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Canoeing with a woman
- Thread starter Mack
- Start date
If you have a stretch of slow enough water,before setting out for the trip, play with the canoe, dump it, do all the routine safety stuff, climb in and out of it, but have fun, don't make it too serious. Then put the gear in and go for your trip. If it truly is flat water, get her a low beach chair or canoe seat designed for putting on the floor of the canoe, with the back facing forward. Best for ponds or lakes, but slow rivers also, but only if you are experienced and she is confident. If you use a beach chair, ( the legs are only about 4-6 inches high. ) put some foam pipe covers over them for gription and silence. Her sitting this way not only lowers the center of gravity, but it is romantic as well.
MacHete
Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
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- 2,559
Not much to add to what's been said so far, but regarding-
Riveted aluminum will leak. Don't know where you live, but if you have "normal" seasons including freezing temperatures, then if possible, when not in use keep it in your garage. If it must be kept outside, keep it covered with a tarp but allow air circulation underneath. the seams will loosen from temperature changes no matter what you do, but keeping water out of the joints will reduce the severity. Once it does start to leak, try to seal with marine epoxy.
Please, never take an aluminum canoe on whitewater.
Enjoy!
-and post pics!
Riveted aluminum will leak. Don't know where you live, but if you have "normal" seasons including freezing temperatures, then if possible, when not in use keep it in your garage. If it must be kept outside, keep it covered with a tarp but allow air circulation underneath. the seams will loosen from temperature changes no matter what you do, but keeping water out of the joints will reduce the severity. Once it does start to leak, try to seal with marine epoxy.
Please, never take an aluminum canoe on whitewater.
Enjoy!
-and post pics!
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- Apr 14, 2008
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Right, drybox pelican case would be nice with a camera. Take lots of pictures of her and surprise her with a small album of her "adventure" so she can brag to her friends. Teach her to build a small fire for a shore lunch. She will feel special and unique around her friends and will want to do it again. Maybe some lightweight pants with zip off legs. Don't want her broiled in the sun, she won't like it.
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:thumbup: Absolutely, make plans to do this. Go to a beach with shallow warm water, life jackets on (and always wear them). Rock the boat gently, rock it violently, see how far you can lean over the gunwales, deliberately try to capsize it and do it (then see how hard it is to right the canoe, bail it out, and climb back in). Make it fun, get wet. This will be educational and a confidence builder for both of you.
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Glue [Evo] a pressure blown foam camp mat in the bottom. The bottom gets cold as well as being hard. Abduct tape is good for a test but no solution.
Tips:
A PFD with princess-cut seams, aka a 3-panel front, is most comfortable for a woman. Even guys find them more comfortable than a center zip PFD.
A good forward stroke has to be learned. Some people paddle their whole lives with a sloppy inefficient stroke. If she's in the bow, she's the motor so help her get that stoke polished. Paddle vertical; draw parallel to the keel line, not the gunnel. Most importantly, get a proper sized paddle for her. Shaft length is the critical measure, not overall paddle length. One method of sizing: stand up, put your arms out and up (your elbows at exactly 90 degrees), measure the distance between your hands... that's the shaft length you want. Also, don't load her down with a huge paddle blade or heavy paddle.
Gardener's knee pads will allow her to kneel in comfort. Kneeling allows you to bring your core muscle groups into full use when paddling and improves the efficiency of your stroke and the canoe's stability by lowering your center of gravity. She can switch between sitting and kneeling to keep comfortable.
Communication can be difficult between the bow person and the stern person. You aren't facing each other and you're separated. She can't always hear you and you can't always hear her. This can result in yelling matches. Before you both get in the boat, tell her that you may have to shout at her to be heard but this is in no way because you're mad. Ask her to turn around to speak to you. Good communication in a tandem situation is a key skill.
When getting in or out of the canoe, steady the canoe for her by sitting on the bow or stern deck with your legs tight against the hull. She can then climb in/out or crawl over the gear up to her position. Depending on which end of the canoe is on shore, she may also be required to steady the boat as you climb in.
A PFD with princess-cut seams, aka a 3-panel front, is most comfortable for a woman. Even guys find them more comfortable than a center zip PFD.
A good forward stroke has to be learned. Some people paddle their whole lives with a sloppy inefficient stroke. If she's in the bow, she's the motor so help her get that stoke polished. Paddle vertical; draw parallel to the keel line, not the gunnel. Most importantly, get a proper sized paddle for her. Shaft length is the critical measure, not overall paddle length. One method of sizing: stand up, put your arms out and up (your elbows at exactly 90 degrees), measure the distance between your hands... that's the shaft length you want. Also, don't load her down with a huge paddle blade or heavy paddle.
Gardener's knee pads will allow her to kneel in comfort. Kneeling allows you to bring your core muscle groups into full use when paddling and improves the efficiency of your stroke and the canoe's stability by lowering your center of gravity. She can switch between sitting and kneeling to keep comfortable.
Communication can be difficult between the bow person and the stern person. You aren't facing each other and you're separated. She can't always hear you and you can't always hear her. This can result in yelling matches. Before you both get in the boat, tell her that you may have to shout at her to be heard but this is in no way because you're mad. Ask her to turn around to speak to you. Good communication in a tandem situation is a key skill.
When getting in or out of the canoe, steady the canoe for her by sitting on the bow or stern deck with your legs tight against the hull. She can then climb in/out or crawl over the gear up to her position. Depending on which end of the canoe is on shore, she may also be required to steady the boat as you climb in.
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I'm not a canoeing expert
(even though i once worked in the Canadian Canoe Museum,lol)
but maybe you could get her to watch this vid for inspiration?
http://www.nfb.ca/film/song_of_the_paddle/
or this
http://www.nfb.ca/film/waterwalker/
(even though i once worked in the Canadian Canoe Museum,lol)
but maybe you could get her to watch this vid for inspiration?
http://www.nfb.ca/film/song_of_the_paddle/
or this
http://www.nfb.ca/film/waterwalker/
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Perhaps fit some flotation bags in the canoe!
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When we were first dating, I took my wife-to-be to a lake that rented (aluminum) canoes. She too was apprehensive as she was uncomfortable in water (no formal lessons).
The first thing I did was (while she was on shore) swamp the canoe to show her that it would still float even while full of water. I got in it while swamped, again to show that it would remain floating.
This helped immensely in calming her fears.
The first thing I did was (while she was on shore) swamp the canoe to show her that it would still float even while full of water. I got in it while swamped, again to show that it would remain floating.
This helped immensely in calming her fears.
When I used to canoe in New England with a gal I dated, I would suggest she bring a spare set of clothing and keep it in the dry bag. Then if an accident occurs, you don't have a wet, cold girlfriend complaining the whole way back to the take-out point.
DancesWithKnives
DancesWithKnives
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All great advice.
In Oregon I rarely have to worry about freezing in fact the temperature is really steady year round here. As far as I can tell it has always been stored outside and I will check it for leaks and seal whatever is needed. Then I will make her as comfortable as possible and make sure she is enjoying herself and tip it!
Thanks gentlemen.
In Oregon I rarely have to worry about freezing in fact the temperature is really steady year round here. As far as I can tell it has always been stored outside and I will check it for leaks and seal whatever is needed. Then I will make her as comfortable as possible and make sure she is enjoying herself and tip it!
Thanks gentlemen.