Terminology

From Wikipaddle

This page is a central glossary of terms used throughout Wikipaddle and the paddle sports in general.

Contents 1 Directions 1.1 Wave Direction 2 Boat Terminolgy 2.1 Parts of a Canoe 2.2 Parts of a Kayak 3 Paddler's Terms 4 Hand Signals

Directions

It is important to know what people are referring to when they say "Go Left" or "Hard Right!". The accepted way of referring to a direction is to use a set reference point, the river. Throughout Wikipaddle, and on rivers everywhere paddlers will refer to these four constants:

• River-Right: this is the right hand side of the river, when facing down-stream.
• River-Left: the left side of the river when facing down-stream.
• Down-Stream/River: the direction the water is flowing in (and the natural way to travel).
• Up-Stream/River: the inverse, against the main flow of the current.

< Diagram to come >

Wave Direction

Conversely, directions on a wave are referred to by playboaters as they appear when facing upstream (the generally accepted "natural direction" to face when sitting on a wave, although this is sometimes disputed by some playboaters). Thus, when on a wave or discussing a wave, you may find some people referring to "Wave-Right" or "Wave-Left", but this is by no means a general rule and if you want, keep referring to "river-right" etc. as this will save confusion.

Boat Terminolgy

This section covers the names used for parts of a boat.

Parts of a Canoe

Main article: Canoe

1. Bow - The front end
2. Stern - The rear end (also known as the Aft)
3. Hull - The body of the boat
4. Seat - whitewater canoes may have a foam 'saddle' in place of a seat
5. Thwart - a horizontal crossbeam for structural support near the top of the hull
6. Gunwale (pronounced gunnel) - the top edge of the hull

Optional features in some Opens (not shown in diagram):

1. Yoke - a thwart across the centre of the boat to allow one person to carry the canoe (sometimes moulded to the shape of the shoulders).
2. Keel - A foundation or spine beam running from bow to stern along the centre of the boat (typically found in traditional wooden designs).
3. Flotation bags - inflatable air bags to prevent swamping the canoe in rapids.
4. Spraydeck - cover to prevent water entering the canoe.

The portion of the hull between the waterline and the top of the gunwale is called freeboard.

Parts of a Kayak

Main article: Kayak

1. Bow - The front end.
2. Stern - The rear end (also known as the Aft).
3. Cockpit Rim - The rim of the cockpit enclosing the paddler.
4. Seat - Place where person sits.
5. Foot Plate - Foot rest/brace, usually as an adjustable plate sometimes in the form of pedals or foam blocks.
6. Centre Pillars - Foam supports act as buoyancy and as structural stability.
7. Air Bags - Buoyancy bags in the rear of the boat help to keep it afloat after a capsize.

Paddler's Terms

Below is an index of commonly used paddling terms, in alphabetical order, with brief descriptions of their usage and context.

• Air Bag: An inflated bag used for keeping capsized boats afloat. See Boat Buoyancy

• Bow: The front of a boat.
• Break In / Break Out: This is the action of entering or leaving the main flow of water. It is commonly mistaken for breaking "Into an Eddy" and "Out of an Eddy", however when you ENTER an eddy, you break Out of the flow, and when LEAVING an eddy you break In to the flow.
• Broach: When a boat is held, side on to the flow, against one or more obstacles, pushed by the force of the water. See also "Pin".

• C1: An abbreviation form for a single-person closed deck canoe or kayak where the paddler is kneeling with a single-bladed paddle.
• C2: Another abbreviation for a two-person closed deck canoe/kayak paddled with single-bladed paddles.
• Cockpit: The area enclosed by the "deck" in a Kayak where the paddler sits.
• Cow's Tail: An extension to a rescue harness to make attachments easier to fit single-handed.

• Deck: The upper part of a Kayaks enclosing the paddler inside.
• Drop: Used to refer to any suddenfall in height on a river, from a foot or two upto arround 3m (where drops tend to merge into "falls"). See Drops.

• Eddy: An area of calm water. See Eddy.
• "Eddy Out": Sometimes used instead of break-out. To leave the flow of water and enter an eddy.

• Falls: Short for waterfalls, these constitute any large drop or fall in height. See Waterfalls.
• Ferry: See Ferry Glide
• Float: An object that is self-buoyant in water. Used sometimes to describe travelling downstream without paddling eg. "Just float down".
• Flow: The movement of water. Used to describe how and where the water travels, eg. "See how it's flowing onto that rock".
• Fold: A fold in a boat's structure is usually caused by a pinning/broach where the force of the water bends or creases the hull, often causing irreparable damage.

• Gunwale: The upper edge of an open-topped boat where the cockpit would start.

• Hitch: A Hitch is a "knot" tying a rope around another object. When that object is removes, the hitch will come undone.
• Hole: A hole is a safe surface stopper that may be suitable for playboating.
• Hydraulic: (American English) See Stoppers.

• Karabiner: A device used to clip ropes together or onto objects easily. See Karabiner.
• Knot: A knot is defined as a stand-alone "knot" tied into a rope, not tied around an object. See "Hitch" above.

• Line has two meanings: either the "route" taken down a rapid or section of river, or when shouted in a rescue situation, to signal to a swimmer that a Throw Line is about to be thrown. Though it may also be used to describe bay rope, string or chord. See Ropes and Lines.
• Loom: The main shaft or body of a paddle.
• Low-head Dam: See Weir.

• OC1: An Canoe fitted out for Whitewater.
• Out-flow/wash: The water flowing out of a stopper or wave.
• Over: Used to state a paddler has capsized. eg. "He's over!"

• Painter: A line of rope at the front/rear of the boat used to secure it to the bank (usually used with Canoes as kayaks are easier to drag up onto the bank).
• Park-and-Play: A site or feature on a river which playboaters literally park up next to and playboat on.
• Pin: When a boat is stuck on an obstruction (usually low-lying rocks). See "Broach" above.
• Play: To "Playboat", although it covers everything from simple wave surfing up to advances Aerial moves.
• Portage: To walk around a feature or section of river, carrying the boat.

• "Raft Up" is a term describing how canoes or Kayaks form a raft by aligning themselves side by side and holding onto each other's boats. This is commonly used during training to get the group together to receive instructions.
• Roll: When a paddler self-rights their own boat. See Roll.
• Rooster Tail: In whitewater, this refers to a plume of water flung up by a rock just below the surface on a drop. See Rooster Rail
• Rope: A thick "Line" used for rescues. See Ropes and Lines.
• 'Row: Propelling a boat with "Oars", not paddles. Canoeists and Kayakers do not "row".

• Scratch: Minor scrapes and scratches to the underside of boats is expected, many paddlers can become sentimental about these. Others proudly display them as "war wounds".
• Siphon: A bore-hole into or under the main river bed into which the water (and paddlers/boats) is drawn. See River Hazards#Siphon.
• Setting In: A Canoeing technique for getting into an eddy by reverse ferry gliding. See Setting In.
• Squirt: In Kayaking and playboating, to force the bow or stern under the water and be pushed up into the air by the flow. See Squirt Boats.
• Stern: The rear of a boat.
• Stopper: A recirculation of water found at the bottom of some drops. See Stopper.
• Strainer: An obstruction just above or below the surface that allows the water to flow though un-obstructed but will catch and hold a swimmer or floating equipment. See River Hazards#Strainer
• Swim: To be in the water without one's boat. Every paddler experiences this at some time or another. A swimmer is often thought of as a paddler in "temporary difficulty". See Swimming
• Swimmer: Literally "One who does swim." (sic). Used by other paddlers to describe or signify that a member of the group is swimming and needs rescue.

• Throw-Line / -Bag / -Rope: A length of floating rope packed into a bag ready to be thrown to a swimmer for rescues. See Ropes and Lines#Throw Line.
• Thwart: A supporting beam in a Canoe.

• Weir: (aka "Low-Head-Dam" (in American English. See Weir.
• Water: A minor requirement for a paddle sport to take place. (joke)
• Wrap: When a boat (usually an Open Canoe) is pinned/broached and the force of the water causes the boat to "fold" around the obstacle, hence the name "wrap". These are also referred to a "bear traps", especially if a paddler is trapped inside the boat. See River Hazards#Pinning

Hand Signals

Main article: Hand Signals

Hand signals are an important part of communicating, especially on white water rivers or over and kind of distance. Being familiar with basic hand signals is useful, and you should always check with your group what signals they use before getting on the water to avoid any confusion later on.