It may be difficult to know what accessories you’ll need for that canoe you’ve just bought. If you’re new to canoeing, the range of items available can be confusing. Do you really need any of the equipment offered for sale or is your new canoe enough for what you’re looking to achieve? It would be impossible to detail and discuss every single canoe accessory in such a short time, but there are some basic accessories that can be useful. The kinds of items for sale that you’re most likely to find are anchors, chairs, motors, and covers.
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.
As always, choosing to purchase an accessory depends mainly on your own needs and wants. Many people buy nothing for their canoes save a set of paddles and are perfectly satisfied with that. If, however, you’d like a few things to make your life a little easier, then getting a few accessories for your canoe is a must.
