{"id":166,"date":"2005-04-03T17:25:32","date_gmt":"2005-04-03T22:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.campingnuts.com\/?p=166"},"modified":"2009-06-06T08:35:18","modified_gmt":"2009-06-06T13:35:18","slug":"how-to-choose-your-canoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moshannonfalls.com\/how-to-choose-your-canoe\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose Your Canoe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"madriver_horizon_17\"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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Try Before You Buy<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Don’t settle for a cheaper boat. When shopping for your boat go to knowledgeable boat dealers, ask questions, and try\"otc_discovery_169\" 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.<\/p>\n

Canoe Types<\/strong><\/span>
\nThere 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.
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