Originally published in our FALL / WINTER 2002-2003 edition

GETTING  INTO  YOUR  CANOE

Would you believe that getting into and out of a canoe is, by far, when most upsets occur? It’s true. And nothing will dampen your spirits, and take the joy out of another day in the north country, like a thorough soaking before you even get in the canoe!

Canoes are stable craft. It’s paddlers that can make canoes unstable. Set a canoe adrift in whitewater or on a big lake when the whitecaps are rolling, and the canoe will take care of itself. Add two paddlers, and you raise the center of gravity and the roll center of the canoe; the canoe loses some of its rock-solid stability. A canoe isn’t very stable when its bow is onshore. It also isn’t very strong. Canoes are designed to be strong when they are supported by water, not when they are balanced precariously on either end, or sitting in two inches of water on the lake bottom. More canoes are tipped over — and more canoes are damaged — getting in and getting out than are damaged even running rapids (which we also urge you not to do for your own safety).

We don’t want to talk this point to death; this isn’t exactly a spiritual crisis we’re dealing with. There are several ways to enter and move around in a canoe, depending on circumstances, but all of them depend on two things. The first is to keep your weight-bearing foot on the centerline of the canoe. The second is to balance the canoe side-to-side by transferring some of your weight to your hands as each holds on to the gunwales of the canoe.

Here is one way to get the job done. First, put your lifejackets on! Put the entire canoe in the water, parallel to the shore. It needs about six inches of water underneath for enough clearance. Load the canoe with your packs, and put your paddles in the canoe where they can be easily reached. Both paddlers grasp both gunwales (the side rails) of the canoe to keep it steady. Both paddlers face forward, and one gets in first: most often the bow paddler.

Keeping your body bent over — to keep your center of gravity as low as possible — and, as we have mentioned before, step into the canoe, placing your foot right over the center line. While balancing your weight on both hands and your foot, swing yourself in and sit on the seat. One more time now: body low, first foot dead center in the canoe, hands on both rails, knees flexed. Once the first paddler is in and settled, the second gets in the same way. While he is doing that, you might want to lean the canoe a little bit to the side and put your paddle on the bottom like a pole to stabilize the canoe while he gets in.

Note there has been ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION of pushing off from shore, or sliding the canoe along with one foot in the canoe while you hop along with the other. You’ll end up wet, and if the canoe is dragging on the bottom, it will be damaged.

Now, with both paddlers seated comfortably, cross your ankles, and spread your knees to the outside — along the those gunwales you just let go of. This will give a low center of gravity while paddling. Tell each other when you are set to go. Don’t have the bow paddler turn around to check things out; if the stern paddler isn’t seated, you’ll both be floundering in the water. Take your first paddle strokes, and enjoy ...

What about getting out? It’s essentially the same thing in reverse. First, approach the shoreline slowly, watching for rocks and general water depth. This is not the time to yell “Rammming Speeeed!” and see how far you can slide the canoe up on shore so as to not get your feet wet. At the first slight bump, it is “All Stop!”

Usually the bow paddler gets out first: paddle stowed, hands on the gunwales, feet on the centerline, raise your butt into a low crouch, keep your weight on your hands and the lakeside foot. Step slowly over the side on to the lake bottom. Don’t try to stretch for a dry rock — or any rock at all for that matter. Quite often they roll, and you’ll wind up sitting on the bottom. Years ago, we had one woman break an ankle on her very first portage doing exactly what we had just told her not to do! She has eversince held the title of our most serious accident.  And it was totally unnecessary!

Unload the canoe while it is still fully in the water. When it is empty, both paddlers should lift the canoe on to the shore. Flip it up on your shoulders, and start down the portage.  But that is another tale for another day.