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Summary: Learn how to get into a canoe from the side of a stream and stay in control of the boat in this free online white water canoeing lesson on video.
Bruce Lessels is president and co-founder of Zoar Outdoor, a full-service outdoor center in western Massachusetts offering whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, biking, fly...read more
"To get into your boat on the side of the river you generally point your boat up stream in an eddy. It's best to point up stream because that gives you control when you leave the eddy you can either do a ferry or peel out and control how you head down stream so you don't randomly head down the stream or where ever you end up. Put your boat in a nice calm spot in the eddy you can sometimes kind of anchor the boat in a rock ahead of you a little bit just to have a little bit of stability. And it doesn't hurt to put your paddle on the shore and put a little bit of weight on your paddle this is just another point of stability. You stand inside your boat kind of keep your weight centered, drop your seat down as low as you can and as soon as you can flap your thigh straps on get everything set up, get your thighs straps tightened if you need to and make sure you have all your gear. Important to have a throw rope I like to have it right up the front here where it's handy, if you have a first aid kit put that right up front or behind somewhere where it's going to be handy but also out of the way. Make sure your painters are wrapped up so it's not going to get in your way, your air bags are in inflated and your ready to go. From this position again you can ferry you can peel out, you can do anything you need to head down the rapid coming up and your in full control."
eHow Article: How to Get Into a Canoe