Canoes

CAN I PURCHASE A CANOE AT ANACONDA?

The unbeatable range of outdoor equipment at Anaconda includes lightweight fibreglass and plastic kayaks that are easily propelled through the water with a single-bladed paddle. We have single and double-seater models available for use as a calm river canoe, while other kayak styles are more suited to slalom and whitewater adrenaline sports. Australian rivers and waterways are ideal for kayaking, whether you live in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, South Australia or anywhere else. Our national parks are favourite kayaking locations full of expansive waterways and amazing scenery, and with an Anaconda kayak on your side, it is all accessible.

At Anaconda, we also stock every watersports and adventure accessory required. If you require dry bags, life jackets, rod holders, roof racks or other accessories for your sit-on-top kayak, touring kayak, outrigger canoe, Canadian canoe, river canoe or other watercraft, we have it all is stock at prices that can't be matched. Check out the amazing range of outdoor equipment and apparel online or in-store, and get your great Australian adventure started.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A CANOE?

A canoe is a lightweight narrow boat, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel using a single-bladed paddle. Historically, canoes were dugouts or made of bark on a wood frame, but construction materials evolved to canvas on a wood frame, then to aluminium. Most modern canoes are made of moulded plastic or composites such as fibreglass.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CANOE AND A KAYAK?

The biggest and most obvious difference between a canoe and a kayak is the equipment you use. To start with, the boats are different. Canoes are usually open-top boats, often designed to seat two or more people either sitting on benches running across the beam of the craft or kneeling down. Kayaks are generally closed-top boats and usually single seaters. They usually sit lower in the water than canoes, which tend to have higher sides. Instead of sitting on a bench with legs bending at the knee, kayakers usually sit on the floor of the boat with their legs stretched straight out in front of them.

Another difference between kayaking and canoeing is the design of the paddles. Kayaking paddles are long with a blade at either end, while canoeing paddles have one blade only and are shorter. This means the canoe and the kayak require different paddling techniques.

WHAT SORT OF CANOE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

The most common canoes are recreational type canoes. These canoes are stable and durable. They are generally made of moulded plastic and contain no frills. These are the canoes you will find in most stores, as rental canoes at your local lake, and in fleets at summer camps. If you want a versatile canoe that you can paddle around the local lake, a recreational canoe is what you need. These canoes are durable and can be left outside without worry about damage. Once you have taken up canoeing, you may want to advance to a fishing canoe, a racing canoe or even a white-water canoe.

DO YOU SPEAK CANOE?

If you want to sound faintly knowledgeable about canoes, you will need to know which term refers to which part of the canoe. Here's our handy guide to the most common terms:

Bow: Simply put the bow is the front of the canoe. This is universal for all boats. The pronunciation is the same as in "to take a bow".

Stern: The stern of the canoe is the back of the boat.

Yoke: The yoke of a canoe is the cross beam in the centre of the canoe that connects the starboard and aft sides. The yoke rests on the shoulders of the canoeist when carrying the canoe upside down.

Beam: The word beam refers to the width of the canoe at its widest point which is taken at the yoke.

Thwart: There are two thwarts on a canoe, one in the stern and one in the bow. Thwarts are cross-bars that connect the aft and starboard sides of the canoe.

Gunnel or Gunwale: The rim that runs all along the top edge of the canoe.

Draft: A canoe's draft is the area of the hull of the canoe that is below the waterline.