Canoeing Basics

This is meant as a resource and is not to replace proper instruction and practice.

SAFETY
Types of PFD    Selecting PFD Types of PFD and fitting
Canoe Safety      River Hazards Weather hazards on a lake
EQUIPMENT
Parts of a canoe    Parts of paddle Parts of a canoe Parts of a canoe - 2
Canoe shapes and designs  Canoe materials    Choosing the right canoe Canoe Maintenance
Paddle type and sizing  Sizing a canoe paddle See chart below for paddle sizing
BASICS VIDEOS
Tandem Basics INTRODUCTION TO CANOEING Doubles Whitewater
Launching and landing   Loading canoe at waters edge Sit or kneel? Switching places
STROKES
   5 essential strokes Canoe, 6 basic strokes  Sweep strokes
J stroke    J stroke J stroke and sweep  Side slipping
J Stroke Pivot and side slipping  Draw stroke 
PACKING CANOE
Canoeing Equipment list   Packing canoe for overnight    Solo equipment Packing a canoe
Trucker's hitch knot
RESCUE TECHNIQUES
Deep water canoe re-entry 2 person self rescue Open Canoe self rescue Shake out swamped canoe
Canoe over canoe rescue
GOING SOLO
Solo Basics      Solo Whitewater  Solo - going straight J stroke and sweep
Tandem canoe - paddling solo  Solo canoe workshop Solo - bow draw, cross draw Solo back stroke
Canoe back strokes Solo - paddles and C- stroke Solo - J stroke Canoe strokes and control
Paddle Length Matrix in Inches Arm Length Measurement
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Seat to Shoulder Measurement 20 48-48.5 48-48.5 48-48.5 48-48.5 48-48.5 48-48.5 48-48.5 48.5-49 48.5-49
21 48.5-49 48.5-49 48.5-49 49-49.5 49-49.5 49-49.5 49-49.5 49.5-50 49.5-50
22 49-49.5 49-49.5 49-49.5 49.5-50 49.5-50 49.5-50 50-50.5 50-50.5 50-50.5
23 50-50.5 50-50.5 50-50.5 50-50.5 50-50.5 50-50.5 50.5-51 50.5-51 50.5-51
24 51-51.5 51-51.5 51-51.5 51.5-52 51.5-52 51.5-52 51.5-52 52-52.5 52-52.5
25 51.5-52 51.5-52 51.5-52 51.5-52 51.5-52 52-52.5 52-52.5 52-52.5 52-52.5
26 52-52.5 52-52.5 52-52.5 52-52.5 52.5-53 52.5-53 52.5-53 53-53.5 53-53.5
27 53-53.5 53-53.5 53-53.5 53-53.5 53-53.5 53-53.5 53.5-54 53.5-54 53.5-54
28 53.5-54 53.5-54 53.5-54 53.5-54 54-54.5 54-54.5 54-54.5 54.5-55 54.5-55
29 54-54.5 54-54.5 54-54.5 54-54.5 54.5-55 54.5-55 54.5-55 55-55.5 55-55.5

 

Canoeing Merit Badge