canoe – On the Horizon Line

How To Canoe With Kids

As we pushed off the shore for our first family canoe trip of the summer, I held my breath. Our one-year-old daughter had protested loudly when I strapped on her life jacket, making me think we might be in for a miserable afternoon. While our son, Talon, had dozens of canoe trips under his size 4T belt, Lyra hadn’t yet been afloat as a busy toddler.

Luckily, Lyra’s screams turned into delighted coos as our boat skimmed across the green water. She bounced between my legs, pointing at the birds and trees. From his perch in the center, Talon picked up his small paddle, proud to help propel us across the lake.

My husband and I are water people. We’ve sailed across the Pacific Ocean, snorkeled around the Caribbean, paddled through the Everglades, and rafted down plenty of wild rivers. Once we had kids, we began integrating them into our adventures from the get-go.

Canoes have been the perfect way for us to introduce our children to the water.

Two years ago we bought a used 15-foot Coleman to explore lakes and rivers near our home in Montana. We’ve since added a small outboard motor and a sail, too. Sometimes we go out for an hour, and sometimes we pile in the camping gear and head out for a week.

Here’s why we recommend canoes for your family, too:

Affordable. This sport is low-risk and low-investment to try out: you can buy a good used canoe for ~$300, or rent one for ~$50/day to try it out first.

Versatile. Canoes come in a wide range of sizes and styles, ranging from sleek wooden boats to wide plastic boats and even inflatable versions. (Hint: these are the cheapest options and easiest to transport, but they don’t last as hard-shell canoes and require more time to inflate/deflate.) Some are designed specifically for speed or to handle whitewater, but all canoes will work on any calm water bodies you want to float.

Simple. It doesn’t take long to learn how to paddle a canoe, even for young kids. You can watch videos online to see the basic steering strokes, or play around in a small pond to figure it out on your own. Plus, these boats can be stored outside, and are maintenance-free!

Easy transport. Most canoe’s weigh 50-80 pounds, which is totally manageable for two adults. They can be placed upside-down on top of your car, no trailer needed. (Hint: foam pool noodles work well to protect your vehicle’s paint if you don’t have a roof rack.)

Sturdy. Aluminum and plastic boats are particularly good for kids, as their tough, washable, and more stable—look for boats with flatter bottoms, which feel less “tippy”. As you might expect, it’s possible to tip over in a canoe, especially with squirmy kids around. Test the stability near the shore, wiggling hips and moving around in the boat to see how much side-to-side leeway you have before it feels uncomfortably. (Hint: We bought these stabilizer pontoon floats for our canoe, which make it super safe and allow us to walk around the boat or stand up to cast for fish.)

Ready to try it out this summer? Here are some tips:

It gets easier. Any new activity is tough at first until everyone learns the ropes. This is doubly true if your kids are young. Remember that even if canoeing isn’t quite as fun as you’d hoped the first couple of times out, you’re building skills that will last you and your kids a lifetime—and give you wonderful bonding opportunities for years to come.
Get excited! Your happiness (or crankiness) is contagious. If you’re thrilled to be on the water, your kids will be, too. Let them help plan the trip and help pack the canoe so the whole family is invested in the outing.
Offer clear rules and rewards. Before you launch, set a few clear safety rules: don’t stand up without asking, no leaning or jumping over the side, keep life jackets on, no whining (ha!). Try offering a reward at the end of the day if they follow the rules, such as a sweet treat or a movie.
Designate a special spot for everyone. Decide which adult will be in the stern (back seat) steering—they have less leeway to help manage the kids. The adult in the bow (front seat) can help paddle forward when needed, but can also take breaks easily. If you have a toddler, stand them between the adult’s legs in the bow where they can see and move around a little. Babies can be worn in a soft carrier. Older kids can sit on the center crossbars or a middle seat (if the canoe has one) to help paddle, or hunker down to play in the bottom of the boat.
Take your time. Like most outings with children in tow, the trip will probably take longer than you think. While you and your partner might want to race across the lake, the kids will enjoy it more if you take plenty of breaks. In fact, much of the joy in canoeing is playing on shore! Stop often at interesting spots to swim, have lunch, and explore islands or beaches you couldn’t get to without a boat. And don’t expect (or force!) the kids to add much horsepower—paddling is simply a fun diversion for them.

Recommended Packing List:

Any of the items below should be placed in a waterproof bag since the bottom of the boat gets wet from everyone’s shoes and dripping paddles. If you don’t have a dry bag, wrap your backpack or tote in a sturdy trash bag. Buckets also make for great storage in a canoe.

Life jackets: Everyone needs to wear a life jacket. Even if the grown-ups are stellar swimmers, you’re the role models for your kids. Have kids practice wearing theirs before you get in the boat, so they get used to them. (Hint: If you can’t find a comfortable jacket for your kiddo, try U.S. Coast Guard approved water wings that are less bulky.)

Clothing:

Sandals with straps or waterproof rain boots.
Sun hats and sun-protective clothing.
Rain gear, which can double as windbreakers.
Extra outfit for little kids who will likely get wet and muddy playing.

Food and Drinks: Like all outings with kiddos, make sure you pack lots of easy-to-grab snacks to keep them occupied, fueled, and happy. We like to bring “special” drinks for the kids to make sure they stay hydrated in the sun: lemonade powder in their water bottles is a favorite

Gear:

Toilet paper if you’re not near public restrooms.
Umbrella or pop-up tent for shade in the boat or on shore—perfect for passing rainstorms, too!
Seat pads or stadium-style folding seats.
Rope to attach to the bow to help pull the boat on shore.
Maps of the area you’re paddling.
Tarp or blanket for picnics or for “beds” for kids in the bottom of canoe.
Extra paddle(s) for the kids: emergency paddles that are adjustable and light-weight work well.

Fun Stuff:

Binoculars (monoculars work best for you young kids—we love ours!)
Field guides
Fishing rod
Frisbee
Bubbles
Chalk (to draw on rocks or the inside of the boat—it washes right off!)
Bucket (have the kids fill it with rocks/sticks/leaves on shore, then throw them overboard one at a time while you paddle)

Camping, Paddling, Water

‘Scanoodling’ Is Our New Favorite Water Activity

What is scanoodling?

It’s a word we made up that means dinking around in our motorized sailing canoe. Sometimes we paddle. Sometimes we sail. Sometimes we rev up the 3-horsepower motor.

The name comes from the type of canoe we bought this summer, a 16.5-foot Coleman Scanoe. It’s a flat-bottomed, aluminum-framed boat with a square back that’s durable and roomy — a cross between a skiff and a canoe.

Why we chose a scanoodle

Since we returned from our big trip across the sea, Rob and I have struggled to figure out the best boat to fit our lifestyle in Montana. As water-lovers, boats are vital for increasing our happiness factor.

We have two Alpaca Rafts, super-lightweight inflatable kayaks, which have served us well for short day trips or solo missions on rivers and wilderness lakes. But they’re too small for our family to undertake multi-day trips, and hell to paddle into the wind.

I used to share a 26-foot sailboat on Flathead Lake, but gave up that share when we set sail for the South Pacific. Since then, I’ve rented sailboats from friends for a few days at a time. But we missed the freedom of going sailing whenever I wanted. Plus, a traditional sailboat makes it tough to visit new places, since you’re either locked into one marina with dock fees or you need a big truck to tow a 5,000 to 10,000-pound yacht.

We looked high and low for good options, including small trimarans that our sedan could tow. Nothing seemed quite right.

Until we came across SailboatsToGo.com. This little company makes nifty sailing packages that attach to most kayaks or canoes. The whole kit weighs under 50 pounds, and can be checked as luggage on airplanes. We were sold, especially since we’re planning to sail through Florida’s Everglades National Park this winter.

We bought the sailing kit before we bought our own boat, and tested it out on friends’ canoes. Then we found the Scanoe, complete with a little outboard motor, for just $800. Packing up after work one Friday, we drove to Sandpoint, bought the Scanoe, and sailed to a remote beachside campsite on Lake Pend Oreille at sunset, the water like glass under our bow.

It was a match made in heaven.

Why we love scanoodling

You can sail UP rivers, not just float down, which is uber-awesome.
When there’s good wind, you can fill your sail instead of ruin your arms.
And when the wind’s in your face and you can’t sail or paddle, the 3 hp outboard pushes the boat along at a good clip: ~8 mph without gear, ~5 mph fully loaded. One gallon of gas keeps us going over an hour.
With the pontoons and leeboards (courtesy of SailboatsToGo) and the beamy, flat-bottomed canoe design, the boat is super safe. We can walk around inside or stand up to fish, and not worry that Talon might topple overboard.
It’s a craft that can ply nearly any waterway in Montana. While I wouldn’t take it through Class III+ rapids or into the open ocean, the Scanoe does stay stable even when it takes on water.
At 80 pounds, Rob and I can easily lift the Scanoodle on top of our car with the sail rolled up under the crossbars. The pontoons, leeboards and steering oar fit handily in the trunk. (Note: We’re planning to buy a small trailer to make transport even easier.)
We can pack enough gear in the boat to stay out for a week and the three of us still fit comfortably.
You never have to worry about running aground, since it’s made to be beached.
Maintenance hours are negligible and dock fees are nonexistent.

Where we scanoodled this summer

Missouri River – 50 miles over 5 days
Lake Pend Oreille – 3 night camping trip
Lake Upsata – a day of snorkeling and spearfishing
Frenchtown Pond – where Talon caught his first fish
Clark Fork River – afternoon floats near Missoula
Cliff Lake – 2 night camping and fishing trip
Flathead Lake – hour-long joy rides from Big Arm campground with friends and family
Red Rock National Wildlife Refuge – across Upper Red Rock Lake and 2 miles up the Red Rock River
Blanchard Lake & Clearwater River – after-work jaunts to spearfish and snorkel

Brianna Randall sailing with a baby in San Diego

Parenting, Sailing

Do you know where marrying a local is forbidden?

Spring roundup of stories and adventures

Three months since I wrote a blog post? Yikes. But here’s my excuse: I’m writing a book. It’s about the year we spent sailing the South Pacific in blissed-out freedom, and the year we spent transitioning back into responsible adults and new parents. Stay tuned.

Between book writing, child-chasing, and working our real jobs, Rob and I occasionally keep up with a few hobbies. These mostly include playing in the water and the dirt, but we also try to squeeze in time for taking photos and telling stories. Here are highlights of recent articles:

1. This tale combines my writing and Rob’s photos on BBC Travel: : “Where Marrying A Local Is Forbidden” (Hint: it ain’t in Montana)

2. Rob’s photography website is live, including pics of our February trip scuba diving in Bonaire: RobRoberts.org

3. My recent piece on Mamalode might make you chuckle: “To The Guy Sitting In Front Of Me On The Plane”

As for playing, spring is in full swing, full of wildflowers and sun that beckon us outside. Last month, we reconnected with my family at a memorial service for my grandmother in Capistrano Beach. Highlights included building a fire pit in the sand, taking Talon out for his first ocean sail, and watching him turn into a monster over Easter chocolate.

Back in Montana, we loaded him in a canoe for a float down the Swan River. Sadly, boats are still second to buses in our son’s list of favorites, but he’s quickly learning the ropes on all sorts of watercraft. And Talon’s already got the whole throwing rocks in the water routine down pat.

Scroll down for a photo montage of our recent adventures. Happy Spring, friends!