Flipping in a canoe is a whole unpleasant ordeal. Gear goes everywhere, gets lost, and is damaged. The canoe itself will be either upside down or right-side up and full of water. They are heavy and difficult to drag and swim to shore. So, while nobody wants to be a part of a capsized canoe story, it happens and paddlers should be prepared for it. Here is how to get back into a canoe from the water.
1. Empty the Canoe
The first thing that will need to happen is that the canoe will need to be flipped back over and emptied. This can be done by bailing out the canoe or through some creative canoe emptying methods.
2. Position the Canoeists
Both paddlers should position themselves on opposite sides of the canoe close to the center but offset a bit so that they don’t get into each other’s way when they reenter the canoe.
3. Climb in Unison
This is tricky as both paddlers have to do the same moves at the same time. Both canoeists should push on the side of the canoe while lifting their bodies out of the water and placing as much of their torso on the gunwale as they can.
4. Start to Get Into the Canoe
With both of their bodies hoisted up onto the sides of the canoe, the paddlers will begin to get into the canoe. Each canoeist should rotate their body and lift one leg over the side of the canoe and place it in the boat. Be sure to have a little give and take between the two paddlers to keep the canoe stable.
5. Finish Getting into the Canoe
At this point, you have multiple points of contact with the canoe. Each paddler is holding the canoe with two hands, their stomach and chest, and one leg is in the boat. It is time to fully get into the canoe. Again, both paddlers have to play give and take to accomplish this and not flip the boat back over.
6. Get Situated
Be careful when getting situated in the canoe. Don’t make sudden movements. This is a time when you can take turns. Allow the paddler in the bow to comfortably position in front of the seat while staying low on the floor. The paddler in the stern should then do the same. Then, at the same time, they should lift up off the floor of the canoe and sit in their seats.