About Canoes
Canoes are versatile water craft made for paddling rivers, streams, and lakes. Modern canoes are used for river transportation and recreation. Canoes can be rented for a day trip anywhere you find camping and water.
-
Identification
-
A canoe is a small slender boat, about 17 feet long, usually pointed at both ends, and is generally paddled by it's occupants. The modern canoe is meant to hold 2-3 people, but ancient peoples built canoes large enough to carry many people and cargo.
Function
-
A canoe is excellent transportation for rivers, streams, and lakes. Its wide bottom allows the canoe to float in very shallow water. Its light weight means that it can be easily carried over rocks and sand bars as needed. Canoes can be purchased with a square stern for the addition of a small motor.
Types
-
The first canoes were carved from wood. After World War II, aircraft manufacturer Grumman turned to making aluminum canoes. Canoes are also made from extremely tough Kevlar and fiberglass.
The traditional canoe is an open vessel with seats for two people at either end of the craft. The kayak is another form of canoe, but has a closed deck and is paddled by one person.
Modern canoes come in designs specially made for either touring or whitewater canoeing.
Significance
-
Canoes were an important form of transportation for native peoples who lived near rivers and streams. The small boats carried travelers, hunters, traders, and war parties up and down the river systems of North and South America.
Lewis and Clark traveled at least part of their journey along the Missouri River in dugout canoes made from cottonwood trees.
Considerations
-
The canoe is steered by the person in the back and powered by the person in front. A canoe can be paddled alone by just a person in the back. To steer a canoe, the person in the back guides the craft by paddling on the right or left - pushing on the right with a J stroke - or pulling to the left with a draw stroke.
The J stroke makes a J shape in the water: you pull the paddle through the water then give a push out. The draw stroke is the reverse: you pull the paddle toward the canoe (making the hook of the upside down J) then push the paddle back.
-
Related Searches
Resources
- Photo Credit Sassy Frassy Lassie
