Canoes

Canoes take several forms depending on their uses, but from the giant ocean going canoes of the tropics to the long, narrow, canoes of the river, and the short, covered, canoes meant for heavy rapids, they all serve one purpose, to transport individuals over water. Canoes have evolved over time in their method of construction, the shape of their hull, and materials, all in order to make the canoe more controllable and easy to use.

Initially canoes were made out of large logs that were hollowed out and shaped by hand. This made the canoe naturally water-tight, but also had the disadvantage of leaving the canoe looking rather like a log. As logs have wide bows and thick sides made for heavy canoes that were difficult to control but sturdy. Larger trees could be shaped into more pointed bows and have a more v-shaped hull, which helps stability, but were hard to come by. Some beautiful examples of dugout canoes exist in South East Alaska.

The second method to come about was to make a canoe out of bark, especially that of paper birch. Popular in the interior of Alaska these canoes were much lighter and had the advantage of not needing any single large pieces of wood. Large pieces of birch park were sewn together using roots that had been turned into cord. Since they did have seams, leaks would occur unless the canoe was properly sealed with sap.

The next major advancement in canoe materials came when it was found that waxed canvas could be stretched over a canoe frame in a simular process to that of birch bark. Later the waxed canvas would be replaced by canvas that had been painted or treated with other chemicals to make it waterproof. This method is still used with more modern materials such as kevlar, one of the materials found in bullet proof vests.

Canoes today are generally made out of fiberglass, as it is both cheap and durable. Fiberglass can be milled using machines allowing for the mass production of canoes and reducing costs. Although heavier than most other modern materials fiberglass canoes are a good choice for recreational paddlers due to their price and ability to withstand minor damage. Fiberglass canoes are also very easy to repair with a heatsource.

Paddles

Paddles have changed little in their history. Initially all paddles were wood and had narrow blades since they were carved from logs. Most are still made out of wood however cheaper ones made out of plastic are also available. For more sturdier paddles some are equiped with necks that are made of metal, however these still have a plastic blade to reduce weight and cost.

A paddle consists of four main parts, the grip at the top of the paddle, the neck, which is the long narrow part, the throat, which connects the blade and the neck, and finally the blade, which is the wide working end of the paddle. Grips come in three forms, pear, which is the traditional style, t, which has become more popular in recent years, and a mix of both version. The type of grip does not directly effect the paddle except that some grips are more comfortable to some individuals.