Paddle Your Own Canoe: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing [Paperback]

Gary McGuffin (Author), Joanie McGuffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

The most comprehensive canoeing techniques book ever is now available for the first time in paperback.

Illustrated with 600 full-color photographs, this wide-ranging book is designed with both beginner and seasoned canoeists in mind. Gary & Joanie McGuffin, North America's most celebrated canoeing couple, discuss issues rarely covered in other how-to guides, such as developing fitness and balance.

The book offers first-hand, experience-based instruction on outfitting, reading the river, paddling strokes for all flatwater and whitewater conditions, advanced turns and maneuvers, portaging, safety and rescue techniques - even how to tie a canoe on your vehicle.

Recommended by both the American Canoe Association and Paddle Canada, Paddle Your Own Canoe features:

• Canoeist's vocabulary
• Selecting the right canoe
• Selecting the right paddle
• Portaging techniques
• Self-rescue techniques
• Solo whitewater spins
• Complete flatwater techniques
• Complete whitewater techniques

(200309)

Editorial Reviews

Review

The most comprehensive book ever written on canoeing technique... essential guide for recreational paddlers is packed with information. (Bushwacker's Wilderness Journal 20030705)

Helpful to both seasoned and novice canoers. (Globe and Mail 20030629)

Entirely practical, based on long experience, and aimed at anyone who simply wants to improve canoeing techniques. (Linda Turk Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal 200806)

This is, quite simply, the best presented instructional canoeing book ever. It surpasses even Bill Mason. (Stuart Fisher Canoeist )

Excellent for those ready to take basic skills to the next level. (John Helling Library Journal )

About the Author

Gary and Joanie McGuffin are known worldwide for their expeditions as professional adventurers. They regularly publish feature articles in such magazines as Explore, Canoe and Kayak, River, and Photo Life. Their book, Superior: Journeys on an Inland Sea, received the Great Lakes Booksellers' Association Best Book Award.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550463772
• ISBN-13: 978-1550463774
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 11.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #652,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Whitewater Kayaking

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New book on the "Paddling" shelf, January 19, 2007

By 

Daniel R. Fera "Battenkiller" (Adirondack area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paddle Your Own Canoe: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing (Paperback)

Having always considered "The Path of the Paddle" as the last word in canoeing books, I was too cheap to buy Gary and Joannie's book as I considered it to be superfluous at best. Having received it as a Christmas gift this year, I can humbly say I was wrong. There is no book that will get you safely on the water and having fun faster than this one. Every aspect of recreational paddling is covered, right down to outfitting your whitewater playboat. The photos are clear and the angles and sequences leave you nothing to want for, save time spent on the water (although the photos of Gary and Joannie look just a little bit too happy, eh?) The only thing I can say in the minus category is that I am not a personal fan of the leaned forward, aggressive style of modern paddling and that is obviously where they are coming from. It's good to know how to lean forward and plant your paddle while using your body to draw the boat hard to the placement. When I need to accelerate rapidly, that is the best way. But for me, canoeing is more about relaxing and getting there with style and grace, and for that purpose, nothing says it like old-fashioned Canadian freestyle (i.e. Bill Mason and Omer Stringer). That difference aside, I think this book is a stellar achievement and deserves a place alongside "The Path of the Paddle" on the bookshelf.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paddle Your Own Canoe, August 31, 2005

By 

John F. Marshall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paddle Your Own Canoe: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing (Paperback)

I have a whole shelf of books on canoeing. This one and Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle are the best. The pictures in Paddle Your Own Canoe way out-shine the pictures in the Bill Mason books. The McGuffins certainly know what they are talking about. This book delves into canoeing technique with more depth than any book except Mason's. It does take a long time to study and figure out what they are doing. Canoeing is hard to learn from a book, but if I had to recommend one book this would be it. Beautiful photography.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paddle Your Own Canoe, September 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Paddle Your Own Canoe: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing (Hardcover)

This is a great book if you want to learn alot about the different paddle strokes used while in your canoe. It has great pictures and very good naratives. I highly recomend this book.