CANOEING BASICS AND TIPS
Canoeing is one of the most pleasant and peaceful outdoor experiences around! Follow these simple tips listed below to make the most of your Wanderlust Tours canoeing experience or use them on your on adventures!
CANOE SAFETY TIPS
To get into your canoe:
Have someone hold the canoe steady – you don’t want to tip the canoe before you even get out on the water.
Crouch low - keep your knees bent and
Grab the sides of the canoe to balance as you walk to your seat
Always walk along the center – keeping your feet on the centerline will help keep the canoe from rocking.
Stay low – do not stand up or walk in your canoe when you are away from shore.
Always wear your life jacket- you never know when you might fall out or tip over unexpectedly.
Avoid sudden or jerky movements – rocking from side to side could cause the canoe to tip over.
Be aware of currents in the water – you don’t want to end up floating farther downstream than you planned. If the current starts to pull you along faster or you see lots of rocks in the water ahead of you paddle away from them or paddle towards the shore.
Always sit on the seats or in the center of the canoe – sitting on the side of a canoe will cause it to tip over.
Stay aware from low hanging trees and branches on the shore.
Do not canoe in bad weather.
IF YOUR CANOE TIPS OVER:
Don’t panic
Stay with your canoe
Paddle or push your canoe to shore with the help of the other person in your canoe. You can get out in shallow water and flip the canoe to dump out the water and climb in. Your canoe will float even if its full of water until you can get to shore to empty it.
HELPFUL CANOEING TIPS
Always bring along extra clothing in a waterproof bag - you want to be prepared in case your canoe tips or the weather changes.
Be sure to bring the proper equipment:
Sun Protection – hats, sunscreen, long sleeves and pants
First Aid Kit
Plenty of food and water
Life vest (required on our tours).
Map – always know where you are.
Tie all your equipment to the canoe – put your equipment into a waterproof bag to keep it dry and tie it to one of the center beams in the canoe so that you don’t lose everything if your canoe tips over.
Do not litter – carry out everything you bring in – the animals don’t like a messy home.
CANOEING PADDLING TECHNIQUES AND STROKES
Paddle strokes are important to learn if the canoe is to move through the water in a safe and precise manner.
The cruising stroke or forward stroke is the easiest stroke. It is used mainly by the bowman to simply propel the canoe forward without turning. The paddle blade is brought forward along the side of the canoe, dipped into the water, and drawn back.
The back stroke is essentially the same movement, but done in reverse. This stroke is used to make the canoe go backward or to stop the canoe.
Advocates of steering in the stern often use the J-stroke, which is so named because, when done on the port side, it resembles the letter J. It begins like a standard stroke, but towards the end, the paddle is rotated and pushed away from the canoe.
Another stroke which may be used by either the bow or stern paddler is the pry stroke. The paddle is inserted vertically in the water, with the power face outward, and the shaft braced against the gunwale. A gentle prying motion is applied, forcing the canoe in the opposite direction of the paddling side.
Another stroke which is used in the stern is the Superior stroke, or rudder stroke. This stroke uses the opposite face of the paddle to make the steering motion. It is somewhat like a stroke with a small pry at the end of it..
INFO ON CANOES AND CANOE COMPANIES
After wood and canvas canoes, aluminum canoes were popular. Common materials today are Fiberglass, Kevlar, Royalex, Polylink and Triple Tough. Wanderlust Tours uses Mad River Canoes that are Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid canoes. Another canoe manufacturer is the Old Towne Canoe Company.
A good on-line resource for buying a canoe or paddling accessories is paddling.net where you can research canoe manufacturers, information on canoe paddles, life-vests or PFDs, canoe repair and maintenance tools, canoe transport and launching systems, and canoe rescue and safety gear.
MODERN CANOE DESIGNS
Touring canoes are made of lighter materials and built for comfort and cargo space.
Whitewater canoes (or river canoes) are typically made of synthetic material for strength. They have no keel and have increased rocker for maneuverability.
Racing canoes (or sprint canoes) are purpose-built racing canoe for use in racing on flat water. To reduce drag, they are built long and with a narrow beam.
Inflatable canoes are similar in construction and materials to other inflatable boats but shaped like a canoe.
CANOE RENTALS IN BEND AND SUNRIVER
Wanderlust Tours does not rent canoes or canoeing accessories. Please contact the Central Oregon Visitors Association for a list of local companies who rent canoes, kayaks and other boats. 
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