Fig. 1-A
Fig. 2-A
Fig. 3-A
Fig. 1-B
Fig. 2-B
Fig. 3-B
The Stroke of the Paddle is Made with the Body Motionless, One Hand Grasping the Shaft of the Paddle and the Other Holding It a Short Distance above the Blade
The bow paddler usually does nothing more than keep up a regular stroke and watch for rocks and obstructions, but if he is a good hand at the paddle he can do much to steer the canoe. For example, take the usual bow stroke, made by dipping the paddle quite close and ahead of the canoe. The force of the stroke thus made forces the bow in the opposite direction, and the man in the stern will be called upon to use more energy in steering. In contrast to this faulty handling of the paddle, the experienced bowman will begin his stroke by dipping his paddle well out from the bow and pulling it toward him at a greater angle, which keeps the canoe moving straight ahead without swinging to one side, and the energy of both paddlers is used in driving the craft steadily ahead. When paddling in tortuous and rocky streams it is the bow paddler’s duty to watch out for rocks and snags, and he should always be prepared to “draw” the canoe whenever it is necessary to clear an obstruction or assist the stern paddler to shoot the canoe around an abrupt bend. To do this is simple enough, since the bowman merely reaches his paddle out at arm’s length over the side and pulls the bow in that direction, while the stern paddler simply paddles straight ahead.