Basic Canoe Accessories to Buy
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | Always Online
Getting back to nature by purchasing a canoe for some relaxation time is a great thing to do. You’ve done your homework and bought the best canoe for your wants and needs, but now you’re probably wondering if the watercraft is all you need. After all, the canoeing section of the store is full of boating equipment but you’re not sure if you should buy any of the tempting items in stock.
Anchors are simple devices, usually weighing anywhere from five to ten pounds. They attach to a section of the canoe and are used for when you want to park your canoe in the middle of a lake or river and not get swept up in currents. Most commercial canoe anchors are of similar quality so the choice between different ones is simple. All you need to make sure of is the device the anchor uses to secure to the canoe is good quality.
Chairs to add onto your canoe are a personal choice. Most canoes come with sections to sit on, but many people find these flat boards uncomfortable. Most chairs are simply little more than a cushion that can be tied onto the already-existing section for sitting that your canoe has, but some of the fancier chairs come with a back. Chairs are wonderful devices for people who have a hard time sitting on something hard and flat or for those with back problems.
There are several kinds of covers for your canoe. Some Shimano covers are used for when you keep your canoe stored outside. These covers go over the entire canoe and help protect your precious boat from the elements. If purchasing a full cover make sure it is a durable material and able to firmly attach to the canoe in order to keep rain and cold out. The other types of widely-available covers are spray covers. These attach to part of the canoe and are used to keep excess water from collecting inside. Spray covers can be more trouble than they’re worth, since you must remove them after each use and they don’t really do the best job.
The last kind of most commonly-available accessory is motors. Motors help propel the boat, so that you aren’t required to paddle. Many people enjoy buying motors for their canoe to save their arm strength for fishing. Others use their canoe for whitewater rafting, and motors would be absolutely useless while trying to navigate rapids.
While you may be perfectly happy with a set of paddles for your canoe, sometimes having a few accessories can make your life a little easier when you’re out on the lake. Take a look at what you’re planning to do with your canoe and how you want to use it, and then base your choices of accessories on those wants and needs. Sometimes spending for an item that just makes life easier is well worth the money.