have “tippy” primary stability, but come into their own once
tered in country stores will fill in the minor details not found in
they are on edge. This gives them a more responsive feel and
print or online.
improved handling.
Entering the Water: Once at a convenient boat launch in a 2
state or national park, the outdoorsman might have to sign
Turn into Wakes/Waves
in before traveling through the backcountry. Plenty of people
When paddling a small solo canoe, every ripple in the water is
“forget” to do this and don’t disclose their destination, the num-
felt. While the solo canoe is extremely fast through the water, it can be compromised by big water. Whenever possible, the
ber in the float party, or their length of stay. The waterways will take the paddler through different areas of varied occupancy and traffic. Canoe Camping: Some campsites are fed not only by the water, but also by roads that allow RVs and trailered campers.
A reliable bow saw can help clear branches and gather firewood.
paddler should turn the boat perpendicular into the wake or waves encountered. The boat has a longer surface to address the wave/wake lengthwise than it does widthwise. 3
Trim and Balance Properly Solo canoes range in size from 9 feet on up. Depending on the design, the paddler will sit somewhere in relation to the centerline of the boat. The further back from the center, the more the paddler will need to offset the balance in the water with extra weight up front toward the bow. This practice is called “trimming.” With proper trim and balancing the weight evenly between port and starboard, the boat will perform better in the water.
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Avoid Overloading and Swamping A properly loaded canoe should have no less than 3 inches of freeboard (the amount of space seen on the side of the canoe between the gunwales and waterline) visible. The more weight carried, the less performance a paddler can expect. Too much weight and the boat may swamp if overcome with a large wave or an accidental lean to one side.
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Move Deliberately Erratic movements and jerky-style paddling are leading causes of capsizing. Reaching over the side of a canoe, moving the center of balance too far to one side, will cause a boat to flip. Rushing paddling strokes and sweeps also leads to body movement inside the boat and creating instability. Moving deliberately, understanding the slower pace of a canoe, and ISSUE 11
staying calm will keep a canoe upright.
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