Small canoe orientations

Due to safety and high repair costs for OC1 and OC2 canoes, all OSC members wanting access to reserve and paddle our small canoes must complete an orientation class .

While the canoes are stored in the racks next to the big boats, paddlers launch them at the boat launch ramp. Due to this, paddlers must be able to carry the canoes to the ramp by themselves to be certified at this time.

The class is given on an as-needed basis. If you are interesting in taking the small canoe orientation, fill out the OC1 Certification Interest Form.

After successful orientation completion, you will be given access to online reservations.

Responsibilities

Care and damage

In order to use the small boats, you must agree to be financially responsible for any damage you cause. Normal wear and tear (like a broken cable) is covered by the club. Each time you take the canoe out check for any damage, including cracks, dings, scrapes. Report any damage to the equipment manager using the Incident Report form. Failure to report damage you see prior to your outing may make you responsible for the damage just like a rental car.

The OC-1 and OC-2 are very fragile and must be handled with extreme care on land. Always set them down carefully as if they were made of egg shells.

Here is a cross section of an OC-2. The walls are extremely thin. Carbon fiber while being very rigid has little compression strength. Even a slight bump can cause damage.

Reservations

You must reserve the OC-1 or the OC-2 for the day and time slot through our online small canoe reservations. Failure to reserve canoes will result in loss of small canoe privileges.

Safety

  • Stay in the harbor until experience is established; keep to the right
  • File a float plan (text a contact) with expected route, departure and return time before going outside the harbor. Text again when you return.
  • Check conditions before paddling: wind, swell, and tides
  • No surfing with club canoes
  • Club small canoe PFD requirements:
    • Waist or vest type required when paddling inside the harbor
    • Vest type required when paddling outside the harbor
  • Radio requirement:
    • Self-provided VHF radio required when paddling outside the harbor

Videos

Johnny Puakea – How to carry OC1

Johnny Puakea – How to level OC1

Puakea – 3 different huli recovery methods

Puakea – OC1 safety plus huli recovery

Anna Mathisen – Huli recovery methods
View blog post

Anna Mathisen – Brace stroke
View blog post

Orientation checklist

Before the in-person session (instructor)

  • Schedule the in-person session
  • Send an email with the link to this page
  • Confirm with the student that they have reviewed the information and videos on this page

Before the in-person session (student)

  • Review all information and videos on the orientation page, including club policies on safety, canoe use, care, and damage reporting
  • What to bring
    • Personal dry bag (arrange to borrow if you don’t have your own) with safety contents (whistle, radio, cell phone, tape)
    • Leash (arrange to borrow if you don’t have your own)
    • PFD (arrange to borrow if you don’t have your own)
    • Clothing appropriate for paddling and immersion
    • Paddle
    • Extra paddle for iako (optional)

Equipment location and access

  • Locate all OC1 (Huki, Hurricane, Outrigger Connection) canoe hulls and amas on the small boat racks by the OC6 canoes
  • Open shed lock
  • Locate and gather iakos in the shed
  • Review dry bag contents
    • Check radio is charged; review distress call procedure (channel 9 for check, channel 16 for emergency)
    • Place radio in dry bag

Equipment check and rigging

  • Carry canoe solo to stands without hitting anything or stepping on O’Neill plants.
  • Out of respect, do not step over the canoe. It is ok to step over the ama.
  • Check steering cables and confirm rudder pedals are working
  • Check drain plugs
  • Inspect for damage: fractures where the iakos insert into the canoe and ama, dings, soft spots in canoe and ama
  • Rig iakos — press buttons before sliding in; never bang or force
    • Don’t press buttons completely inside the iako where they can get stuck.
  • Secure leash — wearing the leash is required at all times
  • Clip dry bag under bungees
  • Put on PFD — required at all times
  • Adjust seat
  • Secure paddle to canoe or carry in hand

Launch, on-water skills including huli recovery

  • Carry rigged canoe to the launch ramp — watch both ends, avoid hitting anything
  • Discuss launch ramp safety
  • Launch canoe into water
  • Secure leash to calf or ankle 
  • Demonstrate climbing onto the canoe
  • Paddle and maneuver forward, backward, and execute turns in a tight space
  • Practice steering with toes — small corrections; heels contact footwell, not pedal
  • Demonstrate huli recovery while wearing PFD
    • Never remove leash to recover

Rinse, de-rig and stow

  • Remove canoe from water and carry back to canoe site
  • Rinse hull, ama, and iakos; dry thoroughly
  • Check for any new damage — report immediately to equipment manager
  • De-rig ama — use thumbs to push front iako out of ama if sticking; never bang
  • Stow ama and canoe on rack
  • Return iakos to shed
  • Re-lock shed