CANOE OUTFITTING

THE CANOE COCKPIT - SITTING VERSUS KNEELING

Pack canoes are really open top kayaks, with the paddler sitting on an angled seat raised off the canoe bottom just enough to get one's heels in close enough to stand up. Our normal pack canoe cockpit offers the paddler a choice of contoured carbon or caned seat with a comfortable, fully adjustable backband and adjustable footpegs. The combination of this fully adjustable outfitting improves paddler comfort, control of the boat and stability. All contribute to better performance.

Kneeling paddlers have a higher and wider stance in the canoe. Height improves control; the paddler can reach farther from the canoe for turning strokes and can use cross strokes, where the blade is carried across the gunwales to the opposite side, without changing grip on the paddle. The kneeling paddler is more stable due to broad knee placement and can generate more power with each stroke because leg muscles are involved.

Kneeling paddlers commonly use a straight paddle. They are able to place the blade well forward of their knee, where the blade face is efficiently perpendicular to the stroke. Kneeling paddlers usually require some padding between the knees and hull, and still find kneeling uncomfortable for longer periods of time. A kneeling thwart installed in a solo boat or as the third thwart in a tandem canoe is another seating option.

Sitting in a canoe with legs outstretched is more comfortable than kneeling, but reduces paddler height and reach. The lower stance lessens reach and control. Paddlers switch sides of boat for directional control. Shorter reach results in the use of a short, knee to hip, stroke that reduces torso rotation. Sitting paddlers ideally use bent paddles as they are perpendicular to the stroke from knee to thigh. Short strokes allow a higher, more efficient, cadence. Dedicated sit down canoes need low-mounted seats and foot braces to improve stability and power transfer to the hull.