Flatwater:
Bow is engine. Bow cannot overcome Stern no matter how powerful the stroke in the bow due to physics and closeness to pivot point.
Stern being further away from pivot point at end of canoe can louse up steering or do effective steering Stern often makes work by following gunwale instead of doing straight stroke parallel to keel line or carries stroke too far back which always results in sweep.
Can bow help turn? Yes But the stern of the canoe has to start a skidded turn first. On flatwater on a straight course you can steer pretty well from just the turn. You have lost bow control but that sometimes is not important.
For you on Facebook find the pic of a turn being done by Rory Matchett. He is in the bow. Kevln Silliker in the stern already did his job and is resting. Also Jim and Lisa Lisius. He is in the bow. They paddled across the USA
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...58819238.1073742247.1609132929&type=3&theater
River:
Rules change. Bow leads. Bow does something to avoid obstacle stern must follow whatever the bow has done and do the appropriate thing to keep boat going straight and discuss later. Not then ( I have seen discussions ! and meanwhile the rock rules). each is in charge of their respective end. Stern however being upstream is in charge of not letting canoe go sideways!
There is more . But enough of me
Bow is engine. Bow cannot overcome Stern no matter how powerful the stroke in the bow due to physics and closeness to pivot point.
Stern being further away from pivot point at end of canoe can louse up steering or do effective steering Stern often makes work by following gunwale instead of doing straight stroke parallel to keel line or carries stroke too far back which always results in sweep.
Can bow help turn? Yes But the stern of the canoe has to start a skidded turn first. On flatwater on a straight course you can steer pretty well from just the turn. You have lost bow control but that sometimes is not important.
For you on Facebook find the pic of a turn being done by Rory Matchett. He is in the bow. Kevln Silliker in the stern already did his job and is resting. Also Jim and Lisa Lisius. He is in the bow. They paddled across the USA
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...58819238.1073742247.1609132929&type=3&theater
River:
Rules change. Bow leads. Bow does something to avoid obstacle stern must follow whatever the bow has done and do the appropriate thing to keep boat going straight and discuss later. Not then ( I have seen discussions ! and meanwhile the rock rules). each is in charge of their respective end. Stern however being upstream is in charge of not letting canoe go sideways!
There is more . But enough of me