Canoeing Basics – Launching
When it comes to launching your canoe, there are a few important decisions you have to make. The first thing is to decide whether you want to launch your canoe from the land, or on the water, you can even launch from a dock, though that is usually a bit more complicated than launching from the beach. Always look for a sheltered place because surf really complicates the process and can be dangerous.
The two main methods of launching from the land are the regular launch, and “wet-footing” it. Wet-footing means you load up your canoe with whatever you’re carrying (water, food, sleeping bag, fishing gear) while it is in the water so that the bottom will not rub against the sand or rocks that might be on the beach. You should definitely use this method to launch your canoe if you are going to be launching from a rocky beach, or any other situation where there might be objects that can harm your canoe on or just below the surface – many a canoeist has had a trip cut short by dragging a canoe over a jagged rock hidden in the sand, which is why you should only use a dry land launch if you are on a sandy beach where there are no major obstacles between yourself and the water. Even so, you need to pull your canoe out so that the bow is actually floating while the stern is no land. This ensures you don’t bottom out by adding your weight to the craft before you get it into the water.
Related Products:
