The variety of canoe types and design functions can be overwhelming when you’re trying to decide what canoe you want to buy. You may want to figure out the size of a canoe or how deep it is.
A canoe is usually around 10 in (25.4 cm) to about 25 in (63.5 cm) deep, measuring from the hull to the gunwales. Of course, canoes may vary by type and design, hence different canoe depths. The depth of a canoe is measured in three places: bow, stern, and center.
The rest of this article will detail additional topics related to this question, including the average size of most canoes, the height of a canoe, and the meaning behind varying canoe dimensions.
A Canoe’s Depth Is Vital for Its Functionality
As you may have already guessed, the size of the canoe directly impacts how it performs in the water. Sporty canoes, freight canoes, and solo canoes perform admirably in the water for their specific design purpose. The size of the canoe varies on the type of canoe you get.
The depth of a canoe is critical for functionality. If it isn’t deep enough, it could inhibit the canoe’s carrying capacity and diminish its safety. Average depths vary but are typically 14 inches deep.
The depth of a canoe is significant as it can determine the boat’s capacity. Typically, according to the Outdoor Places website, 400–500 lb. of capacity is just right for an average solo canoe, but there are several factors to consider first.
One factor to consider is what you plan to use your canoe for. For example, if you want a touring canoe, you likely need a deeper canoe capable of holding at least 1000 lb.
Another important depth aspect to consider is how tall you and the other riders are. As weight adds to the canoe, the canoe sinks deeper into the water. More depth allows for more carrying capacity and taller travelers.
Before you continue your search for the right canoe for you at the perfect depth, you should know some basic canoe terms first, so let’s explore them together in the next section.
Basic Canoe Terms You Should Know
According to an article from Bear Mountain Boats, there are three ways to analyze the size of a canoe based on visibility perspectives outside of the water.
The first way to measure a boat is from the profile view. If you’re looking at a canoe from the profile, your perspective of the boat is from one side only, as if the canoe were cut in half lengthwise. This perspective allows you to get an accurate reading of the length and depth of the canoe.
The second is the body plan. This perspective shows a canoe from the end of the unit as if it were chopped into slices at regular points in the shape of the canoe to measure the dimensions at each interval.
Lastly is the plan view. This perspective reveals the canoe from directly underneath the boat. Again, this helps determine the path the water must take to move from the bow to the stern.
Before analyzing the canoe sizing, the next thing you should know is the terms for each part of the boat.
Here’s a list that shows each vital piece of a canoe:
- Bow: The front end of the canoe
- Stern: The back end of the canoe
- Gunwales: Top edges of a canoe
- Thwarts: Cross pieces that work as attachment points for yokes, seat supports, and gear.
- Beam: Width of the canoe
- Belly: The bottom of the canoe
- Hull: Frame or body of the canoe
- Yoke: A crossbar in the center of the boat used for carrying the canoe on your shoulders.
While these are the main terms I’ll be using in the rest of this article, there are more vocabulary words associated with canoe design.
What’s the Length of a Canoe?
Not only are there a ton of different canoes for a ton of varying paddling experiences, but there are also a ton of ways to measure a canoe.
The length of a canoe is usually between 14 and 18 ft (4.27 and 5.49 m), measured from bow to stern. However, keep in mind that a canoe’s length may vary by the type of canoe you have. The average length is 16 ft (4.88 m).
If you’re trying to determine the best length for your canoe, you need first to narrow down the paddling you’ll be doing in your canoe.
I said earlier that a canoe’s standard or average length is 16 ft (4.88 m). It would comfortably fit two people, plus their gear, and is excellent for most recreational canoeing like lazy rivers and flat lakes.
However, you may wish to seek a shorter canoe if you want something easier to store and lug around. Shorter canoes are also more accessible to paddle and typically less expensive because they cost less to make.
Unfortunately, shorter canoes can’t fit as many people in them, don’t hold as much gear, and track straight.
A longer canoe may be your best bet if you want something that’ll have a smoother paddle and fit more gear and more people into it. However, while longer canoes are great for holding more things inside them, they’re much more cumbersome to transport, store, and carry — not to mention they cost more.
So what does all the variation mean? The next section will discuss how the dimensions of a canoe contribute to its functionality.
Varying Canoe Dimensions
One sure-fire way to determine what canoe fits your fancy is to check out the Canoe & Kayak Magazine Buyer’s Guide or browse the Paddling Buyer’s Guide website. But if you’re just looking to see what dimensions will fit your needs best, here’s a general guide on what the varying sizes of canoes mean to the boat’s efficiency.
While there are many different canoe designs for many purposes, generally speaking, shorter canoes are better for quick turns and fast-paced recreation.
The design of the bow and stern dimensions are also essential to consider. For example, a vertical bow entry means that the canoe will slice more cleanly through the water and have more resistance to sidewind.
The bulge of the gunwales is also a vital part of canoe functionality — the wider the gunwales, the more stable the canoe feels.
For more information about canoe dimensions and how they affect how a canoe can paddle through the water, check out this article from Men’s Journal.
Conclusion
There’s plenty to consider when purchasing a canoe. You have to think about where you’re going to keep it, transport it, and where to use it.
Experts agree that the best way to determine what you want out of a canoe is to ask yourself many questions, such as:
- How many people will you have to go with you when you canoe?
- What type of recreational activities will you do in it?
Once you know what you want to use your canoe for and all the basics answered, you can start thinking about the best dimensions to shop for.