Paddling Glossary

By REI staff

In This Article

• A-E
• F-N
• O-S
• T-Z

A-E

A

Amidships—The area of a boat midway between the bow and stern (front and back); center.

Assisted Rescue—One procedure a capsized kayaker can use to get back into the boat. Another kayaker helps to right the boat, empty the water and stabilize the boat for the victim's re-entry.

Asymmetrical—Hull shape in which the boat's widest point (beam) is either above or below the center (amidships) of the boat.

Atomic Launch—Entering a river by launching from a ledge or sliding down the bank and dropping into the water.

B

Backpaddle—To put the paddle in the water behind you and push the water forward, causing the boat to move backwards. Frequently done before a set of rapids or an obstacle for better positioning.

Backroller or Back Wave—A wave in a river current that curls back on itself; formed by water flowing over a rock.

Bailer—Device used to remove water from a boat. Can be as simple as a milk jug cut to make a scoop.

Bang Plate—A tough reinforcing plate that protects the ends (stems) of a canoe from impact damage. Also called a skid plate.

Beam—The widest part of a canoe.

Bent-Shaft Paddle—A canoe paddle with a bend in the shaft for increasing power. Can compromise control.

Bilge—Where the hull's bottom turns up into its sides. See chine.

Bilge Pump—Portable pump used to empty water from a kayak's cockpit.

Blade—A paddle's wide part, which passes through the water.

Boil—Unpredictable, swirling currents that disturb the surface of the water. Usually caused by subsurface rocks.

Bow—Front end of a boat.

Bowman—A paddler who kneels or sits in the forward position of a canoe or kayak; also known as a bowhand.

Brace—Technique used to stabilize a tipping canoe or kayak and to prevent its capsize. The "low" brace and "high" brace are two common techniques.

Breakdown Paddle—A kayak paddle that separates in the center of the shaft for compact storage.

Broach—To be turned sideways (in a canoe or kayak) by the force of a current and pinned against an obstruction. A dangerous position to be in. See Pinned; Entrapment.

Bulkhead—Sealed compartment in a decked canoe or kayak. Bulkheads store flotation and other gear.

Buoyancy Bag— Common type of bladder flotation used in canoes and kayaks; also called a "float bag".

Buoyancy Chamber—An enclosed section of the canoe, typically located at the bow and stern and filled with foam or other buoyant material

Bungee—Elastic cord on a kayak deck used to secure gear and, behind the cockpit, for self-rescue outrigger construction.

C

C-1—One-person canoe for whitewater river running. The paddler kneels in the boat and uses a single-bladed paddle.

Cadence—The speed or tempo of paddling.

Canoe— Light, open boat propelled by one or more paddlers using single-bladed paddles from a kneeling or sitting position.

Capacity—The amount of weight a boat can carry and still be safely operated.

Carrying Thwart—A brace that runs from gunwale to gunwale, typically with a cutout for the neck. It is sometimes padded and located just forward of the beam of the canoe. Used to portage the canoe on your back.

CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)—Measurement of velocity of water flow at a given point in a river. Will vary according to water level and the gradient of the riverbed.

Chine (ChIn)—The boat's edge; where the sides and the deck intersect.

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-VI—International scale of river difficulty. Class I designates rivers easiest to navigate, Class VI the toughest.

Coaming—The curved lip around a kayak cockpit's edge. Used to secure the spray skirt.

Cockpit—The opening in the deck of a kayak or closed canoe where the paddler sits.

Cross-Bow Draw—A paddle stroke that pulls the bow of the canoe toward your paddle. Done by reaching toward the opposite side of the canoe without changing hand position on the paddle and rotating the torso at the hips.

D

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

Deck—Covering over the bow or stern of a boat. Prevents water from entering.

Depth—The distance from the top of the canoe at the gunwales to the bottom of the canoe when measured at the beam. A good standard depth is about 13 inches.

Directional Stability—The tendency of a boat to hold its course. See Tracking.

Dory—Flat-bottomed rowboat made of wood, fiberglass or aluminum with upturned ends and flared sides. Rowed on whitewater rivers by a single boatman in the middle of the boat using a set of oars. Carries up to four passengers.

Double-Bladed Paddle—A paddle with a blade at each end, used in kayaks to paddle on each side of the boat.

Downstream—In the same direction as the main current of a river.

Downstream Gate—A green-and-white-striped slalom gate negotiated in the same direction as the flow of the water.

Draw—A stroke pulling in toward the paddler at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. This causes the bow of a canoe to turn toward the drawing side when performed by the bowhand.

Drip Rings—Rubber ring on a paddle shaft; positioned above the blade to keep water from running down onto the arms.

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

Dry Bag—A sack or bag used to hold vital gear and keep it dry in the event of a capsize or water coming into the boat.

Drysuit—A waterproof nylon suit worn for protection in cold water. Features latex gaskets at neck, wrists and ankles plus a waterproof zipper. Offers no insulation; typically worn with long underwear.

Drytop—A waterproof nylon jacket (with gaskets at the neck, wrists and waist) for cold-water paddling protection.

Ducky—Short for "rubber duck", an inflatable kayak that usually holds one paddler.

E

Ebb—The outgoing tide and its associated currents; See Flood and Slack.

Eddy—Area downstream of an obstruction where water swirls in a direction different from that of the main flow, usually upstream. Since a boat will not move if positioned correctly in an eddy, it is used to rest or set up for the next set of rapids.

Eddy Fence or Eddy Line—Obvious line in the river where current moves in opposite directions at each side.

Eddy Turn—To leave the main current and enter the still water of an eddy. A necessary skill for river running. Opposite of a peel-out.

Ender (or Endo)—A maneuver in which a boat stands vertically on its end in a hole or hydraulic. Kayakers do it for fun, but rafters try to avoid it.

Entrapment—An often dangerous situation in which a boat or paddler is held fast by current and/or an obstacle. See Broach; Pinned.

Eskimo Roll—The rolling over, or capsizing, of a kayak, with the paddler remaining in place, and the subsequent righting of the kayak. See Roll.

F-N

F

Farmer John/Jane—Sleeveless wetsuit with full-length legs for men/women.

Feathered Paddle—A kayak paddle with one blade oriented 90 degrees to the other.

Ferry—A maneuver used to cross a current with little or no downstream travel. Utilizes the current's force to move the boat laterally.

Flare—Term used to describe hull shape that widens from the waterline out to the gunwales.

Flatwater—Lake water or slow-moving river current with no rapids.

Float Bag—Common type of bladder flotation used in canoes and kayaks. Also called buoyancy bag.

Flood—The outgoing tide and it's associated currents.

Foot Braces/Pegs—Foot pedals that control a kayak rudder or that support the feet in a rudderless kayak.

Freeboard—The portion of a boat above the waterline.

G

Gate—An obstacle through which a whitewater slalom kayaker paddles during competition. Consists of two vertical poles suspended just above the water.

Grab Loop—Short rope loops on the bow or stern used for carrying the boat.

Gradient—Refers to the downhill slope of a riverbed over a specified distance, usually per mile.

Grip—The control end of a paddle, opposite the blade.

Gunwales (GUN-nels)—Horizontal supports that run from one end of the boat to the other along the top of the hull.

H

Hair—Dangerous and difficult whitewater.

Hatch—Access port for storage on front and/or rear deck of a touring or sea kayak.

Haystack—A rhythmic series of waves caused by the convergence of main channel currents. Results from rising water, underwater obstacles or ledges, or an increasing river speed. Forms downstream of a gradient. These waves can be fun to ride, but can also be large enough to swamp an open canoe. See Standing Wave.

Heat—The early divisions of a competition, with the top finishers advancing to the finals or semifinals.

High Brace—A kayaking paddle maneuver to prevent capsizing. The paddle is held with hands at shoulder height, elbows tucked in and arms bent. As the kayak tips to one side the paddler reaches out and slaps the blade on the water to keep the boat upright.

Hip Snap—The method of righting an overturned kayak while remaining inside it, using hip rotation followed by righting the upper body. The head is brought up last. The hip snap is an essential part of the Eskimo roll.

Hole—A vertical reversal of water flow. The pressure of the current falling over a gradient (such as a rock or dam) causes the channel water at the base of the gradient to be forced downward into a loop and back up to the surface. At this point some of the water continues downstream, and some flows back upstream to the base of the gradient. See Hydraulic.

Hull—The body of a canoe or kayak. The design of the hull is the most important element in how the boat handles on the water.

Hull Configuration—Shape of the hull, or that part affected by water, wind, and waves.

Hydraulic—Water formation following a sudden drop in the riverbed or over an obstruction that creates a powerful circulating force at the base of the drop. A powerful hydraulic can hold boats and paddlers for an extended time. Paddlers can use more benign hydraulics, or "holes," for play. See Hole.

Hypothermia—The dangerous lowering of core body temperature. Frequently a threat to paddlers due to cold-water immersion.

I

Inflatable Kayak—A stable, inflatable, open-top craft designed for one or two paddlers. Also called a "ducky".

Initial Stability—Term used to describe a boat's resistance to leaning ("tippiness"). See Hull Configuration.

J

J-Stroke—A paddle stroke that ends with a rudder maneuver. Forms a J shape in the water.

K

K-1—One-person kayak. Also "K-2" for a two-person kayak.

Kayak—Any of various light canoes imitating an Inuit hunting craft made watertight by a flexible closure around the waist of the seated occupant.

Keel—The ridge running the length of a canoe on the bottom.

Keel Line—The longitudinal shape of the canoe's bottom. See Hull Configuration.

Kevlar®—An extruded Aramid fiber from DuPont composed of synthetic long-chain polyamides; extremely strong and resistant to high temperatures. Stronger than steel, it is used to make canoes, kayaks and canoe skid plates.

Knot—Measure of speed used for boating. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. See Nautical Mile.

L

Latex—A very flexible, natural rubber. Used in the gaskets for dry-suits, it requires care, as it is somewhat fragile.

Launch—To enter the water with a boat.

Lay-Up—The way in which layers of fiberglass or Kevlar® matting are placed to make a canoe or kayak.

Line—The path a whitewater paddler chooses to take through the gates.

Low Brace—A kayaking paddle maneuver to prevent capsizing. The paddle is held with hands low, elbows high and arms bent at nearly 90 degrees. As the kayak tips to one side the paddler reaches out and slaps the blade on the water to keep the boat upright.

M

Maytag—Tossing and turning of a raft in a river hydraulic, as if caught in the spin cycle of a washing machine. Also called a "Swirly".

McTwist—A freestyle maneuver in which a paddler's boat is dynamically lifted and spun by the upstream water at the corner of a hydraulic or hole. The center of the boat stays in the same place in the backwash.

N

Nautical Mile—Distance equal to 6,000 feet or 1.15 statute miles. One minute of latitude is equal to one nautical mile. The most convenient measure of distance for sea travel.

Neck Gasket—The rubber seal on a drysuit neckline that prevents water from getting into the suit. Drysuits also have wrist and ankle gaskets.

Neoprene—Flexible foam rubber used for paddling clothing among other things. Air bubbles in the construction make it buoyant and a good insulator. Neoprene used for paddle clothing and wetsuits is usually coated with Lycra® spandex on one or both sides.

Nose Clip—Padded wire clip to keep water out of the nose. Used for roll practice, rescues or anytime you're likely to be upside-down underwater.

O-S

O

Oar Boat—Inflatable, 16- to 18-foot-long raft generally made of Hypalon or urethane (durable high-tech materials have replaced the old "rubber" raft). Powered by a guide sitting in the middle on a metal frame and using a set of long oars. See Paddle Raft.

Outrigger—A projecting support with flotation attached that prevents a boat from capsizing. A paddle float and paddle create an outrigger for kayak self rescue.

P

Paddle Float—Self-rescue flotation device that, when used with a paddle, creates an outrigger to balance a kayak for re-entry. Typically made of foam or inflatable vinyl.

Paddle Raft—Usually just smaller oar boats with the rowing frame removed. The boat is powered by a group of paddlers sitting on the side tubes and using canoe paddles. Used on faster whitewater rivers.

Painter—Rope attached to bow or stern of a boat, used for tying up at shore.

Peel Out—To leave an eddy and enter the main current by leaning into it. See Eddy Turn.

PFD (Personal Flotation Device)—The Coast Guard's official name for a life jacket. The law requires a PFD for every passenger of all watercraft. It's your most important life-saving tool on the water.

Pillow—A cushion of water that often forms on the upstream edge of large boulders. In big rapids the pillow is big enough to shove the bow or stern of a raft safely away from a boulder, a fact that boaters sometimes use to their advantage while running a rapid.

Pinned—To be held in place by the current, usually against a rock or other obstruction. It's a dangerous situation for boaters. See Broach and Entrapment.

Pirouette—Rodeo or freestyle move in which a boat executes an "ender" (puts one end in a hydraulic while staying vertical) and spins 180 degrees or more.

Play Boating—A general term for surfing, hole-riding, and other antics performed on a river that go beyond straight, downstream paddling.

Pogies—Protective covers that secure around hands and kayak paddle shaft. They keep hands warm and dry while you paddle.

Point—The first boat in a line of rafts. See Sweep.

Polyethylene—A soft plastic used to make durable kayaks and canoes; composed of long molecular chains.

Pool—Slow, deep water just upstream of most major rapids. Useful for scouting before running the rapids.

Portage—Carrying boats and gear on land to avoid a difficult stretch of water. Also refers to carrying a canoe or kayak from place to place.

Power Face—The side of a paddle blade that pushes the water. Usually the concave side.

Pry—A canoeist's short, quick, powerful turning stroke. It is much preferred to the forward sweep or cross-bow draw for turning to the nonpaddle side in turbulent water.

Put-in—The starting place of a paddling trip; where you put your boat in the water. See Take-Out.

R

Raft Up—To bring two or more kayaks side-by-side and link them for extra stability. Used for resting or for tasks that require some extra stability, such as changing a roll of film or adjusting foot pegs.

Rapids—Section of a river where the current speeds up and flows turbulently over and around boulders, ledges, shallows, drop-offs, and so on; whitewater.

Reflection Wave—When water meets an obstacle, such as a cliff, waves bounce off, often at strange angles to the flow of the river. Also called a "diagonal wave" or "reaction wave".

Reversal—See Hydraulic.

Reverse Sweep—A wide, turning stroke made by pushing the paddle blade from back to front in a large C shape.

Ribs—Structural supports spaced at intervals along the inside of a canoe.

Riding the Wash—Gaining an unfair advantage in sprint events by traveling in the wash of the next boat and being pulled along by it.

Riffle—A shallow section of river characterized by numerous small waves on the surface. Often caused by gravel bars or sandbanks.

Ramp—Narrow point in a rapid where water constricts before dropping.

Rips—Rapids.

River-Left—On the left side of the river, facing downstream.

River-Right—On the right side of the river, facing downstream.

Rocker—Describes the curvature of a boat's keel line from the center to the ends. The more rocker a boat has, the easier it is to turn.

Rod—A measure of distance equal to 16 feet—about one canoe length. Often used when portaging a canoe.

Rodeo—Whitewater kayaking competition involving tricks performed in hydraulics. Rodeo boats have a specialized profile for performing spins, twists and other maneuvers.

Roll—A self-rescue technique used to right an overturned kayak or canoe in the water without leaving the boat. See Eskimo Roll.

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

Rotomolding—The process in boat making where polyethylene is heated to thick liquid, poured into a mold and then rotated to gain uniform consistency.

Royalex—Material made by Uniroyal composed of layered vinyl and ABS plastic. Stiffer than polyethylene but not as stiff as laminate construction. Laminate boats offer better performance and glide, but don't withstand punishment as well as Royalex.

Rudder—A paddle dragged through the water to create resistance, causing a canoe or kayak to turn; or a plate of wood or metal hinged vertically at the stern of a kayak, used for steering.

Run—A trip through a section of river or rapids; to make a trip down a river.

S

Scouting—To assess water conditions downstream by landing, getting out of the boat and walking ahead on shore. Usually done for safety before large rapids and unfamiliar territory.

Sculling—A (kayaking) figure-8 paddle stroke resembling spreading butter back and forth with a knife. The blade is constantly rising toward the surface. Light sculling with an upright paddle moves the boat in the direction of the paddle (sculling draw). With pressure on a more horizontal blade, you can prevent capsizing (sculling brace).

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

Self-Bailing Floor—A boat floor that allows water to drain out, eliminating the need to bail.

Sea Sock—Kayak liner that fits around the kayaker's waist, provides flotation and keeps paddler and boat contents dry.

Shaft—The narrow part of a paddle.

Shorty—Wetsuit with short legs and sleeves. A "Shorty John" is a sleeveless wetsuit with short legs. See Farmer John.

Shuttle—To leave one or more vehicles at the trip's take-out point so paddlers can get back to the vehicles left at the put-in.

Single-Bladed Paddle—A paddle with a blade at one end.

Sit-on-Top—A kayak with depressions for the seat and feet rather than a true cockpit.

Skeg—A fixed rudder that can be raised or lowered. Improves a kayak's tracking.

Slack—The period in between high and low tides when tidal currents reach their slowest rate and begin to reverse their direction. Slack is the safest time to paddle in areas with strong tidal currents. See Ebb and Flood.

Slalom—A zigzag contest for canoes, similar to a downhill skiing race, over a winding course defined by artificial obstacles.

Sneak—To take the "easy" route through a rapid.

Sneak Route—An easier or safer alternative route around a rapid.

Solo Canoe—A canoe typically paddled by one person.

Spray Skirt—A neoprene or nylon cockpit cover worn around the paddler's waist. Seals around the cockpit coaming (or lip) to keep the cockpit dry.

Sprint—A straight canoe/kayak race on open, flat water.

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

Standing Waves—Large waves that result when a fast current slows down; usually associated with deep water. Also called "haystacks".

Stem—The shape of the bow of a canoe, rounded for better maneuverability and squared for better tracking.

Stern—The back end of a boat.

Stern Draw—A stroke used to pull the stern back in line with the bow. The paddle blade is positioned with the power face toward the boat, and is pulled inward at the stern.

Sternsman—A paddler who kneels or sits in the back position of a canoe or kayak.

Straight-Shaft Paddle—Paddle with blade and shaft oriented in the same plane. See Bent-Shaft Paddle.

Strainer—Obstruction in the water that allows the current to pass through but stops any object floating or submerged. Common after heavy rain. Potentially a very dangerous hazard.

Surf—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.

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.

Surge—The sudden upswell of water caused by currents swirling around an obstacle hidden deep in the river. Also called a "Boil".

Sweep—A stroke made in a broad curve, turning a canoe in the direction opposite the sweeping side when performed by the sternsman; or the last boat in line, see Point.

T-Z

T

Take-out—The ending point of a paddling trip; where the boats are finally taken from the water. See Put-in.

Tandem Canoe—A canoe typically paddled by two people.

Thighbraces—Molded areas in a kayak for pressing the legs against, giving the paddler more control.

Thigh Straps—In a canoe, C-1 or sit-on-top kayak, straps that hold a paddler's thighs in place, giving more control. Usually secured to the bottom and sides of the boat.

Throw Bag—Rescue device that consists of a coiled rope inside a nylon bag, thrown to a capsize victim in rapids.

Thwart—A canoe's support structure extending from side to side between the gunwales. The center thwart is usually the key balancing point on a canoe.

Tide Rips—Areas of closely spaced and often breaking waves caused by a change in the current's speed or direction.

Tongue—A slick, glossy V of quiet water between two obstacles marking the entrance to a rapid. Often the path boaters follow to enter a rapid, because it's usually free of obstacles. Also known as a chute or slot.

Touring Kayak—Sea kayak. Generally describes a kayak with lots of cargo capacity for one or two people. Paddlers propel this type of boat with double-bladed paddles. Made for slower rivers and open water. Touring kayaks are usually very stable, measuring 15 to 18 feet long.

Tracking—The ability of a boat to hold a straight course in the water. Strongly related to its hull design.

Trim—Describes a boat that is level, from side to side or end to end; achieved by strategically positioning the load (or the paddlers).

Trough—A depression between waves.

Tumblehome—A canoe hull design that curves inward from the waterline toward the gunwales. See Flare.

U

Upstream—Against the flow of a river.

Upstream Gate—A red-and-white-striped slalom gate that must be negotiated against the flow of the water.

V

Vee—Water formation that indicates an obstruction, see Chute. Term is also used to describe hull shapes.

Volume—Overall capacity of a given hull shape.

W

War Canoe—Special canoe, usually 20 or more feet in length and paddled by several people; sometimes equipped with a rudder.

Wash—The rough or broken water left behind a moving boat.

Waterline—The line where the hull meets the water. The shape of the waterline changes depending on the load.

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.

Weather Cocking—The tendency of rudderless kayaks to turn upwind (or, less commonly, downwind) because the center of the boat's mass does not match the center of its wind resistance.

Weather Radio— Portable radio that receives National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) channels and broadcasts around the clock weather forecasts and alerts.

Wet Exit—The method of getting out of a kayak when capsized. Involves pulling off the spray skirt and pushing out of the cockpit.

Wetsuit—Neoprene suit that insulates by warming water with body heat and holdingit next to the skin. May have long or short legs and sleeves or be sleeveless.

Whippet—A freestyle maneuver in which a paddler's boat starts out in a hole, then travels vertically through an arc and lands back in the hole.

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

Wrap—When the current folds a boat (usually a raft) around an obstacle such as a rock.

Y

Yoke—A padded or molded thwart used as a shoulder support for carrying a canoe overhead. See Carrying Thwart.

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