# On the Water Basics

Part of the Canoeing Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/canoeing/guide/index.md)

*7. Launching & Basic Handling*

> **7.** With a companion, use a properly equipped canoe to demonstrate the following:

This requirement covers four essential on-the-water skills:

- **Req 7a** — Safely carry and launch the canoe from a dock or shore
- **Req 7b** — Safely land the canoe and return it to storage
- **Req 7c** — Demonstrate kneeling and sitting positions and their proper use
- **Req 7d** — Change places while afloat

These are the fundamentals — the skills you use every single time you go canoeing. Get them right, and everything else in this badge builds on a solid foundation.

## Requirement 7a: Carrying and Launching the Canoe

### Carrying the Canoe

#### Two-Person Carry

The most common carry for getting a canoe from the rack to the water:

1. **Position yourselves** — One person at the bow, one at the stern, both facing the same direction (toward the water).
2. **Lift together** on a count of three. Grab the gunwales or the end decks.
3. **Carry at your sides** with the canoe right-side up, or carry inverted (upside down) resting on your shoulders at the thwarts.
4. **Communicate constantly** — "Step up," "turning right," "set it down." The person in front cannot see behind them.
5. **Watch your footing.** Uneven ground, slippery rocks, and muddy banks are hazards during the carry.

> **Tip**
>
> When carrying a canoe with two people, the taller person should take the stern (heavier end in most canoes). This keeps the bow slightly elevated, making it easier for the lead person to see where they are going.

## Launching from Shore

1. **Set the canoe at the water's edge** parallel to the shoreline, with the bow pointing in the direction you want to go.
2. **Slide the canoe into the water** so it is floating freely with the stern still touching shore.
3. **The stern paddler holds the canoe steady** by gripping the gunwales and bracing from shore.
4. **The bow paddler boards first** — stepping into the center of the canoe (on the keel line), keeping their weight low, and moving forward to the bow seat.
5. **Once the bow paddler is seated**, the stern paddler pushes off gently, steps into the center, and moves to the stern seat.

## Launching from a Dock

1. **Position the canoe alongside the dock** with bow and stern lines loosely secured.
2. **Hold the canoe steady** by gripping the near gunwale and the dock edge. The canoe should be pulled in tight to the dock.
3. **The bow paddler boards first** — facing the bow, they step down into the center of the canoe, keeping their weight low and hands on both gunwales.
4. **The stern paddler boards** after the bow paddler is settled.
5. **Push off gently** from the dock.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Never jump into a canoe. Always step into the centerline of the hull with a low center of gravity, keeping three points of contact (two hands on the gunwales, one foot in the boat) at all times. A canoe is most stable when your weight is directly over the keel line.

![Two Scouts launching a canoe from a sandy lakeshore — one holding the stern steady while the other carefully steps into the bow, both wearing life jackets](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/canoeing/guide/canoe-shore-launch?v=afc00ace)

## Requirement 7b: Landing and Storing the Canoe

### Landing on Shore

1. **Approach the shore at a gentle angle** — not straight on (which can damage the bow) and not broadside (which makes it hard to exit).
2. **The bow paddler stops paddling** and prepares to step out as the canoe touches bottom or the bow reaches shore.
3. **The bow paddler exits first** — stepping out onto stable ground while holding the gunwale, then pulling the canoe in.
4. **The stern paddler exits** once the canoe is stabilized.
5. **Pull the canoe up** far enough that it will not float away. In tidal areas, pull it well above the high-water line.

## Landing at a Dock

1. **Approach parallel to the dock** at slow speed.
2. **The bow paddler grabs the dock** and holds the canoe alongside.
3. **The stern paddler exits first** (they are closer to the dock edge), stepping up onto the dock while keeping weight low.
4. **The bow paddler exits** once the stern paddler is holding the canoe from the dock.
5. **Secure the canoe** with painters if you are leaving it at the dock.

## Requirement 7c: Paddling Positions

Your position in the canoe affects stability, power, and control.

### Sitting Position

You sit on the canoe seat with your feet flat on the hull bottom in front of you. This is the most comfortable position for long paddles and is fine for calm conditions.

- **Pros:** Comfortable for extended paddling, easier on the knees
- **Cons:** Higher center of gravity, less stable in rough water or during maneuvers

### Kneeling Position

You kneel on the hull bottom with your knees spread for stability, resting your backside against the front edge of the seat. This lowers your center of gravity significantly.

- **Pros:** Much more stable, better control during maneuvers and rough water, more powerful strokes
- **Cons:** Harder on the knees over long distances

**When to kneel:**
- Whenever conditions get rough (wind, waves, wakes)
- During technical maneuvers (pivots, draws, rescue operations)
- When you need maximum stability (loading gear, switching places)
- In moving water

> **Tip**
>
> Knee pads or a folded towel on the hull bottom make kneeling much more comfortable. Some paddlers glue closed-cell foam pads into the bottom of their canoe at the kneeling positions. Your knees will thank you.

## Requirement 7d: Changing Places Afloat

Switching positions with your partner while the canoe is on the water is a skill you will need to demonstrate. It feels awkward at first, but it is manageable if you follow the right steps:

1. **Move to calm, sheltered water** — do not attempt this in current or waves.
2. **Both paddlers kneel** to lower the center of gravity.
3. **Stow paddles** along the bottom of the canoe or across the gunwales so they do not get in the way.
4. **One paddler moves at a time** while the other stays still and stabilizes the canoe.
5. **The moving paddler stays low** — hands on the gunwales, moving along the centerline of the canoe. Do not stand up.
6. **Move past each other at the center** of the canoe, keeping weight as low and centered as possible.
7. **Settle into the new position** before the other paddler begins moving.
8. **Retrieve paddles** and resume paddling.

> **Be Prepared! The Canoe Tips While Switching**
>
> Despite your best technique, the canoe may rock or feel unstable during a position switch.
>
> - **Stay calm.** Grip the gunwales and freeze until the rocking stops.
> - **Keep your weight centered** over the keel line.
> - **Do not grab your partner** — this can throw both of you off balance.
> - **If you feel a capsize coming**, lean toward the center of the canoe, not away from it. Leaning outward guarantees you go over.

![A Scout demonstrating the proper kneeling position in a canoe — knees wide on the hull bottom, backside resting against the seat edge, paddle in hand, low center of gravity](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/canoeing/guide/canoe-kneeling-position?v=f259dfd4)

[American Canoe Association — Getting Started](https://americancanoe.org/learn-to-canoe/): ACA resources for new paddlers covering launching, landing, and basic canoe handling.

You can now carry, launch, paddle, land, and switch positions in your canoe. Next comes a critical set of skills — what to do when things go sideways (literally).

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- Previous: [Equipment Care](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/canoeing/guide/req6/index.md)
- Next: [Deep Water Exit & Reentry](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/canoeing/guide/req8a/index.md)