Canoe Length

By Nick Pritchard

Canoe length is often one of the easier things to understand when it comes to canoe design. It is also one of the most important design considerations when looking into buying or renting a canoe.

There are a huge variety of lengths when it comes to canoes, from the 20'+ touring canoes down to the 10' whitewater/freestyle canoes. Generally longer boats will go faster, be more efficient, and track better than shorter canoes. Longer canoes also have more carrying capacity making them ideal for tripping or touring. Shorter canoes are often more maneuverable and responsive than a longer canoe.

When looking to purchase a canoe it is important to know what type of environment you will do most of your paddling in. For example, if you are doing an extended flat water trip a longer canoe will likely suit you best but if  you have to portage a shorter canoe will be easier to maneuver on the trail, so you need a happy medium. Longer canoes are also more susceptible to wind, so if you paddle on big water frequently this is an important consideration. With length also comes weight. By getting a one foot shorter boat you could shave off as much as 10 pounds. Shorter canoes on the other hand have less area to disperse the weight so they sit lower in the water than a longer canoe. With a shorter canoe you will also spend more time making corrective strokes than you would with a longer canoe.

So what is a good length for you? As you can see from above there is no right answer. When I go up to the Boundary Waters this spring I will be taking a 16' 6" boat. This length should provide enough efficiency and tracking while still being a manageable weight and length on the portage trails. When I paddle tandem whitewater I like the 14' 4" length (this is still short enough I can paddle it solo too).

If you have any questions feel free to contact us!