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Dealing with a Headwind in a Canoe

Rugged Outdoors Guide

13,948 views

If you've ever had to paddle (especially solo) into a headwind with a canoe, you may have found it a challenge to keep your course, especially with a light or empty canoe. I'll show you a couple techniques to help!
#canoe #canoeing #canoeinheadwind #canoecamping #paddling

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Start / intro
1:10 - Technique #1 (center yourself in the canoe)
02:50 - Technique #2 (aim your canoe strategically)
07:45 - Extro

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19 Comments

@BackcountryPaddler 5 years ago

As someone new to canoe paddling I learned a ton from this! You're an excellent teacher. I'm subscribed! 👍

@dinner_workingsly 1 year ago

I live in Idaho and paddle the snake river often. It’s common for us to get afternoon winds of about 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. When this happens, way too often, we get big roller waves and white cap. I’ve found the best thing to do is bank it and have a beer, or several because the day is basically over. I do a 206 mile trip every year and inevitably at least two days of the trip the river is not navigable in a canoe. I’m paddling a 16’ novacraft prospector in blue steel, it’s almost too light for around here. Last week I did 76 miles and the final day of the trip I paddled for 9 hours and made it 5 miles. I aimed for mud flats and push poles for the whole day. I should have taken my own advice and banked it for the night and drank beer 🤷🏻‍♂️

@thecount1001 4 years ago

an Evergreen Prospector, man that brings me back. i had 2 of them. a royalex one and a kevlar one with black walnut trim, yellow gel coat. it was unreal. they made possibly the nicest iteration of a production prospector ever. incredible shape, beautiful woodwork. i worked for an Evergreen dealer and the owner pro-dealed me both boats. i had to sell them for practical reasons before getting other canoes later in life, but there's times i wish i had both still.

@jimdeveau4025 2 years ago

It's called a Crab angle when planes do it. Assume it's the same with boats. Very useful when soloing. Great instructions...

@Alex-od7nl 3 years ago

I bring two empty five gallon jugs of water. If I need to, I just fill them up with water and put them high up on the bow.

@justiecommentary2032 4 years ago

Thanks for the technique.

@30DayReviews 5 years ago

thanks for the tips very helpfull to a newer padler in a stat with constant wind

@JosephStealin 3 years ago

I eat a lot of beans on canoe trips so it’s normally the people with me who have to deal with the wind 😂

@dontall71 2 years ago

Good stuff, thanks!

@wildernesscanoeassociation 4 years ago (edited)

Moving people and packs also works

@nathanallen6584 4 years ago

Fantastic video. Thank you! Beginner paddler 👍🏼

@Adventuristic89 4 years ago

Here in Scotland the weather can change drastically fast & I was out on one of my favourite lochs has a little island I often spend the day fishing there but out of nowhere crazy wind & rain I was loosing light fast there was white caps on the water I didn’t have gear to stay the night so I was pondering suffering under my tarp into darkness to wait on the weather calming or go while I still had some light left…so I thought I would let the wind take me to the edge of the Loch & work my way around the edge to my exit the first part was fine enough but when I had to face the wind & make it about 1k up the Loch I had some battle my arms where on fire the wind just bullied me all over the place! I’ve got a 16ft prospector I stayed kneeling in the centre on the thwart it was the toughest moment I’ve had in a canoe & I made it out but I’m also very aware that I could have been much worse! I just wonder if it’s possible to get a good line through such wind I’m not sure but I will definitely be packing a overnight bag in the future

@chux72vette 5 years ago

Awesomeness on teaching. I think I'll just fire up my 350hp outboard on my canoe and call it a day and spray the bass boat guy. Just kidding. I find the wind here in middle Alabama to be cumbersome on the rivers mainly as the wind travels that way mostly I find. Aiming is key; pick a spot and aim for it by any means necessary. The reason I say that as have sort of rescued some kids that were way off course and didn't have a plan let alone much paddle time and it could've been real bad as there was a storm approaching. We get quite allot of storms through the summer as I'm sure you're aware with the news. Glad you're giving good sound entry level advice to many who need it. Thanx again~

@philipnovak5553 4 years ago

I got wind bound yesterday, wish I would have seen this vid earlier, I’m sure I would have made it out.

@heartsofparadox 3 years ago

I rigged a small sail (hardly more than stick with a flag) that I can quickly raise or drop at the very stern. Acts like the tail of a kite. Works like magic in steady winds.

@paultaylor3856 5 years ago

Interesting.

@ThomPaddler 4 years ago

We have in the Netherlands a lot of wind, thanks for the tips.

@kevinharding2099 5 years ago

I have dealt with the wind by putting weight in the very bow of the canoe (50 lbs) and that works as well, but the real solution in strong headwinds is to 1) use the proper solo canoe with very little or no rocker, and 2) use a double bladed paddle that is more efficient.

@richarddsouza7761 4 years ago (edited)

Extremely helpful. Great camera angles. I'm learning to solo a 16 NC Prospector as well as Tandem with my wife. With wind I like paddling slightly off angle, like you explain, so it compensates for my normal stroke.
When the wind is at my back am I more able to sit in the stern, keep the bags in the centre (let the bow rise) and then let the wind help me? Or should I just stay reversed in the bow as I normally would? Thanks!