soloing a canoe Canadian style

Advice
#1

Does an Old Town Penobscot 16’ Royalex make a very good boat for paddling Canadian style? By Canadian I mean in the style of Bill and Becky Mason - all strokes on the same side using a single blade paddle. I’m wondering if it has enough rocker for turning. Anyone ever tried the OT Appalachian for Canadian paddling? Thanks for any and all response.

#2

I do all strokes on the left side using
a single blade, but it’s no longer Canadian style. My stroke is shorter, and I don’t J or rudder much.

#3

P16/Canadian
I’ve paddled the Penobscot 16 Canadian style and thought it was an excellent choice for that type of paddling.

#4

both are fine
when the boat is on its side, “rocker” has a new meaning.



I have paddled a couple of Wenonahs (Odyssey and MN II ) that were very good CS boats too. Heeled over the stems are not even in the water so your standard rocker does not count. Air rocker?

#5

Penobscot 16
I paddled a P-16 in the heeled over style for about 15 years. A Nova Craft PAL would also be a great boat for that style paddling.

#6

Canadian style refers
to how one sits in a canoe – kneeling behind the bow seat facing the stern. The boat is heeled with the paddler sitting adjacent or close to the gunwale. Any length paddle can be used. A good paddler doesn’t often use his paddle as a rudder. This applies to any paddling style.

#7

purists snuggle up to the center
thwart to put themselves at the pivot point.



Actually Grummans (even with that darn keel) are fine for CS solo.



But a wooden boat feels so much sweeter.



I really wish we could bring the Lakewater curriculum into the ACA.



I urge all who are interested to take the time to delve into this website.



http://home.cogeco.ca/~canoedance/pages/thisSite.html

#8

Good ones
Yup on the Penobscot. All “classic” designs work well. I have tried it in race boats, and this is less good (but still fun). The Canyon/Starburst has so little curve, I found it didn’t solo well. Also, some boats with radical cross-section shape don’t heel well. Put simply, if the design looks like something that could be shaped out of bent cedar, it will probably solo well.