Canoeists spare a moment!

[Everywherethatmarywent]

Dd2 has asked for a canoe for Xmas she is seven. Im a swimmer ( taught it for over a decade) and love water sports. This summer we bought a paddle board and spent lockdown and summer on the lake near our house. Obviously it’s too cold and windy to take the kids on the board now and we’ve really missed it.

She originally asked for her own board for Xmas but I said it was too cold so she asked for a canoe. I’ve found a three seater which will accommodate Dd3 ( 4)

We have a lovely rural canal at the bottom of our garden. Literally open the gate and it’s there. We would have so much fun during the winter months going up and down.

Do you think it’s a good idea?

Dh will hate the idea - he has no interest in water sports and has suggested an electric scooter ☹️

In my mind the canoe can be used year round and summer evenings after school, the board can be used for summer and weekends.

We also have a canoe club near by.

What do you think for some one that only ever canoed as a child but spent the entire summer SUP, dd is also very good at SUP.

No idea but watching with interest as DH and DS have just bought a kayak each! So far been out every weekend and most week nights but now the nights are drawing in looks like just weekends depending on the weather. They have splash guards for over their legs but not sure how warm they’ll be as we get into winter. I run so I’m always warm once I get started!

I'm not a canoer, but I would be very wary of going out as one adult with 2 small children, even with lifejackets on you could be in the position of them both needing rescuing at once.

Why don't you get her a paddle board for summer? My dc have autumn birthdays and if they want summer stuff they get it for Christmas and use it in the summer. It's never been a problem.

The other issue that shows to me is she's asked for a paddleboard of her own. You're suggesting instead she gets something else which is just as much for you and her sister. Unless it's also her sister's present, then that seems rather unfair. And even if it is also her sister's present, then she may, even if she gets on well with her sister, want it to be a present for herself, not for both.
NB: I hated shared presents as a general rule. I'd rather have had a smaller present to myself than a shared one.

@Knackerelli

No idea but watching with interest as DH and DS have just bought a kayak each! So far been out every weekend and most week nights but now the nights are drawing in looks like just weekends depending on the weather. They have splash guards for over their legs but not sure how warm they’ll be as we get into winter. I run so I’m always warm once I get started!

Ooooh splash guards - I’ll have a look. Do you know if they have a licence? Just off a quick google I need one 😬

How amazing they have been out! I just love it!

I wouldn’t put splash guard on if they will
Restrict getting out
My canoe club stipulates we can only put splash guards on when we have demonstrated rolling the Kayak

Perhaps get it as a whole family Christmas present, rather than it being specifically for her.

Yep. No splash guard till you can roll. But kids slip out easily without one if they capsize. My friend has a open kayak and takes two kids but all three have BAs and the kayak has ropes all round for grabbing onto if the worst happened (though canals are often shallow enough for an adult to stand).

When I was rowing in the winter it could be sooooo cold even though physically exerting so good clothes essential. I think that is your greatest threat to winter boat fun. You can get canyoning suits which are like wet suits but loose fit and furry inside which allow you to move and keep you nice and warm even if you're splashed.

Canoe? I would rather get a kayak for her! ☺️
Great idea! Love water sports ☺️☺️☺️

@letmethinkaboutitfornow

Canoe? I would rather get a kayak for her! ☺️ Great idea! Love water sports ☺️☺️☺️

I think a lot of people don't realise the difference – and when they say one they actually mean the other

We have sit on top kayaks
Virtually impossible to fall in off (though DH has indeed managed it)
We paddle on the canal sometimes. You should have a licence, but er we haven't sprung for it yet. Hope the C&RT don't find out through this thread.

Splashdecks are really only for people with lots of experience, really. Dangerous with little kids. You can get dry suits. But if she wants a board get her a board

Kayaks great for kids! How old is she? My 9-year-old uses an adult-sized whitewater kayak, but she does get tired pretty quickly - 45 minute trip is plenty. She much prefers being independent in her own kayak, I don’t think sharing a family one would be the same for her.

Could you stretch to a 2-person kayak and a single one for her to use? Possibly slightly safer as you’re very unlikely to all capsize at once (so you’d only have 1 child to worry about immediately after).

Agree with others - don’t get a spray skirt at first. You’ll only be getting drips from the paddle as the canal won’t have waves or white water splashing into the kayak. If you do go anywhere where water will splash into the “cockpit” then get a nylon sprayskirt as these are very easy to come out of, and significant amount of water sloshing from side-to-side in a kayak makes it very tippy. Good quality neoprene spray skirts don’t come off as easily as older cheap nylon ones do!

Get waterproof trousers and neoprene shoes.

Or a rowboat? Something like the very ugly but very stable Bic Sportyak or 213? That way you can all take turns rowing (so get further!) and you’ll stay dryer and warmer, and picnics afloat are easier to manage.

Do you have a good destination for your canoeing trips? We have friends with big canoes on the canal but they barely get used because the kids quickly get bored and cold. It’s not as much fun as splashing around on a board.

I reckon we could get them out if we were heading on a picnic or to a park, but they don’t enjoy it just for the sake of it (much to DHs disappointment). They would possibly enjoy their own kayaks more, as they could muck around and head off to explore the banks. But sitting in a canoe with mum is a bit like running laps of the park vs playing tig.

Which? Canoe or kayak?

We SUP and ocean kayak and love both. I have taken both DC (and sometimes a dog ) on a 2-person kayak since they were about 4, but skirted kayaks are a bit different, and canoes different again.

Either way, both me and DC would definitely rather a canoe/kayak than a scooter!

We’re still paddleboarding/kayaking now and we’re in Scotland. The trick with kids is decent wetsuit kit - full length, wetsuit boots and gloves and soft shell or cag on top and not going out when it’s windy - wind chill is the worst!

If you have a canal at the bottom of the garden I would absolutely get her a kayak or paddleboard if she’s asked, but make it hers so a single suitable kayak or smaller paddleboard with a 2 person one for you if it’s financially feasible.

We love the water too (as per username) and we have an open kayak that seats three - though the middle person has to be small.

It's virtually impossible to capsize it. in winter we just go out for shorter times as it gets cold and inevitably wet (though we don't have any special suits or anything).

Hours of fun and very safe in a canal or smallish lake.

Go for it.

Sounds like fun! Please please be aware of narrowboats and depending on your canal, wide beam boats. We cannot see canoes or kayaks in the water. To us they are like trying to spot a Sinclair c5 to a car driver.
We can’t stop on a sixpence to avoid you and not do we have indicators and yes we do need to moor in certain spots to access services and locks !
Other than that there is nothing that’s so much fun as messing about on the water (just remember to close your mouth if you fall in).

Do you have a club nearby so she can try different stuff? And all get a bit of training? Splashguards (or spraydecks) are incredibly dangerous if not used correctly they stop you falling out safely.

Even paddleboards can be dangerous if not used properly, a young lad died recently in Scotland I think when his leash got tangked up in weeds and he couldn't free himself.

Watersports are amazing, but you do need some basic training, the right kit and to know how to use it. A club will teach you all this, let you experience different kayaks, paddleboards and canoes and give you basic skills to keep everyone safe.

Thanks for your replies! Dh came home and put a massive dampener on it and she changed her mind.

I’m staring a new business in the between now and new year and he said he wouldn’t be taking them out whilst I’m working at the weekend end - never asked him too.

He’s a dick but that’s a whole other thread.

I know my kids would enjoy it though, we love being in/on the water. I’m going to buy one any way.

Joining a club is a really good idea. A basic safety rule is to only ever go out in a group of three boats. If you get into difficulties, that's one person to stay and help and the other to go and raise the alarm.

Ooooh splash guards - I’ll have a look. Do you know if they have a licence? Just off a quick google I need one

They do both have a license, never seen anyone checking but best to be safe! They haven’t used the splash guards yet. Only been on the canal which they can stand up in but the kayaks are pretty impossible to roll. They’ve been having lots of fun not just rowing but playing boat wars too. ( never when narrow boats or others are around and they know to give them a wide berth)

Brilliant idea!

Great idea, don't forget you need a licence to use the waterways. I think it is the canoe and kayak club. Each person who paddles needs a licence. My husband kayaks and has his licence checked on the Basingstoke canal by inspectors at the car park. Think it's about 30 a year per person.

Do you mean a canoe - something you sit in with a paddle with one blade or a kayak, something that is covered over and paddled with something with two blades. You can also get sit on top Kayak’s.
I think you just need to get her a really good winter weight wetsuit And buoyancy aid and a membership to her nearest canoe club - they normally track kayak and cane, they often have sit in tops as well. Then she could try it all using club kit until she decided what she liked.