What is the Proper Way to Solo Paddle a Tandem Canoe?

[Glenn MacGrady]

The best answer is:

(a) from the bow seat backwards

(b) from a centralized seat

(c) from the stern seat

Well, every river child in the watery wonderland of South America knows the answer is:

(d) none of the above



Picture taken by Verlen Kruger and Valerie Fons on the 21,000 mile Two Continent Canoe Expedition.

Your mission, members, should you decide to accept it, is to analyze WHY this boy, probably following more than a thousand years of his ancestors' canoe technique teachings, is paddling from that position in the canoe.

 

[PaddlingPitt]

Kathleen and I are already arguing about it.

 

[recped]

Going upstream?

Maybe he just passed under an overhang where a giant anaconda reached down and snatched the stern paddler?

 

[PaddlingPitt]

Going upstream?

Maybe he just passed under an overhang where a giant anaconda reached down and snatched the stern paddler?

Kathleen says, “That’s something we can agree on.”

 

[RickR]

I think he may be going downstream in flooded conditions. It's easy for him to steer with the boat trimmed that way.

 

[lowangle al]

I think the answer should be "All of the above." Depending on the boat and conditions they have all worked well for me, including paddling forward from the bow seat on a very rare occasion.

I want to add that none of my tandems have a center seat, I kneel or sit on the bottom.

 

[Midwest Firecraft]

From the bow seat backwards.

 

[memaquay]

There is a ghost in the back seat steering.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Let me ask Bob my marine archaeology friend who is studying native watercraft in Guyana. He is learning to paddle those and finds them er...tippy.. no primary stability. My guess is that the kid has the most control in the bow as he is going upstream.. The rear end just follows.

Otherwise the "proper" position depends on where you are and what you are carrying.. Robins CT header is proper if you are carrying a lot of dead weight.. er meat.
If you can heel the boat, the most control of a lighter loaded boat is kneeling in the center but in a bilge.. heeled over.

Upstream. downstream?? The easiest way to change trim is to POLE!

 

[Woodpuppy]

Knowing nothing about the hull shape below the waterline, if skegged the stern would just follow the bow paddler. He can steer well enough from the bow. Or maybe the poor lad always gets stuck in the bow, and when he took it out by himself he never thought to abandon his assigned seat.

 

[pblanc]

Dad fell out of the stern of the boat and was consumed by a crocodile and kid hasn't noticed yet.

 

[Mike McCrea]

I was gonna say “With a long double blade” but thought better about it.

 

[Jim Dodd]

I observed a young kid at a resort, years ago, maneuver a V-bottom around the docks at a resort, doing just as Glenn posted. He whipped the boat around like a White water kayak. I was impressed!

 

[Tsuga8]

I would wonder about wind and current, but it sure looks to me like he's going upstream on a calm (if flooded) day. So I can only echos comments above, both the smart and the smart-arsed variety.

 

[PaddlingPitt]

I would wonder about wind and current, but it sure looks to me like he's going upstream on a calm (if flooded) day. So I can only echos comments above, both the smart and the smart-arsed variety.

Just wondering if your “Tsuga” handle indicates that you like Hemlock trees.

 

[Tsuga8]

Indeed! I had the Eastern (canadensis) in mind when I picked the handle.

 

[stevet]

Also a hemlock lover. One of my favorite areas is the smoky mountains but it is so sad to see the hemlocks there are being completely decimated by the woolly adelgids. See ‘em before they’re gone.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Also a hemlock lover. One of my favorite areas is the smoky mountains but it is so sad to see the hemlocks there are being completely decimated by the woolly adelgids. See ‘em before they’re gone.

We are lucky. Our back woods by the house is stuffed with balsam and hemlocks. But that will change for sure

 

[yellowcanoe]

My friend Bob in Guyana noted a gal standing in the bow of a dugout and paddling...standing up..Seems that culture grew up canoeing. Dugouts are not known for secondary stability.

 

[Tsuga8]

Yes, sadly we're loosing hemlocks fast here in NY too. Doing my best to enjoy em while they're here....