Explore the beauty of Maine

Canoeing opens new horizons

From canvas and wood, to aluminum, fiberglass or kevlar, canoes are one watercraft that will let you reach some of the most beautiful spots in Maine.

By Michael McGuire

When you hit the outdoors in Midcoast Maine and take off for the nearest camping spot or lakeside, bring along a canoe. As they glide gently through the waters of a river, stream pond or lake, canoes can bring their passengers within easy reach of spots often inaccessible by any other means. The popularity of canoes has grown in recent years and come each spring, seemingly countless cars and trucks begin sporting the sleek craft atop carrying racks. And therein lies one of the basic reasons behind the choice of a canoe over inboard or outboard watercraft.

Canoes will take their passengers into marshes or shallow river areas asking only a few inches of water depth and, with experience, exploring by canoe will allow you to quietly approach all types of wildlife found along the shore.

Maine’s rivers and streams offer a wide variety of water conditions, from gently flowing water to boiling rapids, which demand skill and extra safety precautions if the adventure is to remain safe. It has been said that there is no better way to get to know a land than to explore its lifeblood, ie. its waterways. Rivers are indeed the lifeline of the land as they flush impurities from land, provide sustenance for domestic animals and wildlife and throughout history have been used for transportation of goods, logging or fishing. The history of Maine is very much steeped in its rivers, and traversing them by canoe can open that history for the explorer.

When making a decision to buy a canoe there are more than a few things to keep in mind, not the least of which is being sure to take the time to learn how to use it safely .

Although some practice paddling in shallower water is advisable for the novice, canoes are not as unsturdy a craft as the uninitiated would have you believe. They do have their limitations and any canoe enthusiast will tell you to avoid paddling across wide expanses of open water when there is a good chop on the water or threat of high winds. You have to remember that, for the most part, canoeing is accomplished by human muscle power, not a 75-horsepower engine.

In addition to exploring or just recreational use for relaxation, canoes are popular craft for fishermen. There are many great fishing holes accessible only by canoe and if you’ve gotten tired of wading along overcrowded or unproductive riverbanks or gazed longingly at a certain trout or bass hole across the way, maybe a canoe will help fill your creel.

For anyone thinking about buying a canoe it would best serve your purposes to first explore the various types available on the market. Along with different materials used is the variety of brand names now in the canoe market. Some of the oldest names in the business such as Old Town, White or Grumman are still selling many thousands of craft each year. joining the highly competitive field of canoes widely marketed in Maine are Mad River and Gazelle, both of which have found plenty of customers for their products. L.L. Bean of Freeport has its own canoe, too. The price range for a new canoe ranges in the area of $500 to $1,500. There are canoes that run in the thousands of dollars but these vessels will literally bounce off jagged rocks or are handmade and feature the best of woodworking. You can also buy a canoe for far less that will fit the bill for a variety of uses.

In making the choice of a canoe it wouldn’t hurt to talk with someone who already owns one. You might also find such contacts helpful in tracking down a used canoe in good shape and reasonably priced if you are going to use it infrequently.

But before you run out to buy a canoe or even rent one, you should know what type of canoe suits your purposes.

Recreational canoes are suitable for a wide variety of on-water activities. They are perfect for people who want to paddle their local lake, pond or quiet river. These canoes lack the performance features of more specialized canoes, but their stability and versatility make them a great choice for families and newcomers to the sport of paddling.

Touring canoes tend to be more technical than general recreation canoes. They are normally long, narrow canoes and are designed for efficiency and speed. This canoe is versatile in a variety of water conditions - from calm lakes to moderate whitewater.

River running/Tripping canoes are high volume canoes designed for whitewater and/or carrying large loads. They are also a great choice for large family outings.

Sporting canoes are designed for a variety of outdoor activities. They are stable, platform canoes with high initial stability. Some have square sterns for mounting a motor. Sporting canoes are versatile enough to be paddled, rowed or motored.

Canoes are made of all different types of materials, which means they each handle differently in the water.

Aluminum canoes generally sit higher out of the water on each end and nearly all of them have more of a tendency to be a bit top heavy. That means they may roll on you faster if you shift too much, too fast. On the plus side, aluminum canoes dent before they tear when they encounter rocks on a stream or river. Their heavier weight also provides a steadier craft in a stiff breeze. They are, however, noisy when paddled and are less effective for use in sneaking up on various forms of wildlife along riverbanks or marshes.

Canvas canoes are a marvelous craft — true and sure in the water and a wonder to paddle. What they also possess is a requirement of careful maintenance and they can be a burden when portaging (carrying) around an obstruction in a river or stream.

Probably the most popular canoes for recreational use on the market today are those constructed out of fiberglass. Regardless of the company, most fiberglass canoes resemble each other and are different only in color and minor matters such as siding material around the edges or on either the bow or stern.

The popularity of fiberglass canoes has also helped make these craft a rather intermediate priced item. Production is by forming the fiberglass into a mold, thereby eliminating painstaking (and expensive) handcrafting. Differences in fiberglass canoes are most often found in the thickness of fiberglass material used and shaping of both ends.

One thing that fiberglass canoes do not handle well are sharp rocks and it doesn’t take much effort at all to poke holes, rip gashes and otherwise injure a fiberglass canoe while moving quickly down river rapids (and that’s where knowing how to steer comes in handy). They do maneuver very well, however, and most weigh in at no more than 70 pounds, depending on length. It is the relative light weight that makes these canoes easier for one person to carry atop his or her shoulders.

Fiberglass canoes can easily be used in running a river with whitewater, but paddlers should just keep in mind that an encounter with a particularly ferocious rock may mean some serious repairs before your next canoe outing. Whitewater river canoeing is an exhilarating experience but should not be attempted without first becoming proficient in the business of team paddling, accurate steering and understanding of how rushing water reacts with a water craft. Such canoeing is also done most often in the spring, when water temperatures are no more than 40 or 50 degrees. It is important, therefore, to be dressed either in a wetsuit or layered with wool clothing to prevent hypothermia should you get wet

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There are nearly as many choices in canoe paddles today as there are canoe models. The standard wooden paddle, made of ash, is a fine paddle for all purpose paddling. There are others, made of wood or aluminum, which a variety of blades. The wider the blade, the more water displaces as one paddles. It is common, therefore, to find paddles with wide blades used in river or lake racing. The wider blades are also handy for paddling a canoe singlehandedly since they provide greater control.

Each type of canoe requires some maintenance to keep the craft in good repair but unless you have a wooden or canvas craft, maintenance should be minimal. Discoloration of fiberglass, especially after use in saltwater, is easily remedied with any one of a number of finish waxes.
For the uninitiated, remember that canoes are not wide-bodied watercraft, sitting eight to 12 inches in the water. They are shallow-draft and, therefore, can be unforgiving with it comes to overloading.

Canoeing can become addicting for many, and once the experience has been had, it will be repeated throughout spring, summer and fall months.

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