Dealing with a Headwind in a Canoe

[@BackcountryPaddler]

As someone new to canoe paddling I learned a ton from this! You're an excellent teacher. I'm subscribed! 👍

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Welcome aboard! I appreciate your encouragement. My adivce is almost always for beginners since advice is what they NEED during the learning phase of their paddling journey. Advanced paddlers actually get upset at me since they figure they know so much and are offended by my "novice advice". Thanks for your sub and your comments.

[@jimdeveau4025]

It's called a Crab angle when planes do it. Assume it's the same with boats. Very useful when soloing. Great instructions...

[@thecount1001]

an Evergreen Prospector, man that brings me back. i had 2 of them. a royalex one and a kevlar one with black walnut trim, yellow gel coat. it was unreal. they made possibly the nicest iteration of a production prospector ever. incredible shape, beautiful woodwork. i worked for an Evergreen dealer and the owner pro-dealed me both boats. i had to sell them for practical reasons before getting other canoes later in life, but there's times i wish i had both still.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Great story and experience. I now own 2 canoes from defunct manufacturers that are among the best manufacturers that ever existed (Everygreen and Bell)

[@dontall71]

Good stuff, thanks!

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Thanks for the feedback! Cheers,

[@heartsofparadox]

I rigged a small sail (hardly more than stick with a flag) that I can quickly raise or drop at the very stern. Acts like the tail of a kite. Works like magic in steady winds.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

That'll work for sure, but I'd want something that will work well hands-free! Thanks for the comment!

[@wildernesscanoeassociation]

Moving people and packs also works

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Absolutely. There are lots of factors like TRIM (which is basically adjusting people and packs), and also (if possible) minimizing FREEBOARD so wind can't catch it. I have a Bell Solo canoe that has so little freeboard that wind does almost nothing to affect it - especially when I'm sitting on the seat which is dead center of the canoe. It's amazing what elements come into play with wind management! Thanks for commenting!

[@Adventuristic89]

Here in Scotland the weather can change drastically fast & I was out on one of my favourite lochs has a little island I often spend the day fishing there but out of nowhere crazy wind & rain I was loosing light fast there was white caps on the water I didn’t have gear to stay the night so I was pondering suffering under my tarp into darkness to wait on the weather calming or go while I still had some light left…so I thought I would let the wind take me to the edge of the Loch & work my way around the edge to my exit the first part was fine enough but when I had to face the wind & make it about 1k up the Loch I had some battle my arms where on fire the wind just bullied me all over the place! I’ve got a 16ft prospector I stayed kneeling in the centre on the thwart it was the toughest moment I’ve had in a canoe & I made it out but I’m also very aware that I could have been much worse! I just wonder if it’s possible to get a good line through such wind I’m not sure but I will definitely be packing a overnight bag in the future

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Hey, I get it! I've had some close calls with this prospector and that's why I saved my pennies and now use a Bell Magic on any longer trips. It's not as big or tall or familiar-feeling as a big prospector, but it handles headwinds the same as tail winds or sidewinds. It's been a game-changer for me, but I still need my prospector for fishing!

[@philipnovak5553]

I got wind bound yesterday, wish I would have seen this vid earlier, I’m sure I would have made it out.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Hey, no shame in learning something after you need it. It will happen again in the future. I'm still learning lots!

[@30DayReviews]

thanks for the tips very helpfull to a newer padler in a stat with constant wind

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

You bet! My goal is to help beginners. Advanced canoeists actually give me very negative comments but with no good reason! I appreciate your comments!

[@justiecommentary2032]

Thanks for the technique.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Any time!

[@chux72vette]

Awesomeness on teaching. I think I'll just fire up my 350hp outboard on my canoe and call it a day and spray the bass boat guy. Just kidding. I find the wind here in middle Alabama to be cumbersome on the rivers mainly as the wind travels that way mostly I find. Aiming is key; pick a spot and aim for it by any means necessary. The reason I say that as have sort of rescued some kids that were way off course and didn't have a plan let alone much paddle time and it could've been real bad as there was a storm approaching. We get quite allot of storms through the summer as I'm sure you're aware with the news. Glad you're giving good sound entry level advice to many who need it. Thanx again~

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

I stick with entry level advice because I get attacked and slammed by experienced paddlers. My goal is to use my 40 years of paddling knowledge for those just starting out. I'd like to tell my critics "If it's super basic for you, then don't watch!" Thanks again for your encouragement Chuck.

[@kevinharding2099]

I have dealt with the wind by putting weight in the very bow of the canoe (50 lbs) and that works as well, but the real solution in strong headwinds is to 1) use the proper solo canoe with very little or no rocker, and 2) use a double bladed paddle that is more efficient.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Absolutely! I just picked up a Bell Magic Solo Canoe and it's not affected by wind. There's a big difference between a solo canoe and a tandem canoe being paddled solo!

[@thecount1001]

the 'real solution' is to buy another canoe? what if you can't afford or store another canoe? the real solution' is to adapt and adjust and make it work like the man demonstrates. that's what canoeing is all about. when the winds get too strong, you get off the water, the rest of the time you use techniques that allow you to make progress, whatever you're paddling.

[@ThomPaddler]

We have in the Netherlands a lot of wind, thanks for the tips.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Glad to help. I just bought a solo canoe with a VERY low profile, and it is the best canoe I have every used for dealing with not just headwinds, but any wind. Because I sit directly in the center and the profile is low, the canoe (Bell Magic solo) does not twist in any direction no matter which way the wind hits it. It just stays in its current position and angle!

[@ThomPaddler]

@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I looked lt up on the internet. It's a beautiful canoe! It looks like that it is fast and lightweight.

[@nathanallen6584]

Fantastic video. Thank you! Beginner paddler 👍🏼

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paultaylor3856]

Interesting.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Glad you think so!

[@Alex-od7nl]

I bring two empty five gallon jugs of water. If I need to, I just fill them up with water and put them high up on the bow.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

depending on the size/style of your canoe and your gear/weight distribution, that can work perfectly!

[@JosephStealin]

I eat a lot of beans on canoe trips so it’s normally the people with me who have to deal with the wind 😂

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Indeed !

[@richarddsouza7761]

Extremely helpful. Great camera angles. I'm learning to solo a 16 NC Prospector as well as Tandem with my wife. With wind I like paddling slightly off angle, like you explain, so it compensates for my normal stroke. When the wind is at my back am I more able to sit in the stern, keep the bags in the centre (let the bow rise) and then let the wind help me? Or should I just stay reversed in the bow as I normally would? Thanks!

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Much of paddling position choice is very personal. Some paddlers like to sit in the narrow stern seat even when paddling solo, while loading up the rest of the boat to sit more or less level. I find that awkward personally, so I would use a symmetrical canoe (Prospector) and flip it around to sit in the bow seat. Yes, it does present other challenges like being farther from the water (or gunwales) but I feel like I have more control overall (especially if the wind changes and I paddle into the wind/waves.