How to Canoe With a Kayak Paddle

While a canoe paddle is designed with a single blade and a kayak paddle with a double blade, some people who go on solo canoe trips find that using a kayak paddle is better. In standard two-person canoeing, a kayak paddle would be too unwieldy, but for solo trips, a kayak paddle has several advantages, especially allowing for quick changes of direction. Using a kayak paddle in a canoe requires a slight adjustment to normal canoe paddling.

Things You'll Need

  • Canoe
  • Kayak paddle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a longer paddle so that you have plenty of clearance on either side of the canoe. If you can, try sitting in a canoe in the store with the paddle and make simulated strokes with the paddle. Kayaks sit much lower in the water, so standard kayak paddles are sized smaller. If you use a standard kayak paddle in a canoe, you may not have enough clearance.

    • 2

      Sit straight up in the canoe and hold the paddle securely in your dominant hand; your non-dominant hand should grip the paddle loosely.

    • 3

      Direct the paddle forward towards the bow of the canoe and place the blade in the water perpendicular to the water's surface, then pull out and away from the bow.

    • 4

      Alternate your strokes with this motion on either side of the canoe. Efficient paddling should ensure that the kayak paddle never passes an imaginary plane made by your shoulders; don't pull the blade behind your body.

    • 5

      Use your torso to pull the paddle as much as possible, rotating it with each stroke, to save the muscles in your arms. Practice this motion by making the pull of each blade entirely with a torso swivel.