canoe

1. a light narrow open boat, propelled by one or more paddles

2. NZ another word for waka

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Canoe

(1) A boat used by many Indian tribes of North America. Canoes were made from an entire tree trunk (hollowed out by fire and chopping), or else a frame was first constructed and later covered with bark. Canoes had symmetrically pointed bows and sterns and were of various sizes, with seating capacities ranging from two to 100 persons.

(2) A modern canoe is a paddle boat without oarlocks that is typified by a dugout-shaped hull and a paddling method using one single-bladed shovel-shaped paddle. Steering is done by twisting the paddle in the water and changing its trajectory at the end of the stroke. There are domestic general purpose canoes (for carrying loads and passengers, for hunting and fishing), touring canoes, and sport canoes (for “flat” racing on calm water and for water slalom on rough mountain streams). Canoes are classed according to production method as those hollowed out of whole tree-trunk pieces and those made by covering a frame with waterproof materials (special plywoods, skins, rubberized fabrics, synthetic coatings, and plastics).

The finest canoes are the sport canoes, which are made of polished plywood (the best being made of mahogany) or plastic material. Touring canoes are usually built for two or three persons and have collapsible frames or are inflatable. Water slalom canoes are made of fiberglass with unsinkable, airtight compartments in the bow and stern. The paddlers sit on the bottom of the canoe or on bench-type seats; in sport canoes the paddlers kneel on one knee. The number of paddlers in a canoe ranges from one to several dozen persons (from one to six in sport canoes). The dimensions, weight, and shape of sport canoes are limited by regulations. The cross-section and longitudinal lines of the hulls of these canoes must be convex and continuous. One-man canoes have a maximum length of 520 cm, a minimum width of 75 cm, and a minimum weight of 16 kg; for two-man canoes these specifications are 650 cm, 75 cm, and 20 kg, respectively; for six-man canoes they are 1, 100 cm, 85 cm, and 50 kg, respectively.

E. L. KABANOV

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Tom Foster, head of projects at Leach, said: "Leach is delighted to form a strategic partnership with British Canoeing and become the official venue dressing sponsor.

Leach makes a splash as canoe venue dresser

Representatives from the American Canoe Association will be present to teach solo canoeing, canoes rescue techniques, and workshops: "How to Be a Well-Dressed Paddler" and/or "Assessing Risk: Live to Paddle Another Day."

Learn about canoeing, kayaking at Paddle in the Park

He called for ICF support for Iranian Canoeing Federation and said that Iran has the capacity to host the International Canoe and Kayak Competitions.

ICF Hails Iran's Progress in Canoeing Sport

In fact, the modern environmental movement cannot be fully understood without recognizing the role that canoeing and other human-powered activities like bicycling, running, hiking, and skiing had in getting people outside in the 1950s and 60s.

The Way of the Canoe

In a joint statement, British Canoeing and UK Sport said: "In April 2017 several allegations were brought to the attention of British Canoeing, including a number of concerns about past failings of the organisation to deal appropriately with matters that had been raised previously.

Probe to look into abuse claims; CANOEING

Every mile you log will go towards British Canoeing's target of 30,000 miles!

Water lot of fun for everyone; There's a canoeing adventure waiting for you and your family - why not give it a go

"I often go canoeing down the river Yare in the city centre, paddling out towards Thorpe and on to Bramerton.

Canoe Hire with a Difference. Pub and Paddle Sets Up Shop in Norwich.

With the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio just over a year away, Go Canoeing - the Olympic legacy initiative from British Canoeing - is challenging the nation to paddle the distance from the UK to Rio for National Go Canoeing Week 2015.

Water great idea; As the days get warmer, JANET TANSLEY says we should all be messing about on the river

For both, this process begins with the growth of recreational canoeing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Misao Dean, Inheriting a Canoe Paddle: The Canoe in Discourses of English-Canadian Nationalism

Finally on arrival of Pakistan National canoeing team at Quetta airport the President of Pakistan Canoe and Kayak Federations Malik Abdul Rahim Babai, and Vice Chairman, Haji Abdul Wali Khan Khilji, Abdul Ghaffar Khanozai National Coach Aslam Kassi and Many Officials and Members greeted the National Team with a huge celebration and congratulated them on their spectacular performance in the Asian Canoeing Championships in Samarqand.

Pakistan Canoe and Kayak team returns from Samarqand

Mike Tindall: "Get in Gold and silver in the canoeing #come-OnTeamGB" Piers Morgan: "You know the Olympics is getting exciting when you enjoy a Brit win a shooting Gold on the radio." Ant and Dec: "GOLD and SILVER!

Brit victories are so tweet

43 Age of oldest Olympic canoeing medalist, Josefa Idem, who won silver in the K1 500-meter flatwater canoe race at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

Big numbers: canoes gone wild