Canoe Types

Canoes are constructed according to the way they will be used and their intended environment. Some have square stems (front ends), while others have rounded stems. The rocker, the curve of the hull along the keel-line of the craft, dictates the maneuverability of the canoe. Boats with more rocker (upward curvature at the ends) move slower on flat water, but are easier to turn. The longer the canoe, the faster and the more weight it can carry. Basically, there are seven types of canoes.

  1. Custom

    • Canoes built for specific purposes such as sailing, to use with a motor, to carry four or more passengers or to paddle in rough water and in the ocean have additional elements such as extended decks or other modifications.

    Expedition

    • Expedition canoes, designed for heavy loads and long trips, typically run from 18 to 20 feet long and require more than two paddlers. Fitted with a moderate rocker and a deeper bow depth, this canoe has depth and greater displacement, and maneuvers best when weighted.

    Racing

    • The small, light, fast racing canoes feature rigid hulls, and appear longer, narrower and asymmetrical from stern to bow. These high-performance canoes typically run 18 to 20 feet in length.

    Recreational

    • Made for flat-water day trips, recreational canoes -- also referred to as "cabin" or "city lake" canoes -- offer a water craft designed for tracking and easy handling for people interested in fishing, photography or bird watching. These canoes usually are proportioned shorter (13 to 16 feet) and wider (over 36 inches) than other types of canoes, and usually require two or three paddlers.

    River Trips

    • Impact and abrasion resistant, 15- to 17-foot river-trip canoes built for use on fast moving rivers and streams have no keel, but do have flat bottoms, flared sides and a symmetrical design from end to end. Generous rockers on each end allow single or dual paddlers to move laterally, make quick turns and allow the craft to cross sharp eddy lines smoothly.

    Wilderness

    • Longer trips into the wilderness require the 15- to 18-foot, solo or tandem wilderness canoe which features increased carrying capacity for the equipment necessary for paddlers to stay out on the trail for weeks. These canoes are built for stability and efficiency.

    Whitewater

    • Another type of sporting canoe that requires rockers is the whitewater canoe. This craft, made for one or two paddlers, may include flotation in stern and bow, spray skirts, kneeling pedestals and toe blocks with straps for legs and knees.