Canoes, Paddles, and Outrigger
Canoes have a long, storied history that can be traced back thousands of years. They have been used for everything from recreation to survival and have been a means of travel and transportation for cultures all over the globe. Today these watercrafts are still extremely popular and are used by millions of people each and every year.
Canoe-country.com is the internet’s leading source of information regarding all things canoe. We are avid canoeing enthusiasts and we believe that everyone should get the chance to pilot one of these boats at least once in their lifetime. We are dedicated to providing the general public with the most up-to-date information about all aspects of canoeing and kayaking, and we do our best to ensure that all of our information is as unbiased as possible. We do not endorse any one product or company.
Canoes, in the broadest of definitions, are long, thin boats designed to carry 2-3 passengers and a small amount of gear. They are most commonly used for camping trips or for recreation today, but traditionally, they have much richer history. Most often identified with the Native cultures of the Americas, the truth is that they have been used by people all over the world for many, many centuries. The Polynesian islands, for example, were colonized by people from Southeast Asia using large, seafaring canoes over 3000 years ago. Evidence of European cultures using the canoe can be traced as far back as 5000 BC.
Because a canoe is almost always human-powered, paddles are an essential part of their operation. They are the primary means by which the craft is moved through the water and like the boats themselves, were originally made from wood. As a general rule, the design normally consists of a main shaft that is connected to a wide, thin “paddle” which is pulled through the water in order to move the boat forward. There are, however, variations on this basic design; with some having wider paddles than others and many that use differing shaft lengths.
Canoes are generally typified by their long, thin design. While this design allows them to slip effortlessly through the water, it can also cause some stability issues, especially in rougher waters. To counter this trait, many people choose to use an outrigger system when out on the water. An outrigger uses a combination of a pontoon and connection bars which are designed to stabilize the craft. The connection bars attach to the canoe and extend out from each side. The pontoon is connected to the opposite side and keeps the boat from rolling too far to one side or the other. These systems are most often seen on the larger seafaring canoes of the Pacific islands, but they can also be used for smaller versions as well.
If you need any further information about canoes, paddles or camping gear, please feel free to peruse our learning center. There you will find a great deal of detailed information regarding all aspects of canoeing.
Copyright © 2007