Boarding a Canoe From a Dock

Place the canoe in the water parallel to the dock.

• With one paddler:
  • Squat down on the dock beside the boat.
  • Hold onto the gunwale on both sides, and lean out to shift your weight over the boat’s centerline. Be careful not to push the boat away from the dock.
  • Place one foot in the boat on the centerline, and kneel down to keep a low center of gravity.
  • Move the other foot into the boat.
  • Note: For extra stability, place your paddle straight across the gunwales and hold onto the paddle as you board.
• With two paddlers:
  • The paddlers board the boat one at a time.
  • Each paddler steadies the boat while the other one boards.