How To Choose The Right Boat For Canoe Camping

Try Before You Buy
My first canoe purchase decision was based on price. And when I paddled with others who paddled a similar canoe the one thing we had in common was that we had to paddle hard to keep up with those in the higher quality boats. Major lesson learned here. Don't settle for a cheap boat. When shopping for your boat go to knowledgeable boat dealers, ask questions, and try before you buy. Many boat shops will allow you to actually test models, and I highly recommend testing as many as you can because you'll be amazed at the differences in ease of paddling, tracking, maneuvering, and stability between the different models.

What Type Of Canoeist Are You

The first consideration in choosing your canoe is to determine what type of canoeist you are. It's getting very common for paddlers to own several types of boats to accommodate a variety of paddling environments. And if you take the leap into canoe camping I would almost guarantee you will have you own collection of boats someday. But for now, let's get you started on choosing your first boat. First you need to determine what type of paddling you will be doing. Even though you are going to be canoe camping there are still different types of environments to consider. Some like to spend an entire week wilderness tripping the Great Lakes, while others like the lazy rivers, and still others like to hit the faster rivers. You also need to determine how many passengers are going to be in your boat. Are you paddling solo or with a partner? Do you have small children you want to take along? These are all considerations when shopping for a boat.

Canoe Design

The design of the canoe dramatically affects the performance of the canoe. For example, the length of the canoe affects more than just the comfort and the amount of gear you can haul. It also affects speed and maneuverability. Longer canoes are faster and are an advantage in flat water and long distance expedition conditions. Shorter canoes are more maneuverable and are an advantage in situations where nimbleness and paddling agility are necessary. Other important design features are symmetry and keel line. They both affect canoe performance dramatically and are considerations when making your canoe purchase. This primer article was written to increase your basic knowledge of canoe designs and to help you in your canoe selection.

Canoe Keel Line is the profile of the canoe running from stem to stem of the canoe.

 

 

Straight Keel Line

Pros - greater tracking and speed

Cons - less maneuverable

 

 

 

Straight Keel Line Rockered Ends

Pros - moderate speed and glide, moderate maneuverability

Cons - reduced tracking and speed than straight keel line, less maneuverability than highly rockered boats

 

 

 

Highly Rockered Keel Line

Pros - greatest maneuverability

Cons - forward speed and tracking greatly reduced

Canoe Symmetry is the shape of the canoe viewed from above.

 

 

Symmetrical Design

Pros - predictable handling and can be paddled in reverse for solo canoeing

Cons - slower than asymmetrical canoes

 

 

 

Asymmetrical Design

Pros - greater forward speed and glide

Cons - not suitable for solo paddling backwards and can be wet when paddling into rapids

Types Of Canoes

There are many canoe models to choose from and they all offer their own advantages for different types of paddling. Some canoes are made for extreme conditions such as whitewater, and some are designed to perform well under calm paddling conditions while carrying heavy loads of gear. It is often a fine line that separates these categories of boats but once you begin your research, and paddle a few different models, you be able to make the right purchase.

• Sport Boats
  Generally made for paddling around a lake or a very slow river. The higher stability makes it a great boat for fishing or exploring about for a few hours but is slow and does not track well. This boat is not recommended for canoe camping trips.
  
  
• Recreational Canoes
  These boats are not a high performance boat when it comes to speed or maneuvering, but they do offer stability on the water. This is a great boat for paddling around on lakes or slow rivers with the family. And because of their stability, this boat is a great boat to fish from. It's a great beginner boat, but if you plan to use it on river or wilderness tripping you probably find yourself wanting something with more performance.
  
  
• Touring Canoes
  These boats are reasonably fast and maneuverable, they handle calm water and smaller whitewater rapids well. They take a little more getting used to than recreational canoes because they don't have the primary stability that the recreational boats have. But they do have secondary stability that enables them to maneuver and perform in the mild whitewater situations. You will find that manufacturers offer these boats in many different versions. Some models are designed for paddling slower rivers with the family and some models are designed with more maneuverability for paddling more aggressive waters. A boat in this category is probably your best choice for canoe camping rivers and creeks.
  
  
• Tripping Canoes
  Tripping canoes are generally high volume canoes. That means that they are capable of hauling large amounts of gear. Some of these boats are designed to maneuver through rapids and obstacles well, and others are designed to track in a straight line on smooth lakes. If you are going to do major canoe trips lasting a week or longer, or if you intend to bring along the kitchen sink, then you might want to consider this boat.
  
  
• Whitewater Canoes
  These are high performance boats designed for paddling large rapids. Don't consider this boat if you are planning to canoe camp in luxury. These boats are designed to float through rapids not haul gear. Purchase this category of boat when you advance your paddling skills to class 3 and 4 rapids.