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Canoe Parts

The main canoe parts are the hull and keel. The hull is the main body of the canoe that provides the area for the paddlers and equipment. The shape of the hull determines how the canoe will handle. A rockered hull, or one with a curved bottom is more maneuverable, while a hull with a large keel tracks better on smooth waters.

Other canoe parts, such as the thwart, stabilize the canoe. The thwarts are the cross pieces in the canoe that keep the sides from closing in on themselves. They are most important on tightly stretched canvas and wood canoes. The yoke is a section of the gunwale that is curved to allow the canoe to be carried on the paddler’s shoulders. The gunwale is the top edge of the canoe.

The portion of the hull that is above the waterline but below the gunwale, though not technically any specific canoe part, is called the freeboard. Other canoe parts are the skid plate which protects the bottom of the canoe when beaching it, the seats, a spray deck to keep water out, and the painter’s ring which is used to attach ropes.

 

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