Impact of Heeling - Canoe Design

[lowangle al]

i have no idea what was just said. During the power paddle phase, there is at least a moderate amount of torso and upper body rotation as shoulders follow the paddle until the end of clean power and the paddle then cleanly exits the water for in air recovery to the next catch. A torso rotation during recovery back to center causes a slight reactive torque through my butt to the canoe seat in the opposite direction, which would be a turning force toward the paddle side. There is no drag, intentional or otherwise by paddle or anything else. Experiment shows it is real, most noticeable in lightweight fast boats traveling in a direct straight line at speed.

I'm familiar with that reactive torque. You need to have tight abs or that torque won't make it to the boat. I don't rotate much so I thought it was from the momentum of swinging the paddle forward.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

During the power paddle phase, there is at least a moderate amount of torso and upper body rotation as shoulders follow the paddle until the end of clean power and the paddle then cleanly exits the water for in air recovery to the next catch. A torso rotation during recovery back to center causes a slight reactive torque through my butt to the canoe seat in the opposite direction, which would be a turning force toward the paddle side.

Very interesting. I've never heard of this, and if I've ever been thusly torqued, I guess I've never noticed. You say this only happens in your very light weight and presumably low/no rocker canoes. Shouldn't this reactive torque be more pronounced the more turnable the canoe is, due to high rocker, flat bottom or whatever?

 

[lowangle al]

It's pretty subtle Glenn. I've recently felt it in my 40 lb Seliga which turns very easily from the stern. I don't use it as a means of directional control though. If you're not paddling with tight abdominal muscles I don't think the force will make it from your arms to your butt. It will be absorbed by your body before it moves your boat.

 

[gumpus]

i have no idea what was just said. During the power paddle phase, there is at least a moderate amount of torso and upper body rotation as shoulders follow the paddle until the end of clean power and the paddle then cleanly exits the water for in air recovery to the next catch. A torso rotation during recovery back to center causes a slight reactive torque through my butt to the canoe seat in the opposite direction, which would be a turning force toward the paddle side. There is no drag, intentional or otherwise by paddle or anything else. Experiment shows it is real, most noticeable in lightweight fast boats traveling in a direct straight line at speed.

You're saying the torque comes purely from body rotation. That was my question.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Very interesting. I've never heard of this, and if I've ever been thusly torqued, I guess I've never noticed. You say this only happens in your very light weight and presumably low/no rocker canoes. Shouldn't this reactive torque be more pronounced the more turnable the canoe is, due to high rocker, flat bottom or whatever?

Watch this guy's boat closely as he demonstrates the forward stroke in his WW canoe. This is the first video I ever noticed this happening. It's subtle, but it's there.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

As I was scrolling through some of my old videos, I found another with some good examples of offside (or outside) healing.
Note that even with the bow stem out of the water, most of the forward half of the chine is still engaged.

Yep, there's some heeling to the inside there too. It all depends on where the current is meeting the canoe.

 

[samb]

A torso rotation during recovery back to center causes a slight reactive torque through my butt to the canoe seat in the opposite direction, which would be a turning force toward the paddle side. There is no drag, intentional or otherwise by paddle or anything else. Experiment shows it is real, most noticeable in lightweight fast boats traveling in a direct straight line at speed.

I too have noticed this.

Sam

 

[lowangle al]

I experimented with it last night. It definitely moved my bow towards my paddle side, but if I didn't hurry and plant my next stroke it seemed to want to turn back. I also was able to turn my boat while not moving forward by quickly repeating the "recovery" motion without putting the blade in the water. I could feel how it relies on the recoil from your body rotation. It does give you a little help with correction but not as much as I can get by carving and using the wind.