How to Steer and Paddle a Canoe

Being blessed to be a country girl I am surrounded by rivers and lakes. When I was twelve years old my parents sent me to Miramichi Bible Camp this is where I feel in love with canoeing. Each day we did activities and one being learning how to canoe, which involved what to do when you upset in a river, canoe safety and how to steer a canoe.

I have owned my own canoe now for almost twenty years and never have I wrapped it around a rock. Yes I have upset my canoe a few times and for me that only added to the fun of it all.

If you want to learn how to canoe the best size to learn in is a 17 foot long one. Anything shorter than this is really quite tipsy. Any canoe is tipsy but a17 foot is more stable than the shorter ones.

Note* Please do not attempt to go canoeing by yourself until you have learned the basics.

Before I start I just want to tell you also do not pick a windy day to begin canoeing, as you will be paddling against the wind, getting no where except ending up on the other side of the lake/river and it is very hard to paddle back to where you started. I know first hand, and it's not fun.

The person seated in the rear of the canoe does the most steering, and the person sitting in the front of the canoe helps the driver.

Do not forget, always wear your lifejacket no matter if you are a good swimmer or not and make sure that they are the proper size for your weight. Also if you have an extra paddle tie it inside of your canoe incase you loose one. It is also a good idea to have a waterproof bag to put extra clothes in or whatever you don't want to get wet, and don't forget to tie it into your canoe.

Never canoe on a fast river until you get your basics down pat, it is very dangerous.

How to steer your canoe:

To turn the canoe to the left, the person seated in the back will put their paddle into the water and paddle backwards on the left hand side of their canoe. (Person if the front doesn't have to paddle)

To turn the canoe to the right, the person seated in the back will put their paddle into the water  and paddle backwards on the right hand side of their canoe. (Person sitting in the front doesn't have to paddle)

To make a sharp right hand turn incase there is a rock coming up or a sweeper(tree that has fallen down and is in your path). The person sitting in the back of the canoe paddles backwards hard on the right hand side and the person sitting in the front paddles frontward hard on the left hand side of the canoe at the same time.

The same goes for making a sharp left hand turn. The person sitting in the back paddles backwards hard on the left hand side of the canoe and the person sitting in the front paddles frontward hard on the right hand side of the canoe at the same time.

If both persons are paddling on the right hand side of the canoe this will turn your canoe left.

If both person are paddling on the left hand side of the canoe this will turn your canoe right.

When both persons are paddling at the same time but on opposite sides from one another, the canoe will steer straight.

When the person sitting in the back is paddling and they need the person in the front to paddle, they must tell the person in the front what they want them to do, which side to paddle on, backwards or frontwards.  If you are canoeing in a lake you really don't have to do this unless there are rocks to steer around and 9.9 times out of 10, there are no rocks protruding out of the water in a lake unless it is near the shore line. But if you are in faster waters, the person in the back will have to tell the person in the front what side they want them to paddle on.

The person seated in the front of the canoe has a important job, which is to inform the driver where the rocks are and if there is anything in the water that needs to be steered around.  It is very hard to see when you are the driver what is up ahead when there is a person sitting at the front of the canoe.

Also if you want your canoe to go sideways, the rear person or both persons must put their paddles in the water, turn your paddle parallel to the canoe, reach out, put the paddle into the water and pull it towards you. So if you want to pull the canoe to the right side, put your paddles in the water on the right side of your canoe. If you want to pull your canoe to the left side, put your paddles in the water on the left side of your boat.

When leaving the shoreline, the person that is seated in the front always gets in first, make sure they are fully seated before pushing off shore, then the person that is going to sit in the back pushes the canoe out into the water and then gets in the canoe and sits down. This is a little tricky, just try keep your balance. If the water is low and your boat is dragging a bit on the bottom of the river, stick your paddle down into the water and into the ground and push your canoe out into deeper water.

To get out of the river and out of your canoe, paddle hard to get to the shore, usually the front of the canoe is the first to come to shore unless you get swung around backwards. The person that is closest to the shore gets out first and be careful because just like getting in the canoe this is also a bit tipsy. While the first person is getting out of the canoe, the other person is to remain seated or more than likely your canoe will upset. Let the person that gets out first grab a hold of the canoe and pull it up on the land, then the second person can get out.

These are a few basic steps on how to steer a canoe, they may seem to be a bit confusing while reading about it but when you actually get out into the water just take your time. Like most things, you have do something before you actually learn how. Print this out, put it in your pocket and take it with you.

Remember never stand up in a canoe.

Have a safe, great and fun day.

Upcoming lessons on:

How to get back into an upset Canoe

How to switch places in a Canoe