Canoeing: Tips for How Not to Turn Over

Learn how Mike Mills, our founder and a veteran canoeist, keeps his boat upright with some simple, yet extremely helpful skills.
* These tips are based on Mike's 50+ years of paddling experience and American Canoe Association (ACA) training. These tips are not a guarantee that you will not turn over. We strongly suggest that you seek official paddling training from an ACA certified instructor to strengthen your canoeing skills.*

[@beeemm6012]

“I got a bum knee, I can’t do that! Weh weh weh!”😂

[@Taytravelstheworld]

Bee Emm I don’t sound like that! 🤣😂

[@John-Adams-Can]

That's the coolest intro I ever did see! Good info man, thanks.

[@jerryanchor7471]

I hope we get more video tips from Mike Mills. These have been the best canoe tips I’ve seen

[@rhondamills8118]

We're delighted you found Mike's tips helpful, Jerry! We continue to grow our KZbin channel with helpful paddling videos, including one featuring Mike on how to keep your canoe straight in the water as you paddle. Thank you so much for the thumb's up and encouraging feedback on this video! :)

[@stephencoutts7770]

That was just great! Clear and charming. Thank you.

[@tombeckett4340]

You did a great job with easy instructions thanks. 🇨🇦👍

[@timkinkead7829]

Great video, thanks! Could you go over the safety features you have added to your flotation device , such as the carabiner, pull cord and knife ? Thank you very much

[@spinju0079]

Thanks for the safety video. Good stuff.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Thank you the great advice!

[@farklek]

Great video! I just ordered my first canoe and I can't wait for it to be delivered. I'm looking for PFDs and I like the one that you are wearing here. Do you mind me asking which vest it is?

[@warbirdflyer7276]

Thanks Mike!

[@tombeckett4340]

Nice and simple thanks 👍🇨🇦

[@cwgoetzoutdoors]

Great video Mike! Hope you're doing well!

[@interspace1529]

Thank you very much for this video

[@tiffanychun7860]

They are so fun!!

[@AeetosOutdoors]

Thanks for the tips! This is a beautifully shot clip, what camera equipment was use?

[@sueannskerrattherron2079]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[@rhondamills8118]

On behalf of my husband, you're most welcome! :)

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

You're welcome!

[@EzeAdventurer]

Thanks, v useful for my coming trip!

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

Glad it was helpful! Hope you've been able to put your new canoeing skills to use this year!

[@jrobertsen4505]

Thanks for the video. John, Norway.

[@rhondamills8118]

You're welcome! Glad we could be of help all the way up there in beautiful fjord country!

[@jrobertsen4505]

@@rhondamills8118 I have become an older man - but am out in nature a lot. I don't know much how to canoe in a good way - but I want to try and learn. I only have experience with packraft.

[@sonboogie]

Great vid. Thx.

[@Schweini_1983]

In Canada, we call turning over dumping and trees hanging over the water are called sweepers.

[@chloeayers4087]

sweepers and strainers

[@mr.person5209]

Not exactly, strainers are underwater

[@shermanhofacker4428]

Most tip overs I see, when people are entering the canoe, are caused by having the end of the canoe on the bank. Only get into a canoe that is floating.

[@JosephStealin]

I use a mechanic’s mat, it’s also great for sitting on to eat lunch etc

[@rhondamills8054]

Excellent idea!

[@marionjohnson2211]

When kneeling, most of one's weight is on the hips, touching the seat. This keeps the torso straight, allowing one to pivot from the hips for longer, stronger strokes. Also lets you feel more connected to the canoe.

[@mrmustangman]

...and saves your back.!!!

[@micstica]

Grinding the canoe on the rocks put me in mind of finger nails on a chalk board. Your rocks look smooth, round here they all seem to be like knives.

[@rhondamills8118]

While perhaps not the smooth riverstones of Colorado's rivers, we have sort of a combination of "styles"...underwater shoals of small gravel also help ease the "chalkboard" effect!

[@jrthebigcrouton1424]

what kind of a paddle are you using? fron john

[@designsbyhiroki]

where did you get that paddle? looks beautifully made

[@nwrasch]

Great video, and I'm very jealous of your control in that intro! :)

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

Nathan, thank you for the thumbs up, as well as the high five for Mike!

[@jackplowman3859]

Wow nice tips and beautiful camera

[@laffilmfest3759]

I live the Buffalo River!!.....great advice!

[@rhondamills8118]

Thank you! He knows his stuff for sure!

[@laffilmfest3759]

I definitely agree!!

[@egregg313]

We have laughed and laughed. "I've got to get down on my knees all day long? I've got a bum knee, I can't do that. Wah wah wah"😂

[@rhondamills8118]

Our Canoe Operator cuts no quarters on that subject! Glad you got a giggle out of his tell-it-like-it-is style! LOL!

[@craigsanderson3722]

I used to have a canoe very similar to the one you paddle it was a OCA White water Blue Hole.

[@mybartender]

What river is that? Beautiful water

[@walterpalmer2749]

Thanks AND your canoe ? It has a nice bow rise many do not and is your keel fortified with an epoxy ? I noticed a brownish strip at the bow. If so, Is that only at the bow or the length of the canoe. Canoeing : the journey not the destination !!

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

Walter, that's Mike's Blue Hole canoe, which he has had for ages and that is no longer in production. We may have to make a video about why he loves the Blue Hole design so much! And, yes, canoeing is definitely all about the journey. :)

[@basicnewbelieversfoundations]

awesome

[@christopherrichardson6092]

Mike - what type of knife is that?

[@sisypheanteasoup7534]

Sick intro

[@kevinmencer3782]

Can you sit Indian style, instead of kneeling? I'm a pretty big dude, so kneeling might not get me low enough.

[@xlr8r17]

Nice Boat...

[@jartfarkle]

but will it keep me from turning over?

[@gerbenvet1647]

Nice canoe. which canoe is that? brand and type? 😊

[@rhondamills8118]

it's a 1987 Blue Hole canoe, Mike's favorite brand of canoe ever!

[@justindanley6817]

Use a material like sea deck now of days too use on your canoe floor

[@caseyl3631]

Once you're in the canoe and away, learn the low brace that's all you need to learn to stay in. Grabbing the gunnels and leaning in any direction equals swimming.

[@tommythecatofficial32actual]

I'm going to Boundary Waters in July

[@rhondamills8054]

One of our favorite places! Love the folks at Gunflint Lodge Outfitters. :)

[@tommythecatofficial32actual]

Rhonda Mills I’m a noob camper but I am going with people that know what they are doing I’m excited and a little nervous

[@shinysidedown9090]

Notice that my handle implies keeping a canoe up-rite. You may kneel, if you wish to, but it's more like praying, it just feels good. If you watch Mike going to the kneeling position, he's only moving a few pounds of mass down, the ass is still at seat level, Mike is not an ass, but he has one! I've run Class II rapids while sitting up - it may have been Class III, the top of the standing wave hit me in the forehead. Sitting up allows you to do many maneuvering strokes without leaning. I canoe back country in Northern Canada very cautiously. Canadians are people who make love in canoes, although, sometimes they are thwarted. Nice video Mike.

[@bluesideup007]

HA! So is my handle. LOL

[@davidhamilton1446]

I like the saddle idea. Been getting cramped up kneeling quite a bit in my beater.

[@philipoakley5498]

There's a further hidden reason behind the kneeling posture relative to the sitting position. Oddly it refers to how we cope when we slip on wet grass or mud. When we notice that we are suddenly wobbling and our weight isn't being nicely held up by our lower body (usually while walking) we instinctively have a reflex of driving our heels into the ground to try and regain traction and control. If we are sitting in our canoe with feet on the ground, our instinctive reaction to that wobbling of the canoe is again to drive our feet into the "ground", or in this case the canoe that's wobbled beneath us. We push that canoe with all our might from beneath us, and almost jump out of the canoe! If instead we have Kneeled down with legs tucked under the seat, we simply can't jump! So we can't push the boat away from beneath us. All hands saved! It we also slightly spread our knees we also get a solid A frame position that keeps our body weight over the boats centre line further improving balance and control. Summary: Kneeling works!

[@rickyslick4601]

But what do we do if we flip the canoe over in deep water?

[@terrysmith8714]

Where to get that knife?

[@rhondamills8118]

NRS (Northwest River Supply) is where he purchased this one!

[@vegalockhart]

what knife is that?

[@xlr8r17]

NRS Pilot Knife

[@looking4leasuretime]

going to a doctors checkup for messed up knees, before canoeing like that is also recommended

[@Mr68cmaro]

What brand of paddle is that? Where did you get that knife...thanks

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

It's a Sawyer paddle that's carbon fiber with a bent shaft. Very lightweight and gives you added strength and comfort with that "Z" grip shaft! The knife is made by NRS; Hope that helps!

[@dsizzzle10]

What kind of knife is that?

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

It's an NRS rescue knife, which you should be able to purchase online.

[@TheNeoMetric]

what's the shoulder strap knife for, a bear fight?

[@carolynmoore6263]

At 4-h camp my friends and I tipped it and I Over Reacted

[@labcat6759]

but what if you accidentally flip with your legs under the seat.

[@paddlesupriver2875]

Your butt is hitting the edge of the seat which means only half of the lower parts of your legs will e under the seat . There is more than enough room height was.

[@Francois_Dupont]

scraping against rocks all day, ohh my!

[@tombeckett4340]

🇨🇦👍

[@andyblack5687]

If I were to canoe down the Buffalo River I’d want this guy to be my guide.

[@rhondamills8118]

How kind of you to say that! He'd be a great one! :)

[@maskedathiest]

had my father come along fishing with a buddy of mine. my father stood up to go pee. lost his balance and whoosh. the 3 of us rolled over. it would have been funny if it had not cost him his phone lol.

[@shermanhofacker4428]

And you don't have to stay in one position the whole trip; sit on the seat while in calm water, kneel to spread your connection with the canoe in fast water, and stand when you want to see what is ahead better. I spend more time standing in the canoe than sitting or kneeling! Part time standing on the gunnels.

[@SlayerofFiction]

I used to be an Adventurer but I took an arrow to the knee

[@rangerdoc1029]

Only someone without bad knees would think kneepads help any.

[@mysterym7008]

Don’t go into big wakes 😄

[@brockreynolds870]

Canoes are ridiculous. I'd ride down that river in an inner tube before I get into a canoe. You can't enjoy yourself and have a nice, relaxing ride.... you literally can't turn around and scratch your ass without capsizing the thing.

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

Unfortunately, Brock, most of the upper Buffalo River has too many obstacles for tubing. One can, however, usually tube between the Ozark access and the Pruitt Landing, north of Jasper, AR on Hwy 7.

[@DougHinVA]

How about NOT get a canoe that is inherently easy to flip over ? Just get an Ultimate series from Native Watercraft and not worry about that at all ? Don't get angry... get a simple and affordable solution .

[@jaredlogan8104]

Until you dump with your legs pinned under the seat... DO NOT DO THIS

[@BuffaloOutdoorCenter]

Jared, you might check out the American Canoe Association's Paddle TV's KZbin episode "How to Develop Good Technique for Paddling a Canoe" at this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ave2OabLl3iZY At minute 1:00, the case for kneeling is presented. While position in the canoe is always a personal preference or judgement call, in our video Mike is sharing what has worked best for him over 50 years of paddling experience.