I See More And More Folks Canoeing Now. How Do I Get Started In This Simple-looking Water Sport?

Imagine a craft light enough for two people to hoist on top of a car, so easy to propel that a five-year-old can do it, needing no gasoline, and being virtually silent. This little boat is a canoe.Canoeing has gained popularity in the U.S for all of the above reasons as a ticket to family fun. You can take a canoe in water as shallow as a foot, load it up with camping gear, and fish all day (adding a small trawling motor, if you wish). You do not need a boat ramp, and many lakes do not charge a fee for launching a canoe.

There are two basic types of canoe: white- and flat-water boats. The average paddler needs just a flat-water boat, and they are sold in lengths from 13 to 18 feet. Most people opt for a 16-footer because of its stability and so you can carry more gear or extra people.
Start by checking the classified ads for a used boat in the spring. As a beginner, you will have just as much fun in a used plastic boat for $250 as you will in a $1,000 Kevlar Grumman.

Paddles must be the right length for your height. Standing with the tip of the paddle in front to you, the end of the handle should come up to your chin.
A Type II personal flotation device (life jacket) that fastens like a vest is a must.

It's a really great sport, but don't try whitewater till you have a good canoe.