Steering an OC-6 Canoe

December 7, 2009 1 Comment

By: Jean Raas

A steersman wears many hats while in the OC-6.  Some of the responsibilities while in the canoe include being the navigator, coach, cheerleader, psychologist, tactician, and paddler.  The only way to learn all of these traits is get back in the seat and learn from experience.  No matter how in tune with the ocean or paddling you are, steering is a seat that can only be mastered by jumping back in seat 6 over and over again.  Remember that conditions are constantly changing and to become efficient in every condition takes a lot of time and practice!!!  In steering the best teacher is experience. 

The best steersmen in the world provides as little drag as possible while allowing the boat to run best when in the given conditions while staying on course and keeping the crew on task.  Of course this seems an easy job when placed on paper but when you jump in the boat you will soon realize how difficult this can be to execute. 

There are three basic moves to steer or control an OC-6 canoe.  Keep in mind that these canoes can weigh a total of 1500lbs with a full crew onboard so its important to keep these moves in the back of your head at all times. 

 

POKE: The poke is the most common technique used by all steersmen.  This move requires a lot less energy than any of the other moves that you are about to learn about.  The basic steps behind the poke move are:

a.       Make sure that you are putting the paddle in the water at around your knee.  A common mistake that a lot of novice steersmen are allow the paddle to enter at their waist and then let the blade of the paddle fall behind the seat. 

b.      When placing the paddle in the water makes sure that your arm is at a 90 degree angle. 

c.       Slide the surface of the blade straight down and against the side of the hull of the canoe. 

d.      The shaft of the paddle should be straight up and down with a slight 10 degree angle away from the canoe. 

e.       For slight adjustments for the bow of the canoe to turn, use one ½ of ¼ of your blade to poke. 

f.        Hold your paddle with your bottom hand at the gunnel level and your hand at mid shaft.  This will give you the most control of your paddle, especially in rough conditions. 

g.       Once the blade is in the water all that you will need to do is pull the shaft of the paddle towards the boat.  The more aggressive you want the canoe to turn the more you pull it towards you for a longer period of time.  The less you pull it towards you the less the canoe will turn.  Always keep in mind not to over compensate the turn!!! 

 

DRAW:  This technique is excellent for minor adjustments.  It can take a lot of strength out of shoulders and upper body and can wear you out quickly. 

a.       Hold the paddle with a regular paddlers grip and put the paddle in the somewhere between parallel-to-diagonally to the boat and pull or “draw” the canoe towards the paddle.

b.      If on the ama side, this can be an effective stroke but can take a lot of strength when steering in windy or rough conditions.  Typically want to stay away from this technique when needing to pull the bow to starboard due to the fact that you will be helping the ama lift up out of the water. 

c.       This should be typically an ama side maneuver unless in very flat water and after you have confidence in your steering skills and crew. 

 

J-STROKE:  This technique is very similar to the draw, however a little different. 

a. While staying in time with the crew’s stroke you will need plant your paddle up     front and further out away from the paddle than a regular stroke. 

            b. As you plan the paddle in the water, pull it in towards the canoe and back.

c. This stroke is used for very subtle changes in direction of the canoe.  It will not     allow you to make quick adjustments and is used primarily to keep the canoe moving but at the same time allowing the canoe to turn slightly. 

 

THE FEEL OF THE CANOE

Feeling the boat is the most important feature of steering.  You must learn to feel the movements before they actually happen.  Anticipating corrections before they happen and letting the boat flow without fighting it are feelings one will develop over time and with lots and lots of practice.  A steersman must allow the boat to run and find its way through the water but at the same time not let it run away from you. 

 

ANTICIPATION

This is one of your most valuable skills.  It takes time to develop anticipation as to how the boat will react in given conditions.  Knowing when and how much “drag” to provide is key.  Good anticipation allows you to steer with a light touch and not a heavy hand.  A crew should hardly feel your corrections when paddling in flat to medium water conditions.  Heavy handed corrections will mentally and physically wear on the a crew in long practices or races. 

Winds, currents, swell all play a major factor in the amount of adjustments you have to make to keep the boat gliding over the water.  You must be aware at all times and at the same time keeping an eye on your crew.  Tune into what is happening with the conditions, boat and crew.  Look ahead and see what’s happening and expect change before it happens.  Predict the future!!!! 

 

RUNNING THE CREW

As an analysis and decision maker it is a steersman’s job to run the crew.  Remain calm in all situations no matter what the conditions and surroundings are like.  A crew will have confidence in a steersman who is in control which primarily allows them to focus on their body and power of every stroke.  Keep comments positive.  Be constructive tactful, and never negative.  Give paddlers encouragement or corrections by name or seat location. 

 

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Technique