Accessibility Tools

Canoe 101

What makes up a canoe?

  • (noun) any of various slender, open boats, tapering to a point at both ends, propelled by paddles or sometimes sails and traditionally formed of light framework covered with bark, skins, or canvas, or formed from a dug-out or burned-out log or logs, and now usually made of aluminum, fiberglass, etc.

  • (noun) any of various small, primitive light boats.
  • (noun) a light narrow boat with both ends sharp that is usually propelled by paddling.

  • Gunwale:
    top edge extending around the canoe from bow to stern
  • Beam:
    point of greatest width
  • Bow:
    front of the canoe
  • Deck:
    wood pieces fitted between gunwales at the extreme canoe ends
  • Freeboard:
    portion of the hull between gunwales and waterline
  • Hull:
    body of canoe
  • Keel:
    outer strip on bottom of canoe in the center, extending from bow to stern
  • Painter:
    rope attached to bow and stern
  • Planking:
    flat sections of wood forming the hull, fitted lengthwise
  • Ribs:
    curved pieces of wood on planking, running crosswise
  • Thwart:
    crosswise supports between gunwales which help canoe maintain shape
  • Gunwale:
    top edge extending around the canoe from bow to stern
  • Beam:
    point of greatest width
  • Bow:
    front of the canoe
  • Deck:
    wood pieces fitted between gunwales at the extreme canoe ends
  • Freeboard:
    portion of the hull between gunwales and waterline
  • Hull:
    body of canoe
  • Keel:
    outer strip on bottom of canoe in the center, extending from bow to stern
  • Painter:
    rope attached to bow and stern
  • Planking:
    flat sections of wood forming the hull, fitted lengthwise
  • Ribs:
    curved pieces of wood on planking, running crosswise
  • Thwart:
    crosswise supports between gunwales which help canoe maintain shape
Postal Address
  • Essex Industries
    17 Pilfershire Road
    Mineville, NY 12956
All correspondence to the above address or phone number will be routed to its desired destination.

Mountain Lake Services Company

Contact us
Phone: 518-942-6671
Fax: 518-942-3034
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