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Canoe 101

What makes up a canoe?

Dictionary.com

  • (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.
Merriam-Webster

  • (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