Why was it easier to paddle backward into the wind?

[Pkfish49]

Yesterday, I was having a very hard time getting a canoe back to the boat ramp against the wind.  The hardest part was the last 100-150 yards or so, as the water was open, without shore sides to rest on or bounce off.  I was unable to keep the front of the boat facing the dock.  The wind kept turning it around and I couldn't turn it back either by paddling frontwards or backwards.  The good news was that the sideways motion stopped as soon as the boat was facing the opposite direction, so I was able to get back to shore by paddling backward.  When I was very close to shore, the character of the current changed and I was able to turn the canoe around and hit land normally.

 

The boater who docked after me navigated the final stretch the same way.

 

Can somebody please explain all of this to me?  Why did the canoe stop turning after it was completely turned around?  If I were stronger or had better technique, could I have kept the canoe facing shore?  The next boater was more experienced than I and got to shore much faster.  I seem to remember he was using shorter, faster, more frequent strokes.  

 

Prior to yesterday's trip, I literally hadn't been in a canoe in 39 years!  Now that I'm a full-time resident of Florida, I'm planning on keeping the renewed hobby and need some advice.  For obvious reasons, I'm going to be going solo for a while and need advice about paddling into the wind.  I intend on returning to the place I was yesterday, and the guy who was running the rental place told me that it gets windier.  The conditions at the end of my trip were 14 MPH wind.  I barely made it back without assistance.  I don't know where the exact cutoff point would be, but I don't think I could have made it back if I had to fight a 25 MPH wind..

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

If your setup is like mine and you're in the rear seat, your weight acts like ballast in the stern. That's what makes it easier to back-paddle into the wind. Even with my battery under the front seat, the bow is still lighter than the stern which 'digs in' more.

[Pkfish49]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If your setup is like mine and you're in the rear seat, your weight acts like ballast in the stern. That's what makes it easier to back-paddle into the wind. Even with my battery under the front seat, the bow is still lighter than the stern which 'digs in' more.

I was in the rear seat.  My heavy tackle box was also in the back, so your explanation makes sense.  So, should I move myself and my heavy gear into the front if I want to front paddle into the wind?

 

Ty

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Pkfish49 said:

I was in the rear seat.  My heavy tackle box was also in the back, so your explanation makes sense.  So, should I move myself and my heavy gear into the front if I want to front paddle into the wind?

 

Ty

That's about it....but front paddling in-and-of itself is a pain...and that's from 40+ years off-and-on owning a canoe. In calm/light wind conditions, it's MUCH easier to steer while rear paddling...so it's a trade-off.

[michaelb]

If you are paddling a double canoe solo, you should be in the front seat facing backwards. So yes you paddle a double canoe backwards when solo. This is primarily because of the effect of "weathercocking" or weathervaning which spins the boat so the heavy end is into the wind. Even without wind though, it can be difficult to control the spin of the canoe if you are solo in the rear, because of the natural tendency of the boat to spin with each stroke. That effect is reduced when you are backwards upfront paddling solo.

[Pkfish49]

55 minutes ago, michaelb said:

If you are paddling a double canoe solo, you should be in the front seat facing backwards. So yes you paddle a double canoe backwards when solo. This is primarily because of the effect of "weathercocking" or weathervaning which spins the boat so the heavy end is into the wind. Even without wind though, it can be difficult to control the spin of the canoe if you are solo in the rear, because of the natural tendency of the boat to spin with each stroke. That effect is reduced when you are backwards upfront paddling solo.

Many thanks - I was definitely in a double canoe.  I'll try your idea next time.

[Teal]

1 hour ago, michaelb said:

This is primarily because of the effect of "weathercocking"

 

I dont know why but that made me laugh pretty hard.  Funny word I guess

[CountryboyinDC]

18 hours ago, michaelb said:

weathercocking

It's a real word among paddlers.  Also called weathervaning. 

 

You got a good explanation from @MN Fisher and a good remedy from @michaelb.  High flotation (high sides) tandems with a solo paddler makes for difficult paddling.  Lightly loaded aluminum (Osagians, Grummans) canoes seem the worst to me.  A paddle stroke to know in those situations is the stern pry.  Keeping the bow pointed in the direction you want to go can be frustratingly hard, and J strokes and Canadians won't work because you have no glide (in fact you may be fortunate to be moving forward).  But the other choice is to deem the canoe a sail boat and wait for the wind to die down, which may not work out so well for you.

[TnRiver46]

22 hours ago, michaelb said:

If you are paddling a double canoe solo, you should be in the front seat facing backwards. So yes you paddle a double canoe backwards when solo. This is primarily because of the effect of "weathercocking" or weathervaning which spins the boat so the heavy end is into the wind. Even without wind though, it can be difficult to control the spin of the canoe if you are solo in the rear, because of the natural tendency of the boat to spin with each stroke. That effect is reduced when you are backwards upfront paddling solo.

Nailed it