How to Land a Canoe in Currents

Landing a canoe in currents is trickier than you might think. Done improperly, you may capsize your canoe. Follow these simple instructions to do it right.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Canoe Gear Bags
• Canoe Kneeling Pads
• Canoe Paddles
• Canoe Racks
• Canoe Yokes
• Canoes
• Life Vests

1. Learn to ferry and understand how ferry angles work (see "How to Ferry a Canoe").
2. Decide that you want to land your canoe, and choose a safe spot.
3. Turn the back of your canoe in the direction of the bank you wish to land on.
4. Back paddle until the back of your canoe hits the shore.
5. Allow the current to push the front of the canoe parallel to the shore.
6. Use a paddle to stabilize your position against the shore and get out of the canoe one person at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand that rivers run faster in the center, where the water is deepest, and slower at the edges. If you try to land your canoe nose-first, the tail will catch the current and spin around. Whipping around in such a manner exposes your broadside to the current and makes it very easy to capsize.
• Always wear a life vest when canoeing.
• Canoeing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.