How to Get Into a Canoe Properly

[@Deb-xm1jw]

Lol!! This was spot-on accurate! The over confident guy was perfect 🤪

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

I try not to be the angry jerk :(

[@EricYXC]

Pete, I really appreciate your "nothing is too basic to cover" approach to your how-to videos; they are immensely helpful to boost confidence in the hobby. One topic I've rarely seen posted on the internet is how best to lower a canoe into and lift one out of the water to minimize stress on your own body and reduce risk of damage to the boat, particularly from a dock or rocky shoreline setting. I've always rented canoes before, where the boats are mostly already set up, or it's an easy beach launch. This is the first year I'll be going out with my own canoe, and water entry/exit is definitely something I'm still trying to work out.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Thanks for the question Eric. You wouldn't be the first to mention the issue of how to launch a canoe from a variety of shoreline environments. I've decided I'll do a video on that exact topic once the weather warms up enough. In a nutshell, I would lower the canoe (same process as mounting a canoe for a portage but in reverse) with one end in the water. Then I would gently pick up the other end and walk it into the water. The process is similar for both beachy or muddy/weedy shorelines. I'll cover all kinds of shorelines. Thanks for reminding me!

[@workerofwood568]

Thanks for the info!!

[@matt84768]

You're videos help me feel confident getting on the water

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Wonderful to hear! Cheers,

[@dougroberts3643]

Perfect timing. I'm knew to canoeing and was just getting ready to search for this exact content. So glad I subscribed to your channel last week. Keep looking up and enjoying God's creation. Perfect words

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Great to hear brother! My channel is designed for those new-ish to canoeing. You're welcome anytime!

[@farnorthpicker56]

Seeing gods wonder of nature,The most important part of being out!😊

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

got that right! Blessings to you!

[@netizenz7182]

Thanks ! I'm truly novice and buy my first canoe soon ! Thanks a lot

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Have fun my friend. Canoeing is my only type of "vacation". Many blessings,

[@rogerpierce6209]

You did some of those impersonations a little too well 😂. Thanks for the tips.!

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

I do my best :)

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

I usually stand when getting into my canoe, with the aid of my setting pole, which I never go out in the canoe without. I also side slip to the shore line and step out onto dry land whenever possible. I get a kick out of many paddlers that ram the bow stem onto shore and then step out into knee deep water and wade in. Tips on exiting and entering the canoe when encountering a beaver dam is always welcome. On the fuller side of the dam I side enter, on the lower section(the more trick side) I just step into the center of the stem end just past the deck and hope for the best, most often balancing with the setting pole stuck firmly into the mud below.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Yes, if it was any warmer than it was when I made the video, I'd show how to do rocky shorelines, beaches, etc. I also don't normally walk in the water on an actual canoe trip, though sometimes it's not such a bad idea when you have rocks sticking out of the sand on a beach just a few inches below the surface. Thanks for watching!

[@ThomPaddler]

Hi Pete. Very recognizable, I see it happening all the time.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

It's always fun (and sometimes a bit painful) to watch people at the dock! :) cheers,

[@Jane_Friday]

Thank you.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

You're welcome! Thanks for the feedback!

[@frankstetzer6773]

I flipped my little solo canoe twice last time out getting in. Only one place to launch and you have to step out a couple feet to the floating canoe and down about a foot. Hard for an old guy to hit the middle. Any tips? There’s gotta be some nice trout in this little lake. Maybe get a float tube?

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Wow - tough luck! If I was in your shoes and really serious about fishing a particular lake, I'd consider a set of pontoons. I own a set (you can see the review on one of my videos). Good ones are not super cheap (upper $300's) but for a one-time fee, you get the best set of stabilizers probably in the world - for canoes. I can stand up and walk around my canoe. Solo canoes are a bit tippier but with stabilizers (Spring Creek Stabilizers) you'd have a hard time flipping.

[@GettenanyOutdoorsSportspal]

Awesome demo I still use a variety of tippy techniques good stuff sir

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Cool, thanks! Any feedback you have is appreciated my friend!

[@thespinachristulides8341]

Thank you! Can you please explain the best way to enter a canoe from within water, say, you should fall out

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Hey Thespina; Thanks for watching. I have not done a video on how to get into a canoe if it capsizes in deep water. If you capsize and the canoe fills with water, your only choice is to go back to shore slowly with the canoe (if there's only one canoe in your group). This is why we STRONGLY suggest wilderness and recreational paddlers stay within 50 feet of shore at all times when possible. It is possible to do an open water rescue if you have more than 1 canoe (3 is best), but it's hard and awkward. If you fall into the water and your canoe is still floating upright, you can enter it from either end of the canoe (while pulling down on the bow or stern). However, that can be nearly impossible if the canoe is empty and light, or if you're not in the best of shape and maybe a bit overweight. I'd stick to the plan to swim to shore with your lifejacket while pulling the canoe slowly with the towline. If you'd like to see someone getting into a canoe from a deep water capsize, there are plenty of videos on KZbin! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@thespinachristulides8341]

@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 thanks for the response!

[@WaldenLifeInTheWoods]

How do you get to the seats after that? How do two ppl get in?

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

You can move around any canoe anytime as long as your center of gravity is low and your hands are firmly gripping gunwales on opposite sides of the canoe. You can step over gear, pets and even people! This is especially true with flat-bottomed and/or wide canoes. Just be careful not to give into the temptation to raise your center of gravity. For two people getting in, the first one in can help steady the canoe by also getting low and grabbing both gunwales.

[@WaldenLifeInTheWoods]

@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 Thanks, I'm going to take my son up to the Adirondacks this summer. Awesome videos.

[@desertdan100]

I am a Solo Canoer. I use the paddle method from a dock. That is where you lay the paddle on the dock and over the support. you close your hand grip over both the paddle and the canoe center support. You step in off of the dock with your foot in the center of the Canoe. The paddle is pressed against the dock and the Canoe cannot role toward the dock. Your weight and center of gravity is toward the dock more so everything is stable until you release your grip. When I launch from the shore I have both hands on either side of the gunnels and one foot in the center. I step forward while pushing forward and drop to one knee as I pull the other leg in and forward. I am a large frame Swede so my weight helps to stabilize the Canoe once I kneel. My Canoe is a 17 old Towne , it weighs about 90 lbs. The more weight I put in it the more stable it is. I have a 90 lb. pack that I throw into the front with a 10 foot rope tied to it. I also have a 5 gallon water jug that I tie up front as an air filled buoy. It is their to help keep the front end floating and help with turning the Canoe back over in an emergency. I keep a cut off old bleach bottle as a bailer and a large car wash sponge to help. It is stuffed into the jug and tied on as well.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Perfect! Thanks for the explanation - hopefully it'll help others!

[@bobpailet6311]

Very helpful! Thank you.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

You're welcome!

[@Jeschitown]

good video that canoe is beautiful!

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Thanks 👍 It's a Wenonah Escape. Great for tandem tripping on flat water. Not so great in white water and a real pain to paddle solo :)

[@jonasf4065]

What boat is this? I have a Clipper Mackenzie 18. No problem for newbies getting in that one but am considering a Swift Prospector 16. Thinking that may have similar tippiness to the boat you're demonstrating here...

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Ya, the Clipper is similar. This is a Wenonah 17' Escape, and it would react very similar to your Clipper for sure. Of course, I was just goofing around in most of this video. I have an Evergreen Prospector - 16' which would be similar to the Swift. It's really not much different than my Escape when it comes to stability/tippiness.

[@WarrenKimpel]

nice video

[@peterrusch9830]

How to move around the canoe once in it

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Basically it's just a matter of always grabbing the gunwales on both sides of the canoe and keeping your center of gravity as low as possible. That's it! Thanks for commenting and watching!

[@garysmith7832]

I would like to see a video on how you move around in the canoe front to back

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

I'm sorry I didn't show that Gary! I'm not sure I'll do a video just for that, but I certainly do move around in my canoe. The key is always to have my hands on the gunwales and my body (center of balance) low. So I would just slide my hands forward and lean way forward while gently stepping over thwarts and other obstacles. To go back I would just back up (not turn around) and crawl in reverse with my body almost horizontal and only 8-10 inches above the gunwales/thwarts. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I appreciate your feedback and question.

[@garysmith7832]

Yes it does. Thanks. I was thinking about getting a canoe for fishing. So I know I would be moving around in it.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

In that case, for my fishing canoe, I can walk around in it and turn around, etc. Here's how I set up my normal trip canoe for fishing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmPJqXRvaNaMlcU

[@glyn829]

Interesting that to a newbie like me 👍 fun to watch to 👌

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Glad to hear it! Mostly tongue and cheek, but I'm sometimes serious!

[@YvonneParra]

Thanks , very helpfull.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Sirrehpotsirch]

Good so far. But no one sits in the middle of the canoe. How about showing how to sit in the seat on the narrow end? Or how to turn the canoe around for tandem paddling? Or when two people are getting into the canoe?

[@Alien2799]

I think that the problem people have is that when one leg is on the deck and the other in the boat then the boat gets away from you and you end up with a split.

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Well that certainly is a possibility. It's all part of getting used to canoes in general and how they act and feel. I'm at the point where I've been able to literally jump into a canoe after freeing it from a rock in the middle of a set of rapids! It's best to get a very good "feel" for your specific canoe and you'll be able to get in and out like it's not even on the water!

[@Alien2799]

@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 Thank you for your response. You have interesting seats in your canoe. You did not like the regular weave seats?

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

I did not have a choice. The Wenonah Escape only comes (as far as I know) with bucket seats. They're quite comfortable but on hot days your butt can get a bit warm since there's no air circulation. :(

[@Alien2799]

@@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904 I see. I thought that you wanted them. I guess there are pros and cons for your seat as well as the regular weave seats. What I like about yours is that the center of gravity is lower. Are your seats better contoured to someone's butt than the regular weave seats? My weave seats seem to be contoured ( I have Swift Prospector 16 canoe) but I would imagine that yours would be better?

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

You are correct about the center of gravity being lower. I use a very short paddle in this canoe because I'm so close to the water. You are also correct in stating that it is contoured to a human butt! However, it is hard (not like the "give" in a nylon weave seat) and your butt can sweat if you sit all day, and with these seats, you pretty much MUST sit while you're in the canoe - it's tough to kneel. You can try to help the sweat and hardness with a seat cushion (Wenonah makes a gel one). The custom cushions certainly make it softer and more comfortable, but they are gel with no real air circulation advantage over the regular hard seat.

[@coltonsites3802]

You mean I can’t step in like it’s a bass boat lol

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Honestly, with a nice flat bottom and wide beam, you really can - especially if you add stabilizers! Thanks for watching!

[@altayaltay2028]

❤

[@norwaysuem]

What about kids with no life jackets age 3 or 7. And no adult jackets

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Hey, thanks for watching and commenting! I'm not sure what you mean when you say "...no life jackets age 3 or 7. And no adult jackets". I believe in life jackets (PFDs) for every paddler or occupant of a canoe, no matter the age. I even have one for my dog. Did I say something different in this video?

[@rogerclyde2720]

Maybe you could show handicapped people how they can get in a Canoe?

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

That is an excellent idea ... but the challenge is to find a willing subject. I've put it on my list of "potential videos" but no promises! Thanks for commenting!

[@rogerclyde2720]

I suffered a stroke April 2021, would be glad to discuss being part. Just as well put my money where my mouth is.

[@briantinkerML]

You can use foam outriggers to make the canoe more stable, alternatively use another manned canoe to brace your canoe, while another holds the canoe to the dock. You can then help the disabled person in. I’ve had experience with taking injured veterans on canoeing expeditions in Norway. Canoeing is really inclusive with a little thinking outside the box.

[@BalzAldrin]

step 1: sell your Canoe step 2: buy a kayak

[@ruggedoutdoorsguide9904]

Hey, just wait til I do the "getting into a kayak" video!!!

[@highloughsdrifter1629]

Getting in kayaks is why I bought a canoe.