Canadian Canoe Museum Board of Directors Member Receives Order of Canada

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February 17, 2022

The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, has appointed Victoria Grant, the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Chair of the Board of Directors, to the Order of Canada.

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing outstanding achievement and dedication to the community and service to the nation. Appointments are made by the governor general on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.

A proud Teme-Augama Anishinabai Kwe, Loon Clan, Victoria was appointed to the Order “for bridging the gap between Indigenous, non-Indigenous culture, business and communities through her facilitation and meditation”. Victoria accepts the Order as an Officer (O.C.), which “recognizes achievement and merit of a high degree, especially service to Canada or to humanity at large”.

Having stepped down as Chair of the Community Foundations of Canada, just prior to the country’s sesquicentennial, Victoria came into to the Canadian Canoe Museum family through the National Council in 2017. She went on to join the Museum’s Board in 2018, becoming the Chair of the Board of Directors just two years later, in 2020.

Victoria Grant, Chair of the Canadian Canoe Museum Board of Directors

“I cannot think of anyone who deserves this high recognition as much as Victoria; her contribution to this country has been immeasurable; the museum is so proud and fortunate to have her leadership and knowledge. She has been such a valuable asset to us, especially during those turbulent pandemic times, as we continued to forge ahead with our plans to create our new home in the community” says Carolyn Hyslop, the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Executive Director, adding “the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, congratulate Victoria on this tremendous honour.

Victoria has a wealth of experience in organizational governance and administration, having served in her home community of Bear Island as Coordinator of the Noojimawin Health Authority, Manager and Assistant Negotiator of the N’Dakimenan Land Claim process, as well as serving as the Interim Band Manager of Temagami First Nation.

With the ambition to identify, sustain, and further the essential character of the community, Victoria co-founded the Temagami Community Foundation in 2000. Then, during the pandemic, she was instrumental in the creation of the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund; both have raised and disbursed millions of dollars through resiliency grants.

In addition to her commitments to family, community and her private practice in facilitation and negotiation (under the proprietorship banner of “Moving Red Canoe”…maybe she knew she was destined for the Canadian Canoe Museum), Victoria has served on numerous boards, including being a member of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Ontario Health Quality Council, Chair of the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, Director of the Counselling Foundation of Canada and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.

About the Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is one of our Country’s highest civilian honours. Its Companions, Officers and Members take to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“The desire a better country”). Those who bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped us build a better Canada.

About the Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM)

With a world-class collection as a catalyst, the Canadian Canoe Museum inspires connection, curiosity and new understanding. In partnership with individuals, groups and communities – locally, provincially and nationally – we work to experience and explore all that our collection can inspire. This sees students opening their minds in our galleries; community members connecting through artisanry; people of all ages getting on the water and learning to paddle; and exhibitions and events that spark conversation and collaboration.

About the New Museum

The Canadian Canoe Museum is building a new home for its world-class collection along the water’s edge in Peterborough, ON. The new museum will be located on a five-acre site in Peterborough, ON that will provide stunning west-facing views of Little Lake, a connection to the Trans Canada Trail, and is surrounded by public parks. It will become a vibrant community space for outdoor activities and the Museum’s canoeing and outdoor programs and events.

The Canadian Canoe Museum has a unique opportunity to create a new cultural destination that will inspire visitors to learn about Canada’s collective history and reinforce our connections to land, water and one another – all through the unique lens of the iconic canoe. Learn more at canoemuseum.ca/new-museum.

8 Pre-Season Exercises For Kayaking (Video)

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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February 17, 2022

Eager to launch on the water as quickly as possible, we kayakers are regular offenders when it comes to skipping warm-ups and warm-downs. Too often, it takes an injury to occur before many of us take body conditioning seriously.

[ Also watch: Yoga For Paddlers With Benny Marr ]

In this training video, Dr. Sam (PT) of REI walks us through 8 tailored-for-kayaking exercises to increase mobility, strength, endurance and balance in the upper leg, hip, abdomen, and back. A handful of the movements will mimic certain kayak strokes. Ideally, you’ll need a resistance band to fully benefit from these exercises.

These movements are simple-to-follow and low intensity, making them a great way to ease back into paddling after some time off the water.

7 Common Paddling Injuries And How To Prevent Them

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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February 16, 2022

Ours is not a gentle sport. No matter how practiced and prepared you may be, a risk of injury exists around every rocky bend in the river. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing—but that’s just what we’re going to give you. Here are some of the most common paddling injuries and how to recognize, prevent and when prevention fails, treat them.

1 Dislocated shoulder (anterior)

Cause: When your elbow is raised above your shoulder, even a small amount of backward pressure can stretch ligaments and lever the ball of your humerus out of its socket in the scapula.

Symptoms: The dislocated shoulder droops and the humerus ball protrudes from the pectoral area, accompanied by discomfort or intense pain.

Prevention: Keep your elbows low and tucked in when bracing and keep your lower arm bent at the elbow when doing a Duffek or draw stroke. If you do suffer a dislocation, work on your bracing technique because your shoulder will now be more vulnerable.

Treatment: Leave relocations to experts. At the scene of the injury, sling and swathe the arm in the position you find it, monitor blood circulation to the fingers and get ready for a hell of a portage out. If you are on a three-week solo expedition and you need to relocate your shoulder on your own, try sitting down with your knees in front of your chest, hug your knees with both arms and slowly lean backward.

2 Broken nose

Cause: Penciling in off a large drop with your paddle shaft in front of your face.

Signs/Symptoms: You’ll look and feel like an old-timer staggering out of the Legion Hall with a swollen, deformed schnoz and a dull ringing in your ears.

Prevention: Hold your paddle to one side, parallel to the boat, while hucking—not in front of your face.

Treatment: Control any bleeding by blowing out clots and pinching the bridge of your nose for 15 minutes. Plan on visiting a hospital when you get off the river. there’s no point in resetting it yourself unless you weren’t very fond of it in the first place and are willing to take some chances.

3 External otitis (swimmer’s ear)

Cause: An infection brought on when your ear becomes host to the bacteria and fungus most often present in warm water.

Symptoms: Your ear is tender on the outside and red, swollen and itchy on the inside. The combination will leave you dizzy with pain.

Prevention: Use a drying, antibacterial solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and white vinegar after paddling in warm or polluted waters. Wear ear plugs.

Treatment: Wet willies with antibiotic cream.

4 Exostosis (surfer’s ear)

Cause: Your inner ear defends itself against cold water by building up layers of calcium in the ear canal.

Signs/Symptoms: As the calcium blocks off your ear canal it impairs hearing and drainage.

Prevention: Keep cold water out of your ear by wearing earplugs or practicing your braces.

Treatment: Surgery.

5 Tendonitis

Cause: Repetitive contraction of the forearm muscles, leading to inflammation of the tendons. A white-knuckle death grip on an old school, straight shaft paddle with extreme feather is a great way to afflict yourself. Tendonitis often occurs early in the season when your forearm muscles are weak and unaccustomed to paddling.

Symptoms: Swelling, numbness, pain, loss of motor control.

Prevention: Loosen your grip on the paddle, choose a stick with less feather and work on strengthening your forearm muscles off the water.

Treatment: Rest, but since not paddling is obviously out of the question, your best bets are anti-inflammatories and stretching. Chronic cases may require surgery.

6 Sprained ankle

Cause: Your ankle rolls to the outside over top of your foot after missing a step on a portage, stretching or tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This usually happens near the end of the day when you are tired or rushed, or when you are portaging but still staring at the set through the trees, wondering if you should have run it after all.

Symptoms: An ankle that’s bruised or swollen on the outside and even more painful to walk on than look at.

Treatment: In order to get to a place where RICE—rest, ice, compression and elevation—is possible, you’ll have to stabilize the ankle. Wrap the affected area from the instep to mid-calf with tape or a tensor, starting from the arch side and running under then over the foot.

Prevention: Replace your neoprene socks with something more supportive, take your time while portaging or just stay in the boat and give’er.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all footwear ]

7 Bruised ego

Causes: Either opting out of a run, or else convincing yourself to run something and then realizing you should have opted out.

Symptoms: Susceptibility to self-doubt, low self-esteem and depression. Chronic victims are usually accomplished swimmers.

Prevention: Always carry a camera. This way you can excuse yourself from suspect runs for the sake of “getting some shots.”

Treatment: Beer.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article first appeared in the Spring 2006 issue of Rapid Magazine and in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

17 Things Paddlers Wish They Had Known Sooner

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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February 14, 2022

Beginner canoeist capsizes in whitewater river

In the words of Ronnie Lane of the Ooh La La’s, “I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger”—a statement that rings true when most of us think back to our years as newbie-paddlers.

Of course, there isn’t a textbook substitute for first-hand experiences; our water literacy mostly develops through trial and error. Still, we thought it would be fun to ask our readers (via our Instagram account) what they wish they had known when they were beginners. After sifting through hundreds of great responses, we’ve handpicked our favorite 17 pieces of advice.

1. It would take years to get good, but it would be worth it.

– @katbulk

2. You don’t have to eat dehydrated meals on trips! Bring a cast-iron skillet!

– @kevinkapala

Camp cast-iron skillet meals for paddlers — With the right gear, prep and knowledge, your camping meals don’t actually have to be any different from your at-home kitchen meals. Photo courtesy of Unsplash

[ Discover Cooking Tips & Recipe Ideas For Your Next Camping Trip ]

3. You need lots of core strength.

– @_ridnar_

4. How to j-stroke!

– @willem_hunt

5. To take ownership of my own goals and desires – not to wait on someone else to plan mine out.

– @jiggerjax

6. Buy the boat, you can always sell it later and buy another boat.”

– @maddymarq

7. How scary the ocean can turn…

– @kolmurf

[ View all Canoes in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

Man cresting a wave in a sea kayak — A kayaker demonstrates control as he paddles towards a cresting wave in the ocean. Photo courtesy of Eddyline

8. A boat that tracks is a boat that’s hard to turn.

– @drbigotes

9. UV light and uncovered storage damage everything with time.

– @tintin_project

10. It is all about efficiency.

– @scablanderd

11. That I wouldn’t be able to think about anything else.

– @ben2thewild

[ Discover the 5 Best Post-Paddle Stretches ]

A thoughtful woman sits by the fire and her kayak while looking out to the lake — How long was it before paddling took over your life? Photo courtesy of Eddyline

12. Stretch first.

– @novacraftcanoe

13. Despite what anyone may tell you, it’s never too early to invest in good gear. Especially when it comes to safety gear!

– @louise.stanway

14. Don’t roll until you understand what kayaking is.

– @_horizonpeople_

15. The importance of a good paddle.

– @nverstoppen

[ Also read: How To Choose The Best Kayak Paddle ]

16. To wait and save and buy better gear. Don’t rush it.

– @miss_t_bliss

17. More about paddling safely in the ocean!

– @tkimbar2611

[ Also read: Understanding Oceans At Deception Pass]

World’s Longest-Running Study On Happiness Has Great News For Wilderness Paddlers

By

Kaydi Pyette

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February 14, 2022

The next time someone asks why you’re disappearing with your paddling buds into the wilderness for days at a time, tell them this: studies prove paddling is a factor to happiness.

How to be happier and live the good life

Since 1939, Harvard University has been conducting what’s become the longest-running study on human happiness in the world.

For 80 years, the Grant and Glueck study has tracked the physical and emotional well-being of 724 men. A third were graduates of Harvard’s classes of 1944, and the rest were from inner-city Boston. A few dozen of the original subjects are still alive and in their mid-90s.

“The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships
at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”

After meeting with and interviewing these men every two years for the last eight decades and generating tens of thousands of pages of findings, the study confirms it’s not the oft-lusted after fame, fortune and success that creates long-term happiness.

Two paddlers carry a canoe in the dawn light, building healthy relationships through paddling — Paddling can be a big factor in your happiness.

“The clearest message that we get from this study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period,” says Robert Waldinger, the study’s fourth director and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

His 2015 TED Talk, “What Makes a Good Life,” has been viewed 25 million times. “The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80,” said Waldinger. The study found a person’s level of satisfaction with their relationships at age 50 was a better predictor of their future physical health than even cholesterol levels.

Close relationships—which doesn’t mean conflict-free relationships—help protect from life’s discontents, delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, and even genes, the study reveals.

Canoeing provides a connection

All of this is good news for paddlers. Aside from a small minority of dedicated solo trippers, most canoeists go paddling with other people most of the time. And we know there are few better ways to foster a meaningful connection than wilderness travel.

Scientists who study such things say developing friendship boils down to four factors—proximity, frequency, duration and intensity. This must at least partially account for why it’s so much easier for kids to strike up friendships. Being stuck in one elementary school classroom for six hours a day, five days a week does a lot for building comradery.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all tandem canoes ]

The last piece of the puzzle, intensity, refers to the quality of the interaction. Think of these four factors like pieces of a pie. You don’t need an intense personal connection to form a solid friendship with someone you see every day at work. The reverse is also true. A brief but intense experience can connect for life two people living on opposite sides of the globe.

Canoe tripping is an intense interpersonal experience, stoking embers of friendship and future wellbeing.

Dr. Steven Howell studies the science of friendship at Keystone College in Pennsylvania and found exchanging confidences and taking risks together are two ideal ingredients for establishing or rekindling bonds. Perhaps not so surprisingly, his research found a night out drinking is often a quick and successful way to do this. He also found two people who handle a challenge together—even something small like stumbling home at the end of the night—were more likely to become close.

Time in the wilderness, on the water or around the campfire, also encourages sharing confidences, overcoming challenges, managing risks and lots of high fives—all the benefits of Dr. Howell’s prescribed night out, but without the hangover.

Canoe tripping is an intense interpersonal experience, stoking embers of friendship and future wellbeing. “This message, that good, close relationships are good for our health is wisdom as old as the hills,” says Harvard’s Dr. Waldinger, acknowledging we’re just not always very good at following this advice.

Pick up a paddle to pick up your spirits

“The ways to enact this lesson in your own life are endless,” Dr. Waldinger adds. “It might be as simple as replacing screen time with people time, livening up a stale relationship by doing something new together, or reaching out to a family member you haven’t spoken to in years.”

Or you could call up a buddy and go paddling. It’s good for your health—Harvard University says so.

Good relationships keep us happier and healthier—another reason to plan a weekend trip. | Feature photo: Pierre Emmanuel Chaillon

How To Paddle Your Canoe Silently

By

Joanie McGuffin

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February 11, 2022

The beauty of silent paddling is just that—the silence. You can paddle along a stretch of shoreline at dusk with the only sound of your passing being the small rippling wake slapping the rocks. Every sound of the forest is crystal clear: a creek burbling, the distant hooting of an owl, a frog croaking. Traveling in silence takes practice but the rewards are well worth the effort. Read on and learn how to paddle silently.

How to paddle your canoe silently

Whether you’re sneaking up on a moose for that perfect photo or simply enjoying the sensation of gliding across water soundlessly, silent paddling is a skill every canoeist should master. The good news is, at the heart of every quiet stroke is just good technique. Employ it and you’ll be able to travel farther and faster while conserving your strength—and no one will hear you coming.

Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park | Photo: Gary McGuffin — Paddle silently through the stillness at Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park. | Feature photo: Gary McGuffin

Silent paddling is attainable by anyone willing to work on improving the biomechanics of their forward stroke. Your body and paddle should act as one to position the canoe and exert force, enabling your boat to move through the water. Any time you hear the paddle, be it banging the gunwale or moving water, you can be sure you need to improve the efficiency of your technique.

Position yourself properly

Efficiency starts with your body position. Your hands-on the grip and shaft of the paddle should be spaced a bit more than shoulder distance apart. Sit or kneel with your knees anchoring you to the canoe in a solid stance. This achieves balance and it enables you to transfer maximum power through your paddle to the canoe.

Slightly bend and lock your elbows so that your upper torso will have to rotate to plant the paddle, engaging your core muscles. To avoid a noisy splash when you plant your blade in the water, keep the paddle shaft near vertical as it enters—this way, you’ll only hear a whisper.

Submerge your paddle blade

Fully submerging your blade will allow you to paddle without creating a gurgle. Think of the blade as anchored in the water. As you unwind your torso, pull with your shaft arm while pushing with your hand on the grip. Focus on bringing the canoe to your paddle instead of the other way around. As you do this, use your hips to thrust the canoe forward.

Exiting the paddle blade silently from the water requires finesse, and must happen in line with your hip and not behind it. To do this, drop your grip hand slightly while turning that thumb forward, effectively twisting the paddle in the water. Lift your shaft hand so the blade clears the surface, sliding out perpendicular to the water’s surface instead of parallel. Keep those elbows locked. Your arms, torso and paddle must remain as one unit to be efficient. Did you hear anything louder than a whisper?

Practice the perpendicular plant

Reach forward for the catch and plant the blade again—with practice this technique will become smooth.

Perfect this skill and you’ll not only notice the benefit of moving faster with less effort, but you will achieve a true sense of oneness between you, the paddle, the canoe and the water that only silence can bring.

Master the ancient art of the silent stroke

Good paddling form will help you to reduce noise, but the silent stroke can take it one step further. Once mastered, this variation on the J-stroke allows you a quick, quiet passage through the water.

The key to the silent stroke is the recovery. Following the J, the blade is sliced back to the catch position in an underwater recovery. Roll the grip in the palm of your hand so that the backface now becomes the powerface. From stroke to stroke, the blade does not leave the water at all. We break down the steps below.

5 steps to perform the silent stroke

1 The underwater recovery is key

The silent stroke is a forward stroke with an underwater recovery where the powerface alternates on each stroke. Move from one blade face to the other by rolling the grip in the palm of your control hand while the blade is in the recovery position. Slice the blade forward in a complete underwater recovery. As the blade slices back to the catch, the blade’s leading edge turns toward the hull instead of away from it as in a forward stroke.

2 Spin the paddle grip to switch faces

Open your fingers on your control hand to spin the paddle grip in your palm. Now your control thumb points out. The leading edge of the blade turns toward the hull. What was the powerface now becomes the backface.

3 Pull your canoe to the blade

This is the propulsion phase of your forward stroke. Begin with a slight forward lean at the catch, with your upper body rotated toward the offside. Pull your lower body to the blade by sitting up and unwinding your torso.

4 Initiate J, then recover

At the end of the propulsion phase, turn your control thumb forward to initiate the J.

5 Aim for smooth transitions

The smooth transitions between powerfaces and the silence of the stroke comes from the blade never completely breaking the surface of the water. The silent stroke involves very subtle blade control.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Canoeroots and Family Camping, Spring 2014 and in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Paddle silently through the stillness at Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park. | Feature photo: Gary McGuffin

An Ingenious Way To Store Your Canoe Or Kayak (Video)

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

-

February 9, 2022

Looking to shield your kayak or canoe from the elements, but don’t fancy the extra clutter on your garage floor? Nick’s Life Outside is the man with the answers.

[ Also read: Build Your Own Canoe Tree ]

In his DIY boat storage tutorial, he’ll show you how you can put together a nifty little kayak storage solution with just a few basic hardware store supplies. We’re not talking two-by-fours either; all you’ll need is s-rings, cam straps and a non-defeatist attitude.

First, screw two D-rings into a ceiling joist about three feet apart—or wider if you have an especially broad boat. Move several joists down and add a second set of D-rings, far enough from the first set to support your craft. Nick’s joists are easy to see, or you can use a stud finder to pinpoint the exact location.

man stores canoe in garage

Next, use S-hooks and cam straps to fashion two matching cradles suspended from the D-rings. These cradles will hold your boat, so make sure the hardware is properly rated for the weight, plus some wiggle room. Use the cam straps to ratchet your boat up and out of the way of your vehicle.

[ View all Canoes in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

Cradle Works For Cleaning And Maintenance Too

Beyond storage, suspending your boat at shoulder height can make it easier to clean and maintain. Once in the cradle, Nick wipes down his canoe and treats it with some spray wax. “Just make sure whatever you use is all-natural,” he advises.

Top 10 Roof Rack Dos and Don’ts For Paddlers

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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February 9, 2022

Most paddlers have some sort of roof rack system to get their kayak to and from the water with ease and confidence. The systems vary, and, no matter what rack you have or if you are transporting a kayak without a roof rack, there are some basic principles to follow—and some common mistakes to avoid. Read on for ten expert tips to help you—and your boat—hit the road with confidence.

Top 5 roof rack dos

1 Do upgrade your factory rack system

Upgrade your factory rack system to a base rack from a quality roof rack company. This is a quality set of feet and bars upon which all other rack accessories can be mounted.

2 Do ensure you purchase the correct rack

Ensure you purchase the correct rack for the model and year of your vehicle. If it doesn’t say it’s made for your car, don’t trust it.

3 Do place your bars as far apart as possible

Place your bars as far apart as possible. The less the boat hangs past the front and rear bars the more the boat is supported in its straight-ahead position, and the less the boat is likely to turn in the wind.

4 Do periodically check and tighten the fasteners

Periodically check and tighten the fasteners securing the rack to your vehicle. Most racks are rubber mounted in some way. As the rubber compresses and hardens with age the friction holding it in place reduces. The only thing worse than losing one boat from the rack is having the entire rack blow off.

5 Do lube and periodically use the keys in the locks

Lube and periodically use the keys in the locks. Roof racks are exposed to the brunt of weather for all four seasons. They typically don’t ever move and when it’s time to remove them, sell the car or perhaps wax it, you may find the reason they weren’t stolen is because they are seized in place.

Top 5 roof rack don’ts

1 Don’t overload your factory racks

Don’t overload your factory racks. Most factory racks are recommended for a maximum load of 70 pounds, and any sort of tension applied to the bars will warp them out of shape. Most everyone breaks this rule.

2 Don’t get bars that extend past your roof

Don’t get bars that extend past your roof unless they are well overhead or you like the Rocky look. Once you have the correct feet for your vehicle you can purchase up to 78-inch-wide bars. The inconvenience of installing wider bars every time you want to carry two tandem canoes or kayaks side-by-side is far less than the pain from walking into them with your face. Trust us. Do as I say, not as I do. All my bars are 78 inches; they stay on all the time.

SUV parked on a city side street with an EPIC surf ski kayak on the roof rack — Periodically check and tighten the fasteners securing the rack to your vehicle, or you could lose that fancy surfski. | Photo: Takundamunashe Danha/Unsplash

3 Don’t leave them up

If you use uprights, don’t get in the habit of leaving them up. We all know someone who has peeled off bikes or boats while in a parking garage. From what we’ve heard, the driver always instantly knows the source of the horrible sound.

4 Don’t go through the car wash

Automated car washes should be avoided, even the no-touch ones. Yes, you’ve probably gone through okay, but you had your fingers crossed didn’t you? The fuzzy-roller car washes are sketchy on the best of days and even the no-touch car washes have sensors that “see” the surface of the vehicle but don’t always “see” the narrow tube bars of our roof racks. Once your wheels are locked into the tracks and the light turns green you’re committed.

5 Don’t fess up

Lastly and most importantly, if you lose a boat, luggage or your entire rack, DON’T admit it. Instead, try these lines: “The missing gel-coat and smashed rudder? That was from an epic surf landing. You should have seen it.” Or, “Where’s my boat? Umm. I just came to volunteer and help with the race. Then I’m going rollerblading.”

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Looking for adventure, or whatever comes our way. | Feature photo: Nicholas Spooner

Fishing Kayak Review: Ascend FS10

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

-

February 8, 2022

Fishing kayaks like the Ascend FS10 make it possible to reach destinations which would not be possible by motorboat or foot.

The Ascend FS10 is a sit-inside kayak, a type of kayak in which the paddler slides into an enclosed cockpit and sits inside the hollow hull of the kayak.

The Ascend FS10 is a stable kayak with a V-shaped hull that cuts through the water with decent speed and tracking without sacrificing stability. It has a large cockpit for easy entry and exit, a comfortable seating system and plenty of storage. For these reasons, and more which will be explored in this Ascend FS10 review, the FS10 makes a great kayak fishing partner.

Ascend kayaks are a brand under the banner of the White River Marine Group. The White River Marine Group is owned by Bass Pro and is the world’s largest manufacturer of boats by volume. As such, Ascend kayaks are most commonly available at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and motor boating retailers who carry White River Marine Group brands.

Person on sit-on-top fishing kayak with rod

Fishing Kayak Reviews

On the water with the Ascend FS10

Ascend FS10 Specs

Length: 10’ / 3.05 m

Width: 30” / 86.4 cm

Weight: 57 lbs / 25 kg

Capacity: 325 lbs / 147 kg

MSRP: $599 USD

Performance

When it comes to the performance of the Ascend FS10, users regularly compliment the kayak’s stability. The FS10 achieves this with a pronounced keel running down the center of the hull. Moving away from the keel the hull flattens out providing a larger surface area, then rounds up the sides of the kayak.

There are two types of stability we regularly measure in kayaks. The first, initial stability, is how stable the kayak feels sitting flat. The other, called secondary stability, is the kayak’s stability as it rolls to one side or another, or as waves roll underneath it.

The Ascend FS10 does a good job of combining these two elements of stability, by providing a hull design with a suitable amount of surface area making contact with the water at all times. This is evident through the testimony of Ascend FS10 fishing kayak reviews.

This same pronounced keel running down the center of the hull joins both a tapered wedge-shaped bow, and a skegged stern to provide the Ascend FS10 with its tracking characteristics. Tracking is the kayak’s ability to travel in a straight line instead of spinning from left to right with each stroke.

Specifically for kayak anglers, the Ascend FS10 fishing kayak has great open storage for a sit-inside kayak design. Sit-inside kayaks are often built with hatches, letting paddlers stow gear beneath the deck of the kayak. The FS10 has an interesting layout with a large open tankwell on the stern. Tankwells are the recessed, open storage areas on the deck of a kayak. This is a feature usually found on sit-on-top kayaks, and one of the reasons sit-on-top kayaks are popular with kayak anglers.

The tankwell on the stern of the FS10 is huge, with enough room to store a cooler or milk crate and a five gallon bucket. Even better, this gear is accessible without going below deck. Points to Ascend for incorporating this angler-friendly feature of sit-on-tops into a sit-inside design.

Paddle Sober And Smart

Never mix alcohol and paddling. Coast Guard and state BUI (boating under the influence) laws apply to all vessels. This includes canoes, kayaks, SUPs and rafts.

Market and demographics

The Ascend FS10 kayak is a recreational sit-inside fishing kayak intended for kayak angling day trips on calmer, sheltered waterways. Recreational kayaks are a loosely defined class of boats which value stability and comfort over speed and performance in harsh water conditions. The FS10 is geared toward recreational kayaking with additional features that are advantageous for kayak fishing.

There are a couple of reasons why the Ascend FS10 sit-in is best suited for calmer and sheltered waterways. The most obvious is that there are no bulkheads within the kayak. Bulkheads are internal walls that isolate different areas inside the kayak. This compartmentalizes the hollow inside of the kayak, and keeps the entire boat from filling up with water should you capsize.

Without bulkheads, the Ascend FS10 will take on a lot of water if you capsize. You want to be sure you are not very far from a shore should you need to pull the kayak to the side and empty it. This is a reason to avoid rough or open water conditions with the FS10.

Along with kayak fishing from the Ascend FS10 , there are other sporting pursuits you can enjoy from the seat of a kayak. Duck hunters enjoy the FS10’s quiet approach to hard-to-reach places for hunting waterfowl. The tan color option of the FS10 is another reason it can make a great duck hunting kayak.

About the Ascend FS10

Design

Material and construction

Ascend constructs the FS10 and their entire kayak line from rotomolded high-density polyethylene. Polyethylene is a plastic commonly used in kayak manufacturing. This polymer compound is also regularly used to make other common plastic goods.

Rotomolding is the process by which Ascend takes polyethylene and turns it into a kayak. Small plastic pellets are loaded into a mold. The mold is then placed in a large oven at high temperatures and rotated at a high speed to push liquified nurdles outward to take the shape of the mold. The mold continues to rotate as it cools and when it is opened, presto, we have a kayak.

Ascend FS10 accessories and outfitting

Let’s take a walk through the different accessories and outfitting components of the Ascend FS10 fishing kayak.

The Ascend FS10 kayak features two grab handles. These grab handles are helpful for pulling the FS10 on shore or loading on a vehicle. The first grab handle is right on top of the bow, the second is back at the stern.

On the bow deck of the Ascend FS10 you will see the bow bungee cord storage area, this is also commonly referred to as deck rigging. This bungee storage is a good place to tuck away items you may want accessible but do not need to keep dry. It is also a good place to lash down your dry bag.

At the forward edge of the cockpit rim you will see a tray area especially useful to kayak anglers. The plastic tray has two recessed cubbies. A square one at center would be a good spot to prep tackle or put down your river lunch. The other is circular, and makes a good spot to keep a drink.

Also on this tray is a small hatch. The hatch is covered with a threaded deck plate, and when opened there is a recessed well to hold small items you’d like to keep dry.

On each side of the cockpit rim you will find accessory tracks for the Ascend FS10. These accessory tracks are helpful to provide quick mounts for an additional rod holder or your electronic components.

Inside the cockpit of the Ascend FS10 are the adjustable foot braces. Slide the braces to different positions to fine tune your paddling posture for a comfortable ride. You do need to reach the back of the foot braces to adjust them, so best to have them in a comfortable setting before leaving shore.

The Ascend FS10 has an elevated, removable seat made from a metal frame and nylon fabric. This style of seat is also referred to as a lawn chair or stadium-style seat, and is popular in fishing kayaks. The elevated position is comfortable and also provides improved visibility while fishing.

Another plus to the removable seat of the FS10 is the ability to easily pull it out of the kayak and have a camp or beach chair when you aren’t on the water.

Users of The Ascend FS10 have said the seat is prone to rust. As an Ascend kayak owner you will want to be sure to clean the seat with fresh water and dry it before storage to prolong the life of the kayak seat. Should you need a seat replacement it would be best to contact the manufacturer, or shop for an FS10 seat online. A work-around would be to take a stadium or camping seat with similar dimensions and place it in the FS10, resting on top of a foam pad to provide a similar seat height.

There is also some room behind the seat of the Ascend FS10 for storage. This is a good place to tuck away a small box or dry bag you will not regularly need access to.

To either side of the cockpit are short bungees and plastic hooks. These are paddle holders designed to keep the paddle locked up while you are fishing or drifting. While we are mentioning the paddle holders, it’s also worth noting the small cut outs to each side of the paddler on the cockpit rim. This is to rest your paddle across the boat, without having it roll around.

On the deck, behind the seat are two flush-mounted rod holders. These rod holders give you the option of carrying two rigged setups, so they are ready to go at the first sign of a bait ball.

Next to each rod holder is an anchor cleat. These anchor cleats provide a place to tie off a line, whether to a dock or small kayak anchor, though be careful not to load too much weight to either side and capsize the kayak. The anchor cleats also provide a place to attach a drift chute to your kayak while fishing. Drift chutes are designed to slow the speed at which wind blows your kayak across the water.

Stay Clear Of All Other Vessels

Know the “Rules of the Road” Navigation Rules that govern all boat traffic and stay out of the way of all other vessels.
Never assume that power boaters can see you. Avoid high-traffic areas whenever possible. Proceed with caution when you can’t avoid paddling near boats. Dress for visibility.

The Ascend FS10 kayak has a large tankwell between the seat and stern. Tankwells are recessed, open storage areas on the deck of a kayak. The stern tankwell gives the FS10 a large amount of open and accessible storage secured by an adjustable mesh cover. To put in perspective just how big this tankwell is, you could fit a standard milk crate and a five-gallon bucket within this storage area.

Near the stern end of the Ascend FS10 there is also a small bungee web of deck rigging, as well as the second grab handle.

Next to the grab handle we also have the drain plug. Even on a dry day it’s inevitable some splashing or paddle drip will enter the FS10. This drain plug provides a means to empty the FS10.

Opportunity for modifications

If you are like most kayak anglers you are already thinking of ways to modify the Ascend FS10.

For one, the FS10 does not have a forward rod holder. The flush-mounted rod holders behind the seat are great for storage. But while you are actively fishing it is great to have a rod holder in front of you while you juggle between casting and strokes.

A forward rod holder can be installed on one of the two accessory tracks on each side of the kayak. If however you see the accessory tracks as sacred space for other devices such as electronic gadgetry, you may want to install a mount for a rod holder elsewhere.

A good spot for this additional rod mount would be on the flat surface of the cockpit tray we discussed in the outfitting portion of this review. The plastic on this tray is thick enough to hold a rod mount, and is also easily accessible for drilling, tightening bolts, and sealing to prevent leaking. You can find rod holders compatible with the deck of the Ascend FS10 through component producers like Railblaza.

Another modification regularly placed on fishing kayaks are trolling motor mounts. Trolling motors turn your paddle kayak into a small motorized vessel. Trolling motors are lightweight, and have become a common add-on for fishing kayaks. It’s worth noting a trolling motor was not intended for the Ascend FS10, so there is no factory Ascend FS10 kayak trolling motor mount. Kayak anglers who use a trolling motor with the FS10 must come up with their own compatible mounting solution for the stern.

Warranty

Ascend provides a one-year, limited warranty covering parts and labor to correct defects in materials and workmanship.

How it compares

For kayak anglers, deciding on which kayak to buy is a big choice, and there are a lot of options beyond the Ascend FS10. Here is a quick rundown of how a few other popular choices stack up against the FS10.

Ascend D10 vs Ascend FS10

The D10 is another sit-inside kayak produced by Ascend. At first glance, the two kayaks are similar in design. However the D10 is built over a tunnel hull instead of the V-hull of the FS10. Tunnel hulls are generally very stable, but often slow. Both the FS10 and the D10 are relatively stable kayaks, and neither are built to win a race. So you may not notice much difference in performance.

The layout of the two kayaks for storage is also similar. Both the FS10 and the D10 have a large stern tankwell, an interior cockpit rim tray, and deck rigging on the bow. The biggest difference may be the lack of rod holders on the D10 compared to the two flush-mounted rod holders of the FS10.
Ascend FS10 vs Ascend H10

The Ascend H10 is an interesting kayak Ascend has described as a hybrid. The H10 is not quite a sit-inside or sit-on-top kayak, whereas the FS10 is most definitely a sit-inside kayak.

The H10 features storage hatches in both the bow and stern, covered with a hard plastic deck plate in the bow, and plastic fabric cover in the stern. These storage areas are somewhere between an open tankwell and an enclosed hatch.

The FS10 has the large stern tankwell, but no dedicated tankwell or hatch in the bow.

The H10 system is a bit odd, however, and seems unsure of what kind of kayak it wants to be. The bow hatch is not segmented by a bulkhead, so any gear you place up there is subject to rolling around or getting wet from water entering the kayak anywhere.

Both kayaks are suitable for similar sheltered and slow-moving waterways.

Know The Local Hazards

Check navigation charts before you launch.
Check with those who have local knowledge of man-made and natural hazards, e.g. low-head dams; sweepers, strainers and undercuts; tides and currents; and rocks and shoals.

Ascend FS10 vs Old Town Vapor 10 Angler

The Vapor 10 Angler is a sit-inside fishing kayak produced by Old Town, one of the oldest paddling craft manufacturers in North America. Like the FS10, the Vapor 10 Angler is a sit-inside kayak featuring rod holders and storage for anglers.

The Vapor 10 Angler has a high, pronounced bow that cuts through waves. This high bow helps keep water off the deck of the kayak. The Vapor 10 Angler has an elongated cockpit, with an opening even larger than the one found on the FS10. This makes the Vapor 10 Angler easier to climb in and out of, but also may allow more room for water to enter.

One area where the FS10 wins out big over the Vapor 10 Angler for kayak fishing is storage. The Vapor 10 Angler has a small stern hatch, limiting storage for kayak fishing. While the Ascend FS10 has the large, open tankwell in the stern where you could fit as much as a milk crate and five-gallon bucket. If carrying and accessing tackle is your priority, the FS10 offers a better option.

Where to buy the Ascend FS10

Cabela’s and Bass Pro are places to purchase the Ascend FS10 kayak. This is because Ascend is ultimately owned by Bass Pro Shops through the White River Marine Group. You will also find Ascend kayaks available at a limited number of smaller marine stores that carry White River brands.

Pros and cons

Pros

Stable
Comfortable and versatile raised seat
Large stern tankwell
Pre-installed rod holders and accessory mounts

Cons

No bulkheads
Seat prone to rust
Availability limited to Bass Pro and Cabela’s

Canoe Reviews

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

-

February 8, 2022

underwater shot of a man paddling a canoe — Feature photo: Courtesy Old Town Canoes and Kayaks

Are you looking for canoe reviews? You’ve come to the right place! This article contains all the canoe reviews the Paddling Magazine editorial team has compiled. You’ll find canoe reviews by type, including detailed critiques of the best (and worst) canoes; canoe reviews by size; canoe reviews by store; and canoe reviews by brand.

Welcome to the web’s greatest resource for canoe reviews. Your paddling journey starts here.

Canoe reviews by type

Canoes are divided into types, which are defined by how you paddle, where you paddle, the weight of the canoe, any specialized design features (such as motor mounts), and your experience level. The best way to start your search for the perfect canoe is to search by type. We’ve organized our reviews by canoe type, ranging from broad categories such as Touring and Recreational to specialized uses like foldable canoes and square-back canoes. This will allow you to narrow down the best canoe for you.

Woman and little girl sitting in bow of red canoe.

Best Canoes For 2026

You’ll find additional types of canoes you may not have considered, such as inflatable canoes, fishing canoes and four-person canoes (for the whole family). We’ve also parsed out canoe reviews for some of the most popular designs, including reviews of Prospector canoes and Canadian canoes (a British term used to distinguish open-decked canoes from kayaks).