Canoeing on canals and rivers

Canoeing can be taken up by anyone at any ability or age, for as long or as little as you decide to spend on the water.

If you are up for more of an adventure on the water, there are many guided tours that will take you around the historic landmarks and beautiful nature that our waterways provide.

Depending on how long your outing is in your canoe, here are some items that will be useful for a longer adventure:

• Sun cream
• Sun hat
• Lifejacket
• Water bottle
• Water whistle
• Dry bag
• Snacks
• Camera
• Binoculars (to take a look at all the wildlife!)

A splash vest, wetsuit and water shorts would be appropriate clothing to wear for canoeing.  It is important to wear clothes that you are comfortable wearing if they get wet, and that won’t restrict your movement. 

As  a safety precaution, before taking to the water it would be useful to practice, with an instructor, what to do if you capsize or otherwise fall into the water, as eventually you will!  This will give you reassurance and knowledge.    

Depending on the severity of damage from your canoe, you should get off of the water as quickly as you can where is safe to do so. Taking your canoe to a boat repair shop is recommended as a professional can assess the damage and recommend what needs fixing.

Learning the correct technique can take a while to master, so knowing the basics of how to take a stroke can be helpful if it’s your first time on the water.

To take a forward stroke, start with your blade in the water in line with your knee and your handle grip in line with your face.  As you take your stroke, move your grip hand in a forward and down motion alone the side of the boat.  To gain extra direction in your stroke you can let the paddle trail behind you to assist your movement.  Keep an upright position and engaged core as you feather your paddle on the recovery and reposition yourself to repeat a stroke.

Watching YouTube videos is a great way to become familiar with the technique of canoeing.  Practice makes perfect, so the best way to improve is to get out on the water and give it a go yourself.

The safest way to store your canoe is upside down, with the weight supported by the gunwales. Draping tarp over your canoe will also protect the surface of it from the sun and scratches.

If you own your own canoe and want to make it look brand new you can use boat or car wax on the outside. If you have a plastic canoe, you can also coat it in a UV protectant.

It’s a good idea to wash down your canoe after each outing, to stop the transfer of any invasive species from one waterway to another.