PRACTICAL CANOE SAFETY TIPS non-fiction
By Richard L. Provencher
- 2688 reads
Canoeing is safe and fun. Think of the joy in paddling along the shore, quietly as a loon, escaping city noises, inhaling fresh air, the slap of water against the canoe’s hull, wind ruffling your hair and a gentle swaying beneath you in a gentle watery current.
For forty years, my canoe enjoyment meant trips to lake islands, with late night forays, catching the glint of starry nights. Yet, there are some who display a nervous twitch when confronted with climbing into such a mode of travel. Standing up during a journey is not an option. A canoe is a fragile leaf upon the water, balanced with sitting paddlers, being mindful of any quick movement from one side to another, which could throw off the sterns man at the back.
From my experience, a fourteen-foot fiberglass canoe is excellent for one person. A family of three can be quite secure and comfortable in a sixteen-foot canoe. Fiberglass is much easier to repair on trips, and kneeling on its bottom during paddling is much better than feeling the hot plate of an aluminum canoe. Also, during rough currents, serious scrapes or gashes causing damage to aluminum or wood is difficult to repair.
Often during trips for entertainment and exercise, other paddlers could be seen without lifejackets, something quite risky should a tipping occur. Keep in mind a properly selected canoe has two air compartments at either end. If a canoe tips, they prevent sinking and can be used as a raft to hold onto. During a most difficult storm it is possible to hold onto the thwarts, with the canoe upside down, and accepting the air beneath.
A wise person ties their footwear laces to the thwart, a wooden or aluminum brace holding the sides together. The same applies to gear, as a precaution in the event one ends up in the water. Splashing back to shore means gear, shoes and paddles, which one must always hang onto then accompanies the canoe to the safety of shore.
I always cautioned our children to stay with the canoe, as long as the current was not heading into far open water. In larger lakes, it is important to skirt the shore rather than head directly across such a large expanse of water.
When my children first encountered the fun of canoeing, I had them sit on their seats in bathing suits, wearing life preservers of course, then rock the canoe, a short distance from shore. It gave them an understanding of what it feels like in a current. After flipping the canoe, I had them get underneath to see the space available, and to realize the canoe will not sink, and that if turned upright, it will still act as a small barge to hang onto, although submerged below the surface of water.
It was most necessary for our children to learn how to swim, to provide a greater feeling of security in such a craft. Other safety issues include steering a canoe directly into incoming waves, since hitting a current sideways greatly affects its stability. With two or three persons in a fifteen or sixteen-foot canoe the person at the end, called the Sterns-man is always in charge.
That person always determines who paddles on whichever side. For stability purposes, there should always be someone paddling on opposite sides. If any emergency commands must be given, that person is the one to do it. The one in the middle is called the Middleman and the person in front is called the Bowman.
It is wise to understand a canoe is handy for traveling across shallow water, allowing a person to fully appreciate its recreational capabilities. Wildlife are apt to be in areas where motorized craft are unable to visit. If landing for any reason, ensure the front or bow of the boat is not crunched into rock, and the bottom or hull, is not scraped, taking off the protective paint and perhaps damaging the keel, which may be one, two or even three long protrusions along the bottom of the canoe.
Canoes may not have any of these, and if so, I advise against purchasing such a canoe, since it is very hard to steer otherwise. Also, never forget to tie your canoe to a secure branch, using rope, called the painter, which should be attached to a ring on the bow.
After an exciting journey, brows are warm, arms sunburned and tummies anxious for food. A campfire helps provide a lasting memory. Before lights out your canoe should be brought in, turned over and perhaps used as a shelter for two persons. Paddles should be placed against a tree so no chance of tripping over them takes place. The most important paddle is the duck paddle, a square wide one for the Sterns-man.
In conclusion, a canoe allows an opportunity for healthy exercise, without rushing about, and a chance to take photographs, or even write notes for poetry and short stories to be completed later. The quiet glide and lack of motor means animals are undisturbed. With safety in mind, understanding the workings of a canoe and proper equipment, your outdoor activity should be one worth remembering, for a very long time.
Happy paddling.
* * *
© Richard L. Provencher
/
A Direct Link for Provencher Author Page, on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Esther-and-Richard-Provencher/e/B00O8K9UKE
- Log in to post comments