Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-17
EASY DOES 1T
How to Paddle Your Own Canoe
EASY DOES 1T
By CHARLES COVELL
Outdoor Editor

But how many know exactly
what they are doing? Unfor-
tunately, accident statistics
show those who honestly say
they do probably are in the
minority.
To remedy this, Louis j. Ma
tacia Of 5000 North Roosevelt
street. Arlington, is giving a
course at the Water Sports
Center off Rock Creek park
way. Matacia is secretary of a
club called the Blue Ridge Voy-
ageurs and a Red Cross sail
ing, canoeing and boating in
structor.
Class Meets Mondays
The class meets on Mondays
from $3.50 to 9 pm. Everything
from the basic canoe strokes
to self-reScue is covered, the
only stipulation being that you
be able to fall into water over
your head clothed in shirt,
trousers and shoes and main
tain yourself comfortably and
calmly for 10 minutes.
AS a matter of fact, no one
should step into a canoe with
out that ability unless he or
she is wearing a life jacket.
In addition, 1t is wise to know
how to swim at least 80 feet
under water.
But supposing you want to
start canoeing and can't at
tend the course. First step, Of
course, is to select your canoe.
New ones cost from $35 to
$500. In addition, a sailing rig
may run $3.50 to $170.
IL Feet Good Length
A 17-footer will carry two
persons and their camping gear
and is a good length for all
types of river cruising, Mata-
cha says. There are shorter, So
called one-man canoes, but
they are treacherous.
AS for materials, the instruc-
tor highly favors aluminium. A
17-footer will weigh rs pounds
as against so to go for one
made of Fiberglas cloth, but
the aluminium is more dura-
BILE. Nodded Fiberglas runs 100
pounds while a canvas canoe
will scale IS. Weights are i'm
portant in launching. cartop
carrying and portaging.
If you are uncertain wheth-
er you will like canoeing, rent
ing one might be good idea.
Paddle Must Be Right
Picking a paddle of proper
length comes next. If it's too
long, the canoeist can't exc
cute the proper strokes and If
too short, he has difficulty
reaching the water. In open
waters, many canoeists use a
double paddle for speed and
ease of control.
It's also important to learn
the parts of q canoe, the bow
stern, thwartS and gunwales,
Launching follows, which
doesn't mean dragging 1t over
the ground but lifting at each
end, then easing it hand over
hand into the water.
Boarding a canoe is a tricky
business but the easiest way is
to have one person steady the
canoe while the other puts one
foot into the exact center, leans
over and graspS the opposite
gunwale and then eases him.
self into position.
Four Basic Strokes Used
There are four basic strokes
in handling a canoe, the bow,
sweep, reverse sweep and the
draw, which simply means to
extend your paddle and draw
water toward the canoe.
With these four you can ma
newer the craft, but there is
another useful one, the j
stroke, which enables a pad
dler to guide his craft while
padding only from one side.
You first execute the sweep but
at the end twist the blade to
right or left according to which
way you want to swing.
Novices should practice these
strokes before going off on
their own, learning to hold a
straight course regardless of
wind or waves, to coordinate
strokes with the bow man and
to turn properly. Usually it is
better to kneel rather than sit
when learning.
How to Change Position
It also is well to practice
changing positions. To do this
safely, the bow man moves to
the center of the canoe and
the stern man edges forward
with one hand on the gunwale
to steady himself. After he is
positioned, the bow man moves
back. A word to the wise: Try
this first in shallow water.
Rescue skills are. of course
important. The first rule is tc
stick with your canoe unless
it is heading toward a water
fall. If it has been swamped
don't try to hang on the end OF
side as it will merely rotate.
Instead, reach inside with
both hands, press hard on the
bottom and inch yourself ovel
the gunwale so that you liz
inside. You can paddle with
your hands if necessary.
II you have fallen out anC
the canoe is afloat, you car
get in If you are careful. Liz
on the surface of the water
reach to the opposite gunwale
then kick forward to give your
self leverage.
Join Organized Group
Safest way to learn canoe