FIND FREEDOM IN A CANOE

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

The round-bottomed style feels least stable at first, but is actually very seaworthy in rough waters. It's also the fastest type, making it the choice of white-water racers and long-distance paddlers.

Finally, you'll have to decide what type of keel (the centerline that runs along the bottom of the craft), if any, will best fit your needs. Some canoes have a "fin" keel, others have a flat or "shoe" keel, and still others are keelless. (An aluminum canoe, of course, always has a keel . . . since that feature functions as the joint that holds the two sides of the boat together.) A fin keel can help to keep a craft on course in a strong wind by minimizing sideways slippage, but in a swiftly flowing shallow river, the fin has a tendency to hang up on rocks ... so in such waters the flatter shoe keel would be a better choice. In fact, real white-water fans frequently prefer a keelless design (it offers no drag and allows the canoe to slip sideways easily to avoid obstacles) with "rockered" ends, resulting in a highly maneuverable craft.

Each of the design elements—length, beam, depth, hull shape, and keel—will play a part in determining the handling characteristics of your canoe. As a newcomer to the sport, then, you'll want to try out different styles and combinations, and finally choose a design that suits you.

MATERIALS
One of the most important factors to consider when you're in the market for a canoe is the material—wood, aluminum, fiberglass, Kevlar, or ABS plastic—it's made of. And, again, you should get to know the various materials, to see how they hold up, before putting down any cash.

Wood makes by far the most attractive canoes and—if cared for properly—will last for decades. Wooden craft do, however, require some upkeep, and they're heavier than are those constructed of the more modern materials. In addition, the high price of wooden canoes ($1,000+) puts them beyond the budgets of most would-be owners. (Those purse-minded purists who yearn for the beauty and sleek performance of wood might consider buying a do-it-yourself canoe kit, such as the one offered by Old Town—see the access list in the accompanying sidebar—which produces a 17' cedar strip model.)

The low price, light weight, durability, and low maintenance needs of aluminum canoes make them practical for both white-water and general family use. The main drawbacks of aluminum are its lack of aesthetic appeal, its noisiness, and its tendency to cling to rocks rather than slip over them as plastic or fiberglass will do. On the other hand, aluminum will slide unharmed over sand bars, and can withstand the kind of brutal treatment that would often damage a wooden or fiberglass boat. If you decide a metal canoe will suit your paddling style, choose one with close, flush rivets on the keel line and neoprene seals... to assure watertight joints.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print