War Canoe Instructions
By Stew Gaylord
Scoutmaster - 1992-2002
Assist. SM - 2002 - present
with input from Tommy "Mr. C." Costello
From the bow: Brandon Herman*, Robbie Gaylord*, Brian Justice, Justin Jacoby*, Stephen Bates*, David Janson, Chris Holt*, Ian Johnson*, James Pruitt*, ?, Donald Hasson* and "Mr. C" as coxswain.
* indicates Scouts that Earned the Eagle Scout Award.
You NEVER roll a war canoe over! While holding it up, you rotate it around and then set it down.
You NEVER leave the canoe bottom up with it resting on the bow and steern points! You
support along the length of the gunwhale, leaving the bow and stern points not touching the
ground.
With the bottom on the ground, you pick it up by the gunwhales, with 4 or more to a side and walk it to the water. You then feed it into the water stern first, never letting the bottom touch the ground. The coxswain will enter first, then the stern men (usually 4), then the amidship paddlers (up to 5) and then the bow men (usually 4) with the 1st Bowman pushing off as he gets in.
If loading from a dock, the coxswain and 1st Bowman will hold the canoe steady (not braced against the dock) and let all get into their positions. Then the 1st Bowman will enter and gently push away from the dock as the coxswain enters and pushes away. If there is a current or wind problem, the outside paddlers will draw away from the dock as the inside paddlers do a push-away stroke. When the canoe is clear, the coxswain will give the order.
Commands should be brief and direct. Whenever possibe a preparatory word should be used, followed by the command. The preparatory word should be drawn out with the command giving crisply, such as: "R-e-s-t, PADDLES!"
"Crew, Attention" - paddlers are in position, their paddles at the "Rest Paddles", silent and listening to orders.
"Rest Paddles" at rest position is resting on the gunwales in front of the paddler.
"Stand by, Paddles" - Paddles are held by the grip, the blade is still resting on the gunwhale.
"Up, Paddles" - Paddles are held vertically above the water level, ready to stroke the first stroke.
"Give way together, Stroke" - All paddles dip and commence stroking in cadence with the bowman. The coxswain will indicate the rate of stroke by chanting, "stroke, stroke, stroke" until the cadence is carried. On occasion the coxswain may have to pick up the chant if the cadence becomes irregular.
"Let Her Run" - Paddlers finish their stroke and return paddles to "Rest, Paddles" position while the canoe is carried along by her own momentum. The crew can relax and talk, but not shift positions.
"Hold Her" - Crew executes a stationary backwater stroke to instantly stop the canoe. When all momentum stops, all paddles are returned to the "Rest, Paddles" position.
"Right" - A long, easy turn. Bow and stern outside paddlers will do sweep strokes in the direction
"Left" indicated. Inside stern paddlers will do push-away strokes and the inside bow paddlers
will ease their power stroke. When the canoe is headed in the correct direction the
coxswain will call out "Resume Normal Stroke".
"Hard Right" - For a quick turn - almost an emergency. Bow paddlers execute a draw or sweep
"Hard Left" stroke, depending upon which side they are on. The outside stern paddlers will
use a draw strock, while inside paddlers willdo a push-away stroke.
NOTE: these strokes are used often when negotiating narrow rivers.
"Draw" - When moving the canoe from shore, dock or pier (and occasionally towards one). Outside paddlers will use the draw stroke. Inside paddlers will use the push-away stroke. This will move the canoe sideways away from the shore, dock or pier. Inside paddlers must be careful not to get their paddle caught in the pier or other obstruction.
"Salute" - Occasionally you may choose to salute a passing vessel or person(s) on shore. The coxswain will call out "Stand by to Salute" - position the paddles in the "Rest Paddles" position.
"Toss Paddles" is called and all paddles, in unison, are swungh through vertical with the grip in hand, with the hand on the grip and the other hand on the paddle shart, even with the paddler's face with the blade straight up in the air. Feather blades fore and aff. Then let the paddles drop to "Up Paddles" position and resume regular stroke.
with Tommy Costello