MyOAN! Paddling Jargon

We want to provide you information on every buzzword, lingo, terms and the jargon you've ever wanted to know about paddling. If we are missing a definition or two email them to us so we can add them. The directions are simple - just click on the letter your suspect the term begins with and scroll from there.

Amidships the area roughly in the center of the canoe lengthwise.

Asymmetrical hull shape where the canoe or kayak's widest point (beam) is either aft or ahead of amidships.

Bang Plate reinforcing plate made of abrasion-resistant material that protects the stems of a canoe from scapes and impact damage.

Beam width of a canoe or kayak measured at its widest point.

Bent-Shaft Paddle canoe paddle with a bend in the shaft, usually at the paddle's throat. This type of paddle gives increase efficiency (power), with minimal control loss, depending on the degree of bend in the paddle.

Bilge transitional area where the hull's bottom turns uo into its sides (see Chine)

Blade wide, flat area of a paddle, used for propulsion.

Boil swirly or unpredictable currents pushing to the surface.

Bony run or rapid requiring lots of maneuvering because of the abundance of obstacles, mostly rocks.

Boof driving your boat for a mini-launch over a shallow ledge or rock.

Bow front of the boat.

Brace paddling technique using downward and sweeping strokes to stabilize a tipping canoe or kayak.

Broach occurs when a canoe or kayak becomes caught in the current against an obstruction and turns sideways. Can result in severe damage as the current's force wraps the boat around the obstruction.

Bulkhead sealed compartment fore or aft in a decked canoe or kayak. Primarily used for floatation but is also used for dry storage area with access via a deck hatch.

C-1/C-2 a one or two person canoe, usually decked over for whitewater river-running. The paddler(s) kneels in the boat and uses a single-bladed paddle.

Canoe open craft with pointed ends that is propelled with a single-bladed paddle. Also called an "open boat".

CFS cubic feet per second. Measure of the velocity of water flow at a give point in a river. Varies given water level and gradient of the body of water.

Chine the edge of the kayak - transition between the hull and the deck (see Bilge).

Chute area where a river's flow is suddenly constricted, compressing and amplifying the current's energy into a narrow tongue of water (see Drop, Rapids, Whitewater).

Class I-IV International standard classification system for rating the difficulty of fast moving water.

Coaming see Cockpit.

Cockpit opening in the deck of a closed canoe or kayak where the paddler sits. The curved lip around the edge of the cockpit, used to secure the spray skirt, is called coaming.

Confluence the junction of two rivers or forks of a river.

Control Hand "fixed" hand, left or right, depending on the offset of the blades on a kayak paddle.

Curler a large wave, usually at the bottom of a drop, with a crest that spills upon its upstream slope. May be a surfing site.

Dead Reckoning distance calculated from time on the water and estimated paddling speed.

Deck closed-in area over the bow and/or stern of a canoe or kayak. Sheds water and, on a canoe, adds strength to the gunwales.

Depth vertical measurement from the hull's lowest point to its highest, usually from the top of the gunwales amidships to the floor of the canoe.

Directional Stability used to describe tendency of a boat to hold its course when under way (see Tracking).

Draw Stroke used to move the boat sideways. Performed by placing the paddle into the water parallel to the boat at an arm's reach away, then pulling it towards the boat.

Drop a steep, sudden vertical change in the stream or riverbed. A vertical drop higher than six feet is referred to as a "waterfall".

Dry Bag waterproof storage bag that comes in a variety of sizes.

Dry Suite enclosed, waterproof garment, with latex gaskets at the neck and wrists. Typically worn by whitewater and sea kayakers for cold water protection (see Wet Suit).

Eddy area behind or downstream of an obstruction in the main current where water swirls in a direction different to that of the main flow, usually upstream.

Eddy In term used to describe entering an eddy.

Eddy Line transitional area between the main current and the eddy current (see Eddy).

Eddy Out term used to describe exiting an eddy. See Peel Out.

Ender a play maneuver enacted by nosing the bow into a vertical hydraulic that forces the bow down and deep and the stern up which results in the boat popping vertically upward. Good fun. Associated with "playing" in the river.

Entrapment often a dangerous situation in which a boat and/or paddler is held fast by current and/or an obstacle (see Broach, Pin).

Feathered a kayak paddle with blades that are set at an angle to each other in order to present the edge rather than the surface to the wind.

Ferry maneuver you can use to cross a current on a body of water with little or no downstream travel. The current force is what moves the boat laterally.

Final Stability generally referred to as "secondary stability." Best describes a boat's resistance to tipping once the boat has been leane to the point beyond its "initial stability." This resistance depends on the boats general hull design.

Flare term used to describe a hull cross-section that grows increasingly wider as it rises from the waterline toward the gunwales.

Flatwater lake water or slow moving river currents with no rapids.

Float Bag the most common form of supplemental flotation in canoes and kayaks.

Floatation foam blocks or air bags that may be built or added to a water craft to ensure that is does not sink when swamped.

Following Sea the waves and swells that come from the stern of a boat.

Freeboard vertical distance measured from the boat's waterline to the lowest point of its gunwale.

Gauge Height for measuring water levels at one or more locations. Reference point used with CFS (or in lieu of)

Grab Loop short rope or grab handles threaded through the bow/stern stem of a kayak or canoe. These are most often used as carry-handles, but they are great for catching swimmers.

Gradient the steepness of a riverbed or channel over a specified distance, usually by the mile. Along with CFS and water-level information, this helps paddlers draw a picture of a river's difficulty. (See CFS, Class I-IV).

Grip end of a canoe paddle that is opposite of the blade. It should be shaped to be comfortable in the paddler's hand.

Gunwales the structural supports running end to end along the top of the hull.

Hair term used to refer to dangerous and difficult whitewater. See Sick.

Hair Boating paddling in dangerous and difficult whitewater.

Hatch access port on the front and/or rear of a sea or touring kayak.

Haystacks big standing waves in a wave "train" following a drop.

Headwall steep cliff where the main channel of the river drives against it at a 90-degree angle.

Hole benign to severe, a hole is created when river current drops over a rock or ledge and circulates instead of continuing its downstream flow. A significant feature because it either offers play opportunities or danger, depending on the circulating power of the hole.

Horizon Line usually indicative of a falls or steep drop. There is a line, but the route, if there is one, is not apparent. Time to exit and scout.

Hull the real body shape of a canoe or kayak. This area has the greatest impact on the boats overall performance on the water.

Hull Configuration the design or shape of the hull that is effected by water, wind and the waves.

Hydraulic pocket of water that follows a sudden or sharp drop in a riverbed or an obstruction that creates a circulating force at the base of the drop that is often times very powerful. Often times it will hold boats and paddlers for undetermined lengths of time.

Hypothermia the cold water hazard for paddlers. Prolonged exposure can lead to incapacitation and eventually death as body core temperature drops below 80 degrees.

Inflatable Kayak often times referred to as "duckies"; this boat inflates usually from a hand held pump to provide a stable, open top craft designed for up to two paddlers.

Initial Stability referred to as a boat's resistance to leaning (tipping).

K-1 one person kayak

K-2 two person kayak

Kayak water craft in which the paddler is usually fully enclosed and paddles using a double bladed paddle from a sitting position.

Keel strip or extrusion that runs from the bow to stern along the bottom of a boat that adds rigidity and structural support. It also helps to prevent side-slipping.

Keel Line a canoe's longitudinal shape of its bottom looking from the side.

Keeper a feature, usually a hole, that is inclined to hold instead of release whatever enters it. Avoidance is the best policy.

Layup fiberglass or Kevlar are layered in such a manner to make a fiberglass or Kevlar kayak or canoe.

Life Jacket required by law for every passenger onboard a water craft (See PFD).

Lining a rope technique of working an unoccupied canoe downstream around and obstruction or through rapids from shore.

Off-Side the side of the canoe opposite the paddle.

On-Side the side of the canoe you are paddling from.

Paddle primary tool used to provide propulsion in canoes and kayaks (see Blase, Shaft, Throat)

Painter rope attached to the bow and/or stern for tying canoes to the shore or lining them downstream.

Peel Out term used to describe the act of leaving an eddy and entering the main current, bow catches the main current and quickly swings the boat downstream.

PFD Personal Floatation Device. Buoyancy vest required by law for every passenger of all water craft and your most important life-saving tool.

Pin being stuck between the current and the riverbed or an obstruction such as a rock or log and unable to dislodge. Not fun, possibly deadly.

Pirouette while popping vertical in a kayak during an "ender", the paddler reaches a paddle blade to the water then effects a vertical boat-and-paddler spin with it. See Ender.

Playing the stuff paddlers do that go beyond straight "downstream" paddling like surfing, hole riding and other antics on the river.

Polling the use of a long pole pushed against the river bottom for moving canoes upstream.

Portaging term for carrying boat and gear around a difficult rapid, an obstruction or between lakes.

Pry Stroke paddle stroke used to turn the where the paddle is turned sideways along-side the gunwale, then "pried" outward.

Put-In starting place of a river trip; where you put your boat on the river to begin a run or trip.

Ramp point in a rapid where water constricts/pools before dropping (spilling) downstream through a channel.

Rapids portion of the river where the flow or current of a river speeds up and flows turbulently over and around ledges, boulders, and drop-offs, etc. Commonly referred to as whitewater.

Reversal see Hydraulic

Ribs material placed along the inside of a canoe hull to form its frame. Usually made of wood.

Riffle shallow portion of the river characterized by whitecaps on the surface. Often caused by large rocks, gravel bars and other obstructions in the shallow water.

River-Left the left side of the river facing down stream.

River-Right the right side of the river facing down stream.

Rocker the curvature of the keel upward from the keel line in the center towards the ends of a canoe or kayak.

Roll a move requiring a paddle stroke and body snap to right oneself from a tipover while staying in the boat. Common techniques are the Sweep and Eskimo rolls.

Roller large curling wave that falls back on itself, usually following a big, wide rock or obstruction in the riverbed.

Roostertail fountain of water that explodes off a submerged obstacle.

Rudder mostly a foot controlled steering device often found in a sea or touring kayak.

Scouting describes the act of getting out above a rapid to assess its features and the viability of running it. Prudent and wise whenever in doubt.

Sea Kayak see Touring Kayak

Secondary Stability a hull's tendency to stabilize as it's leaned to one side. See Hull Configuration, Initial Stability.

Self-Bailing Floor allows the water that inevitably enters an inflatable boat to drain out, eliminating the need to bail.

Shaft the area of a paddle between the upper grip and the blade.

Shuttle describes the nature of travel between the take-out and put-in. one-vehicle outings require logistical fore-sight, using options such as bicycling, walking, hitchhiking, and so on. to return to vehicle at put-in.

Sick term used to describe hair, an ugly thrashing, flood level, a surplus of floating wood, a dangerous run or hole, and so on.

Side Surf a play move in a benign hole in which paddler uses counter-vailing forces of downstream current and upstream hydraulic.

Skeg fixed rudder.

Sneak to take the "easy" route through a rapid.

Sneak Route an easier or safer alternative route around a rapid.

Spray Skirt or spray deck. a neoprene or nylon accessory that fits around the waist of the paddler and the cockpit lip of the canoe or kayak for a watertight closure.

Squirt Boat an extremely low-volume kayak designed to play the currents below the river surface as well as on it; for advanced kayakers only.

Standing Waves big waves that often indicate the main channel. See Haystacks.

Stem the end-piece of a canoe's hull.

Stern the back end of a boat.
Strainer obstruction in the water that allows the current to pass through but stops any object floating or submerged. Potentially a very dangerous hazard.

Surfing large breaking waves along a coastline or tidal area. Also a technique for riding large waves on a river or the ocean in a kayak or canoe. Great fun.

Surf Ski a long, narrow kayak used for cruising and racing across open water. Originally developed for surf rescue. The paddler sits in divots on the hard-shelled deck, not in an enclosed cockpit.

Sweep Stroke used to turn the boat to the off-side (non-paddle side) by reaching out and ahead, then "sweeping" in a wide arc fore to aft.

Undercut an overhanging rock or ledge with water flowing underneath it. A serious hazard.

Waterfall major drop in a riverbed, usually over six feet in height.

Waterline a line reached by the water along the hull of a boat; the shape of the waterline and the handling characteristics of the boat change as the load changes.

Wave on a river, a wave is created by wind or an obstruction in the riverbed; the wave does not move while the water does. In tidal or ocean waters and lakes, a wave is created mostly by wind and tidal influences; the water does not move while the wave does.

Wave Ski hard-shelled, foam-filled craft designed primarily for ocean surfing.

Wave Train a series of standing waves. See Haystacks.

Wet Suit typically made of neoprene, which creates a thermal shield. Worn by whitewater and sea kayakers for cold water protection. See Dry Suit.

Whitewater turbulent, heavily aerated water caused by its flowing around or over obstacles in the current.

Wrap a dangerous situation that occurs when a current's downstream force folds boat and/or boater around an obstruction.

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