2000

Poling or Snubbing a Canoe by Eugene E. Preston (how1)

There are times when it is easier to move a canoe by poling than paddling. A 10 to 12 foot pole is very handy and useful when traveling upstream and downstream under shallow conditions. The stream should have a firm sandy, gravelly or rock bottom if a simple pole is used. Mud bottoms require a foot device.

Solo Poling should be done standing next to the center thwart with the feet at the chine. A gentle outward force against the chines anchors the poler to the canoe. I have mostly poled in only 4 to 6 inches of water. I prefer to stand behind the center thwart so the thwart can be used as a brace if the canoe rubs the stream bottom.

The pole is used by setting it and climbing it hand over hand to the end. It can then be rotated to avoid recovering the pole. The pole can be used like a double ended kayak paddle and as a rudder to direct the canoe. It can be used to snub your way through shallow rapids. I prefer to sit down while going through rapids downstream.

The canoe should be loaded heavy in the front when traveling downstream and in the rear when going upstream.

Pole Construction: The pole should be between 10 and 12 feet long. The length depends on the person and the type of waters where you are poling. Aluminum poles are available which float. I do not know where they are available in this area. They are reasonably available in Maine.

A Pole can be made from a spruce 2 X 2 using only a plane and/or a spoke shave. The grain should be straight, knot-free and not from the center of the log. Quarter sawn appearance would be good. Ash should be about 1 1/4" in diameter and spruce a full 1 1/2".

A piece of iron pipe should be wedged on the primary snubbing end. A threaded ring cut from a tee or union can be threaded onto the pole and is very secure when wedged. The poles should be coated with linseed oil or tung oil.

Some people who have access to natural poles prefer black spruce grown in thickets and tamarack. Other woods work also. Spruce is preferred over fir due to its strength to weight ratio. A slight bend near one end is okay and it even makes storage in the canoe a little easier.

Poling References
Cook, David S. Above The Gravel Bar: The Indian Canoe Routes Of Maine. 1985. Milo Printing Company, Milo, Maine.
Mason, Bill. Path Of The Paddle. 1984. Key Porter Books, Toronto, Canada.
Stelmok, Jerry. Building The Maine Guide Canoe. 1980.Lyons and Burford, Publishers, New York.