Although a canoe looks like a very simple and straightforward craft, it’s crucial that if you own one and use it, you’ll need to know what every part is, what it’s for and how it functions.
The parts of a canoe are the bow, bow deck, bow seat, thwarts, yoke, stern seat, stern deck, stern, gunwales, keel, stems, hull, belly, and handholds. Also, various parts of a canoe have names in the context of their design features or functionality in the water. For example, the draft and freeboard.
All canoes that have ever been designed from early native Americans right on up to modern, high-tech creations, have many similar features. We’ll show you exactly what they are, what they mean, and how they are important.
It’s important to note that different canoes will have parts or features that are absent on another canoe like a keel or extra thwarts for support, an extra seat, or any number of other accessories or design features. We’ll cover most of them and tell you what they do.
Table of Contents
What is the Bow of a canoe?
The BOW is the front of a canoe which is differentiated from the mid-ship or main space of a canoe. It is the opposite of the back of the canoe (called the STERN). To find the bow, look at the seats. The BOW seat is wider than the stern seat and has room in front of it for the legs of the bow paddler.
What is the Bow and Stern Deck?
The Bow deck (AKA. Deck Plate) on a canoe is a cap or plate at the very front of a canoe. Its purpose is mainly to discourage water entry over the gunwales at the bow. It is often used as the area where the manufacturer of the canoe will place a logo, and it also adds to the overall aesthetic of the craft.
The stern deck usually looks exactly the same as the bow deck and it serves a similar purpose.
What is a Hand Hold or Handle?
The Handle or Hand Hold on a canoe is used primarily for carrying the canoe upright with 2 people. The bow handle is also typically the location of a bowline or painter line used for securing the canoe to a dock or any object in addition to other functions like tracking a canoe through rapids, etc. It’s also a key item to use while tying down your canoe on your vehicle for travel.
What is a Gunwale?
Gunwales on a canoe are the top rails on each side of the canoe (at the top of the hull) that run the entire length of the canoe and join together at the bow and stern decks. Gunwales can be made of aluminum, wood, plastic, vinyl or carbon/kevlar. Gunwales offer structure to the otherwise flimsy hull of a canoe and they serve to attach many crucial parts like thwarts, yokes, and seats.
We can further differentiate the parts of a gunwale. The inside edge of the gunwale (closest to the inside of the canoe) is called the “inwale” while the edge of the gunwale farthest to the outside of the canoe is called the “outwale”. This terminology (is used at all) is used typically on a canoe with pronounced gunwales usually made of wood (like the canoe used for this overview).
What is a Yoke, or the bar in the middle of a Canoe?
The Yoke on a canoe is really just the center thwart. It is set at a location along the canoe’s length that is central and therefore balanced almost exactly. The yoke is used for adding rigidity to the structure of the canoe, but even more importantly, it is the item used to carry the canoe (typically on a single person’s shoulders). The yoke is usually molded in some way so as to make it more comfortable to carry on one’s shoulders.
What is a Thwart on a Canoe?
A thwart on a canoe is a stabilizing bar running between the gunwales or from the gunwale on one side of the canoe, across the main part of the canoe to the gunwale on the other side. Its purpose is to add structure and strength to the body of the canoe. Thwarts are typically made of either aluminum or wood. They are not designed to bear the weight of someone sitting on them (which is always a temptation in a canoe – especially for children).
What is a Canoe Stem?
