by Larry Wiggins

Created on: January 26, 2009

A canoe is a canoe. What is there to selecting one? The canoe is a very simple watercraft that almost anyone can paddle.

Fortunately, this simplistic view of canoes is not true. A canoe is a simple craft but it is very elegant at the same time. Picture a canoe paddled toward the setting sun on a quiet lake. This image can be one of grace, power and quietness all at the same time. To get to this serene setting you need a canoe and selecting the canoe to meet your needs can be complex.

One of the first considerations is the hull material. Canoes are made from wood and canvas, aluminum, fiberglass, plastics, Kevlar and carbon fiber. Each material has an application that it is best suited. The classic canoe is the cedar/canvas canoe. This type of canoe would be the one I would choose for a picture. However these classic canoes are relatively expensive and they require regular maintenance. If you would like a canoe to leave at a cottage and not worry about it through the winter, aluminum is almost bomb proof and will last longer than any other type of material. However, an aluminum canoe is noisy. Some say they sound like a tin can in the water. If you are look for an inexpensive canoe, fiberglass canoes are available from the chain stores. These canoes are usually heavy and will not be the fastest or the sexiest on the water. If you are looking for a flat water canoe that you can take on trips from lake to lake, you are concerned about weight. The lightest canoes are made from Kevlar or even lighter are carbon fiber canoes. These canoes are expensive and relatively should be treated with the respect the investment justifies. They should be stored inside in the winter and will last longer if they are kept out of the sun.

The hull material is relatively easy to understand and the selection is a matter of preference and budget. Hullshape is also important and will determine how easy the canoe is to paddle down the lake. Rocker is the term for the shape of the keel line of the canoe. The keel line is the line that goes from end to end of the canoe along the middle of the bottom. A flat rocker in a canoe will tend to paddle straighter than a canoe with a high rocker. The keel line itself can be a defined keel as in an aluminum canoe or it can be formed by a vee shape of the hull. The more defined the keel line is, the straighter the canoe will travel. Canoes are made without a defined keel line and high rocker for quick turning in fast water. These same characteristics are not desirable in flat water.

Another consideration is the number of paddlers and the amount of weight that will be carried. Solo canoes are made with single seats and are generally narrower than tandem canoes. Tandem canoes can vary in length from about 15 feet to 18 feet. Generally, a longer canoe will be a little bit faster than a shorter canoe of the same shape. However, a longer canoe is also heavier if you will portage it from lake to lake. The length and height of the sides will determine the amount of weight that should be carried in the canoe.

There are many design considerations to be considered when selecting a new canoe. Consider the way you want to use the canoe and make a list of the ones that meet these requirements. If possible, arrange to paddle several of these canoes and choose the one that you like best. Pick a good canoe but, more importantly, get out and paddle.

Learn more about this author, Larry Wiggins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.