Guide to Canoes

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Kinds of Canoes include the following:

Touring Canoes

Touring Canoes are designed for lakes and other flat waters. They use more traditional designs are usually built for comfort and stability. They are also called recreational or tripping canoes.

They come in two types – a prospector canoe with a symmetrical hull and an arched body, and the long-distance touring canoe with a cockpit, rounded hull, lower gunwale lines, and higher rims to keep the boat drier.

Whitewater Canoes

Whitewater or river canoes are used for paddling in whitewater rapids, a body of water characterized by a fast and highly aerated water flow. They are usually made of tough synthetic materials, such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, and polyethylene. They are designed to withstand aggressive paddling and rough impact against rocks.

Most models have internal lashing points to keep flotation bags, harnesses, and spray decks in place. A subtype called the playboating open canoe or banana boat is designed for tricks and competitive slalom. They are often short and have very high rockers.

Square Stern Canoes

Square Stern Canoes are asymmetrical, with flat, squared-off sterns designed to hold outboard motors. They are commonly used for fishing or paddling on lakes.

Racing Canoes

Racing or sprint canoes are used for racing and fast paddling on flat waters. They are long and have narrow beams, which reduces drag and increases the speed of the boat. This, however, also makes them very unstable. They are usually paddled one one side while kneeling on one knee.

Inflatable Canoes

Inflatable Canoes have sides and bows made from inflatable tubes and flat, flexible floors.
They are very light and ideal for rough whitewater travel, but do not work well on flat waters.

Beam: The beam refers to the canoe's widest point, usually at the hull. Choose a canoe with a wide beam for better stability, a narrower beam for faster travel. A wide hull does not sit too deeply in the water, making it easier to maneuver but likely to be carried by strong winds.

Length: Choose a long, narrow canoe for faster travel on flat waters. Long canoes are easier to track, or keep in a straight line. This is useful for paddling on lakes and smaller bodies of water.

Rocker: The rocker is the curved part at the bottom of the boat. A highly rockered boat has a deeply curved bottom and is much easier to turn. Whitewater Canoes should have very high rockers for fast turns when avoiding rocks and other obstacles. However, high rockers tend to compromise speed and tracking, so choose a canoe with a gentle rocker for general paddling.

Flare: Choose a canoe that sits a reasonable distance above the water line, especially at its widest point. This feature, called the flare or tumbleline, will keep you drier in rough waters.

Keel: Choose a canoe with a sturdy keel – a strip of rigid material running across the length of the boat. Not all canoes have a keel, but a keel will keep the rocker together and improve tracking. However, it can also make the boat harder to turn, which makes it unideal for whitewater.

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