№1 — Each person paddles on one side.
№2 — Both paddle on the opposite side of the direction that they
want to turn.
№3 — person in the aft paddles forward in the direction they
want to turn. person in the bow paddles backward
on the opposite side.
When an experienced pair of tandem canoeing paddlers are working together it can almost look effortless. On the other hand when the two paddlers of a tandem are out of sync with each other it can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating exercise which could lead to an unexpected capsize. And so in this tops we’re gonna find out at how to work together as a team to make your tandem canoe trip memorable for the right reasons.
first thing you need to decide is who will sit where. As a general rule the most experienced and confident person should be in the stern as they have the most control over the canoe and that’s where most of the turns are initiated from.
Although the battle paddler has less control of the canoe they still play a key role in setting the paddling pace, providing propulsion and helping make adjustments for any turns or maneuvers being performed. Now that you know who will sit where there are a few different ways to get into a canoe as a tandem pair. Whether you’re launching from a dock or the shore you’ll get into the canoe one at a time while the other person stabilizes the boat. If you’re launching from shore position the canoe bow first out into the water. stern person can stabilize the canoe as the bow person enters from the stern and walks to the bow keeping their weight low and centered in the canoe.
Once they’re in place and ready the stern paddler can step into the canoe and assume their position while the bow paddler keeps the boat as steady as possible. When it comes to paddling the biggest challenge for tandem canoeing is that the bow paddler can’t see what the stern paddler is doing and that’s why it’s important that you have good communication between each other.
This is also why the bow paddler sets the pace and the stern paddler does their best to match that pace because paddling in unison and working as a team allows the canoe to travel the most smoothly and efficiently through the water. Working as a team is also important if you ever find yourself needing to reenter your canoe in the case of an unexpected capsize. There are a few different ways to do so but it’ll be much easier if you have another canoe around to help out. That’s why it’s a good idea to paddle with others it makes a rescue situation so much easier to handle. With that being said if you do capsize take a moment to check in with your partner make sure they’re okay and collect any gear that’s close at hand especially the paddles. If the canoe is upside-down the first order of business is flipping an upright. Assuming there’s another canoe on hand to assist the canoe over canoe rescue is the best option. This rescue involves having the rescue boat drag the upside-down canoe across their canoe to empty out the water before flipping it back upright. rescue boat can then stabilize the canoe while the swimmers re-enter from the side one at a time
If there isn’t another canoe around to help then re-entering your canoe from the water is going to be much more challenging and so you need to practice before you head out on the water
Or you have to stay close enough to shore so that if you do end up capsizing you can confidently swim your gear and yourselves to shore.
That being said, to upright a flip canoe from the water both paddlers should position themselves on the same side of the canoe, grab the closest edge by the gunnels and lift and flip the canoe upright getting as much of the water out as possible while you do so.
You’ll then move to opposite sides of the canoe alongside the appropriate seat with a firm grip on the gunnels and your legs out on the surface behind you you’ll count to three and in use in use a strong kick of the legs and pull with the arms to get your bodies over the gunnels and into the canoe.
trick is doing it together so that one person doesn’t pull the canoe back upside-down.
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